NBA Power Rankings: Atlanta Hawks take a tumble

The Atlanta Hawks jumped out of the game with a 9-2 start to the season but have fallen on hard times despite a spirited effort in Monday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. Atlanta has gone just 1-6 over their last seven games and are sinking in this week’s Power Rankings.

Atlanta tumbles eight spots to No. 13 in Marc Stein’s latest ranking at ESPN.com.

As much as we'd love to focus on the backboard Kris Humphries shattered with a dunk at a weekend practice, Atlanta's alarming loss of form won't allow us that luxury. The Hawks, seemingly in recovery after winning in Indiana to halt a three-game skid, opened a four-game trip with a 27-point hammering in Utah in which they managed just 68 points, then faded to a 15-point loss to the Lakers. Turns out there was a players-only meeting between the past two losses, too.

NBA.com’s John Schuhmann drops the Hawks six spots to No. 11 this week.

After a 9-2 start, the Hawks have lost five of their last six games, scoring a paltry 92 points per 100 possessions over that stretch. The starting lineup continues to struggle, the plus-minus magic of reserve Thabo Sefolosha (minus-52 over the six games) has worn off, and any guard not named "Kyle Korver" can't shoot (one reason why Dwight Howard is averaging 4.6 offensive rebounds a game). Not that the Hawks were expecting Tiago Splitter (remember him?) to save them, but he suffered another setback last week.

The Hawks tumble nine spots to No. 15 in Matt Moore’s rankings for CBSSports.com.

You OK over there, Atlanta? You look a little woozy. Maybe you should go home. And lie down. With a cold compress. And watch "Gilmore Girls" until you feel better. The Hawks lost four of five, held a players-only meeting to stem the bleeding and then lost to the Lakers without D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. Call a doctor.

Kurt Helin drops Atlanta five spots to No. 10 in this week’s rankings at ProBasketballTalk.

The loss to the Lakers Sunday has them dropping five of six, mostly due to struggles with the starters and the offense (the Hawks remains a good defensive team). There has been a players-only meeting, Kris Humphries shattered a backboard, and still the slump has continued. They face the Warriors and Raptors on the road this week, but the better tests are how they do on a back-to-back Monday in Phoenix, then back home against the Pistons.

Finally, the Hawks drop to No. 11 in Jeremy Woo’s rankings for The Crossover.

Kris Humphies tearing down a rim at a high school gym during a road practice makes for a decent metaphor for the current state of the Hawks. At least, I think so.