ESPN’s Basketball Power Index projects the New York Knicks will miss the playoffs for the fifth straight season in 2017-18.
The New York Knicks finished the 2016-17 season with 31 wins. They were tied for the 25th worst record in the NBA along with the Minnesota Timberwolves. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index doesn’t think things will get better in 2017-18.So, what the hell is ESPN’s Basketball Power Index?
Here’s a quick synopsis of the latest from ESPN’s Analytics Department:
BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. BPI accounts for game-by-game efficiency, strength of schedule, pace, days of rest, game location and preseason expectations.
The computerized preseason rankings slotted the Knicks 25th of the NBA’s 30 teams. BPI projects New York to finish with the same record of 31-51.
According to BPI, they’re 4.1 points worse than the average team.
Some fans will scoff at a ranking like this, but it’s just as accurate as any that a person would put out there. The Knicks are trying to lose and finishing with a terrible record is a legitimate prediction.
Only the Suns, Kings, Nets, Hawks and Bulls finished lower. The Bulls, Hawks, and Suns are all tanking too.
