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3 Up And 3 Down: Who's Hot And Who's Not In New York Sports

By Daniel Friedman
» More Columns

Taking a look at who's hot and who's not on the NY/NJ sports landscape:

THREE UP:


1. Rangers

Derek Stepan
Derek Stepan (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Winners in five of their last seven games, they're slowly but surely creeping up the Metropolitan Division totem pole.

2. John Tavares

John Tavares,  Josh Bailey
John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders celebrates scoring a goal with Josh Bailey #12 against the Boston Bruins during their game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 29, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

He was named one of the NHL's three stars for the month of January, posting 16 points in 12 games.

3. Brook Lopez

Alan Anderson, Brook Lopez
Alan Anderson #6 and Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrate during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers at Barclays Center on February 2, 2015. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Nets might be spiraling out of control, but Lopez is averaging 25.7 points over the last three games. He's waking up, and that can only be a good thing.

THREE DOWN:


1. Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Knicks' president admitted that "so far, my experiment has fallen flat on its face." Even that might be an understatement.

2. St. John's

Sir'Dominic Pointer
Sir'Dominic Pointer #15 of the St. John's Red Storm sits and watches the Creighton Bluejays celebrate after their game at CenturyLink Center on January 28, 2015 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

The loss to Butler on Tuesday night puts them at 14-8 on the year. It doesn't look like the Red Storm will be going to the NCAA tourney this season.

3. Islanders

New York Islanders
The New York Islanders stand before the national anthem against the Boston Bruins during their game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 29, 2015 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Rarely have the Isles been on this end of the spectrum this season, but they've lost three in a row and appear to be way off their game. It doesn't help that Kyle Okposo's out for an extended period of time with an injury.

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