NBA Power Rankings, Jan. 9 Edition: A New Face At The Top

8 of 30

Jan 7, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Detroit Pistons power forward Greg Monroe (10) fouls New York Knicks shooting guard Iman Shumpert (21) as he drives to the basket during the second half at Madison Square Garden. New York Knicks defeat the Detroit Pistons 89-85. Mandatory Credit: Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports /

24. New York Knicks (12-22)

Last Week: 3-1
Previous Ranking: 26

Woodson Rips J.R.: Coach Mike Woodson sounds like a guy getting tired of J.R. Smith’s act. On ESPN New York 98.7 FM’s “The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show,” Woodson called Smith’s recent shoelace stunts “unprofessional” and “unacceptable.” Woodson has long been one of Smith’s most staunch defenders, but said Smith has been “unprofessional about how he’s approached this whole thing. Something’s gotta be done. It has to stop. I’ll address it [Thursday] when I see him and then we’ll go from there.” Smith was fined $50,000 Wednesday by the NBA for what was called “recurring instances of unsportsmanlike conduct” after he untied, or jokingly attempted to untie, an opponent’s shoe in each of New York’s last two games. (h/t ESPNNewYork.com)

The Week That Was: The Knicks won at San Antonio 105-101 on Thursday, lost at Houston 102-100 on Friday, won at Dallas 92-80 on Sunday and beat the Pistons 89-85 on Tuesday.

The Numbers: 45.3% FG, 40% 3PT (4th), 77.5% FT, 42.3 RPG, 13.5 TOPG, 96.5 PPG
The Opponents: 42.9% FG, 32% 3PT, 73.9% FT, 41.5 RPG, 14.3 TOPG, 92 PPG

The Leaders: Carmelo Anthony 26.3 PPG, Anthony 7.8 RPG, Beno Udrih 6 APG, Iman Shumpert 2.3 SPG, Amar’e Stoudemire 1 BPG, Shumpert 24-for-40 (60%) FG, Shumpert 13-for-21 (61.9%) 3PT
Don’t! Shooters: J.R. Smith 10-for-32 (31.3%) FG, Udrih 0-for-6 3PT