Since there were two shortened weeks around the All-Star Break, I took a break from my weekly rankings, but now everything is updated and my latest rankings are ready to go. The #1 spot switched hands yet again, but the sizzling Heat still haven't been able to crack the top spot. Here is how each team currently stacks up, with teams grouped by similar level of performance.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall
1. (2) Oklahoma City (3-1) 42-15
2. (1) San Antonio (3-2) 45-14
3. (3) Miami (5-0) 41-14
4. (4) LA Clippers (3-1) 42-18
5. (9) Indiana (4-1) 36-22
6. (5) Houston (2-2) 31-28
7. (6) Denver (4-1) 37-22
8. (8) Memphis (5-0) 38-18
9. (7) New York (2-2) 34-20
10. (10) LA Lakers (4-1) 29-30
11. (12) Atlanta (4-1) 33-23
12. (11) Chicago (3-3) 33-25
13. (15) Boston (2-3) 30-27
14. (14) Brooklyn (3-2) 34-24
15. (13) Golden State (3-3) 33-25
16. (16) Dallas (2-3) 25-32
17. (17) Utah (1-3) 31-27
18. (18) Toronto (2-3) 23-35
19. (20) Milwaukee (2-3) 28-28
20. (21) Minnesota (1-4) 20-35
21. (22) Washington (3-2) 18-38
22. (19) New Orleans (1-5) 20-39
23. (26) Cleveland (4-1) 20-38
24. (24) Portland (1-3) 26-31
25. (23) Detroit (2-4) 23-37
26. (25) Philadelphia (0-5) 22-34
27. (27) Phoenix (3-3) 20-39
28. (28) Sacramento (1-4) 20-39
29. (29) Orlando (1-5) 16-42
30. (30) Charlotte (1-4) 13-44
Oklahoma City rebounded from their first 3-game losing streak of the season with a 3-game winning streak, even though the quality of the opponents was far inferior to those who beat them. The Thunder have been increasing their margin of victory during their latest streak, from 16 against Minnesota to 30 against Chicago to 45 against New Orleans. It's not likely to extend to tonight's game against Denver, but if it does, there would be no argument against them for #1
Cleveland is 4-1 since the All-Star Break, losing only against the Miami Heat on the road last Sunday. Their playoff hopes are not very high, but with Kyrie Irving playing like the All-Star he is, this team could turn in a solid second half and prepare for a playoff run next year.
It may be kind of weird to call a team that just ended a 6-game losing streak hot, but the Sacramento Kings are coming off their two best games of the season. First, they nearly beat the Miami Heat on Tuesday, taking the defending champs to double overtime on the road before falling by 12. The very next night, they went to Orlando and dominated the Magic by 24 points, and tonight they are in San Antonio, where they hope to keep this hot streak going in what could be their last hurrah.
The Clippers' last two games against fellow contenders did not go as planned, with blowout losses coming at the hands of Miami and San Antonio, but every other game they've played in the last 3 weeks has gone heavily in LA's favor. Last night they faced the Indiana Pacers, who have been just as hot lately, and they had no trouble nabbing the victory on the road, which kept them just ahead of Indiana in my rankings.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Indiana at Toronto - Pacers by 3
New York at Washington - Knicks by 2
Houston at Orlando - Rockets by 10
Golden State at Boston - Celtics by 4
LA Clippers at Cleveland - Clippers by 6
Memphis at Miami - Heat by 8
Dallas at Brooklyn - Nets by 3
Detroit at New Orleans - Hornets by 4
Sacramento at San Antonio - Spurs by 17
Charlotte at Utah - Jazz by 11
Atlanta at Phoenix - Hawks by 3
Oklahoma City at Denver - Thunder by 3
Prediction Results
NBA: 5-5 (.500) 569-291 overall (.662)
Upsets: 1-3 (.250) 100-84 overall (.543)
College Basketball: 18-8 (.692) 865-217 overall (.799)
Upsets: 1-4 (.200) 86-72 overall (.544)
No comments:
Post a Comment