Current Record/Seed: 8-6, 4th in East

We expected a new-look Knicks team to hit some bumps to begin the season, but there’s enough talent on this roster for us to believe New York will eventually begin to separate itself as an elite team in the East.

Karl-Anthony Towns has been awesome in a full-time return to center (26.2 points, 12.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 51.5 percent from three), helping to fuel a Knicks offense that ranks No. 3 overall to begin the year (121.1 rating).

However, there are real questions surrounding this team’s depth and defense (115.3 rating, 21st overall), which are two factors that will ultimately keep them below the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings.

Current Record/Seed: 6-7, 6th in East

In the West, the Miami Heat would be battling the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz at the bottom of the conference. In this East, though, Jimmy Butler and Co. still look like a playoff team.

This is a roster in dire need of a shakeup. The offense is average. The team’s defense has been so-so. Miami’s most-used lineup of Terry Rozier, Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jović and Bam Adebayo has been a disaster together (minus-19.6 net rating, 3rd percentile via Cleaning the Glass).

There’s nothing exciting about this Heat team right now, which somehow still makes them good enough for a sixth seed in the East.