Today’s look at the Atlantic Division..
- Nerlens Noel is steadily progressing in his rehabilitation from a torn ACL, a source told Shams Charania of RealGM. The Kentucky product has added muscle and weighed in at 223 pounds late last week. However, there doesn’t’ appear to be any urgency to get Noel onto the court this season within the 76ers organization. It wouldn’t make sense to rush Noel back given the club’s current position and the upside that the big man has.
- Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record wonders if the Nets‘ victory over the Bucks was a product of coach Jason Kidd‘s message finally getting through or the Bucks just being a weaker opponent. Yesterday, it was reported that Kidd is losing the locker room as Brooklyn continues to struggle. If Kidd can’t right the ship, he might be ousted before the February All-Star break.
- Kidd’s not the only New York coach in trouble, of course. Mike Woodson needs to save the Knicks‘ season to save his job, writes Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News. Tyson Chandler points to team fatigue, but Knicks’ management might not give Woodson the benefit of the doubt.