ESPN Power Rankings: Nets Still Aren’t Newsworthy

A third consecutive winless week further solidifies the Brooklyn Nets as the worst team in the NBA, as reflected in this week’s ESPN power rankings.

Current Ranking: 30

Ranking Last Week: 30 (no change)

ICYMI: Last Week’s Power Rankings

There’s no ifs, ands, or buts – the Nets are the worst team in the NBA.

This was reflected in Marc Stein’s weekly ESPN power rankings… again. For a ninth straight week, Stein ranked the Nets dead last.

Stein particularly highlights the Nets’ losing streak in his analysis. He writes that the Nets, “find themselves in a 1-23 funk that the Gotham tabloids don’t have the time or space to recognize.”

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However, Stein also jokingly hinted at a possible rise in the ranks for the Nets in the near future. He raved about the Nets decision to honor Oscar Schmidt during tonight’s game and wrote “the Nets sure know how to inch closer to the Committee’s good side,” because of that choice.

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Whether Stein was joking or not, it will take more than just a good PR move for the Nets to move up in the rankings. They went winless for the third consecutive week, and find themselves in the midst of a 12-game losing streak.

This week, they’ll have two shots to grab a win before the All Star break. They’ll take on the Memphis Grizzlies tonight, the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The schedule will resume next week, when the Nets take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday, and then the mighty Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Big Movers: Sacramento Kings (up five spots)

Where did the Kings come from? After losing Rudy Gay for the season, they’ve suddenly gotten hot. After defeating the Warriors last Saturday, they followed it up with wins against the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks this week. The Kings are also riding a three-game winning streak into this week.

Next: Top 5 Point Guards in Nets History

Big Losers: Chicago Bulls (down seven spots)

Jimmy Butler has missed four of the last five games, and that’s certainly been hurting the Bulls. They are now on a three-game losing streak, including a 117-89 blowout against the Minnesota Timberwolves yesterday.