NBA Rankings - 10 Jan

The Spurs may have started the new year as the #1 team in the league, but after struggling a little this week, they have given up the top spot to a team that is as hot as any team in the past decade. As the season nears the midway point, let's take a look at where all 30 teams stack up. The team's name is followed by its record this week, its overall record, its rating, and its previous ranking.

1. Miami (4-0) (30-9) -9.01 (2)

2. San Antonio (2-2) (31-6) -7.02 (1)

3. Boston (3-1) (28-8) -6.98 (3)

4. LA Lakers (4-0) (27-11) -5.88 (7)

5. Orlando (4-0) (25-12) -5.47 (6)

6. Chicago (2-2) (24-12) -5.02 (5)

7. Dallas (1-2) (26-10) -4.14 (4)

8. Atlanta (3-0) (25-14) -2.78 (11)

9. New Orleans (2-2) (22-16) -2.62 (10)

10. Utah (2-2) (25-13) -2.40 (8)

11. Oklahoma City (2-1) (25-13) -2.14 (13)

12. Portland (2-2) (20-18) -1.52 (12)

13. Denver (1-3) (20-16) -1.20 (9)

14. Memphis (2-1) (17-20) -0.78 (14)

15. New York (2-1) (21-15) -0.67 (16)

16. Milwaukee (1-3) (14-21) -0.58 (18)

17. Houston (0-4) (16-21) -0.18 (15)

18. Philadelphia (2-2) (15-22) -0.10 (17)

19. Indiana (0-2) (14-20) 1.12 (19)

20. Phoenix (1-2) (15-20) 1.15 (20)

21. LA Clippers (2-0) (12-24) 2.84 (22)

22. Golden State (2-2) (15-22) 3.14 (21)

23. Toronto (2-2) (13-24) 3.89 (23)

24. Detroit (1-2) (12-24) 4.14 (24)

25. Charlotte (2-1) (13-21) 4.54 (26)

26. Minnesota (0-4) (9-29) 4.63 (25)

27. Washington (1-2) (9-26) 5.82 (28)

28. New Jersey (1-2) (10-27) 6.24 (27)

29. Sacramento (1-2) (8-26) 6.97 (29)

30. Cleveland (0-3) (8-29) 8.61 (30)

Power teams

The Miami Heat have won 21 of their past 22 games, have the two best players in the NBA on their roster, and have lost to only two teams with losing records. Their last two road wins have required overtime, and their next opponent, the Los Angeles Clippers, would love to keep that streak alive.

The Los Angeles Lakers have put together a 4-game winning streak after losing 4 of their previous 6, which had dropped them to a season-low ranking at #7. They have returned to their regular spot in the top 4, and if they can keep beating quality teams like they have the past two games, they should be able to maintain that position.

The Atlanta Hawks have yet to lose in 2011, including a very big 23-point win at Utah this week. Their next real test comes when they travel to Miami to face the scorching Heat on the 18th, and they may be riding an eight-game winning streak of their own by that point.

The Clippers are on the biggest role they have seen in 4 years, winning 7 of their past ten games. Blake Griffin is still a triple-double machine and may be the first Clipper All-Star in years, and a trip to the playoffs isn't even out of the question. Of course, after facing the Heat and Lakers this week, the optimism may fade a little.

Non-AQ's

The Dallas Mavericks desperately need Dirk Nowitzki to return from his injury. Since he went down, the Mavericks have lost 5 of 7, after losing only 5 of their first 29 games. They are still only 4.5 games out of first place, so a healthy Dirk could allow them to eventually pass the Spurs and take over the top spot in the West.

The Denver Nuggets were blown out by both the Clippers and the Kings this week, then lost a home game to the Hornets, and one of the big reasons behind the latest slump may be the trade rumors circling around their two star players, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. It appears that the trade will happen sooner or later, but either way the Nuggets appear to be out of the running this year.

The San Antonio Spurs lost the top spot after falling to New York and Boston out East, then narrowly beating the Pacers and Timberwolves, two teams that are not currently in the playoff picture. A rematch with Minnesota is coming tomorrow, and if the current pattern holds up, they may be the latest top team that the Wolves upset.

NBA Player of the Day - 8 Jan

Kevin Durant - OKC - 40 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast, 13-24 FG, 13-14 FT

Kevin Durant put up his second 40-point game in just over 2 weeks, including 28 points in the second half, as the Thunder were able to avenge last week's loss to the Memphis Grizzlies with a 9-point victory on Saturday. The 40 points allowed him to extend his lead in the scoring race over Amare Stoudemire as he tries to repeat as league leader.

NBA Player of the Day - 9 Jan

LeBron James - MIA - 44 pts, 13 reb, 6 ast, 2 stl, 17-26 FG, 3-5 3P, 7-10 FT

LeBron's 44 points, including 8 in the overtime period alone (which was more than Portland's total), helped lead the Heat to their 9th straight victory and 21st in their past 22 games overall. The win was also their 13th straight on the road, just 3 away from tying the all-time record held by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

Predictions - 10 Jan

Upset picks are in italics.

College Football

(2) Oregon vs. (1) Auburn - Oregon by 8

NBA

Grizzlies at Bobcats - Grizzlies by 2

Rockets at Celtics - Celtics by 10

Pistons at Bulls - Bulls by 12

College Basketball

(15) Notre Dame at Marquette - Marquette by 3

Jacksonville at Belmont - Belmont by 17

Prediction Results - 9 Jan

NFL: 2/2 (1.000) 72/116 overall (.621)

College Football: 1/1 (1.000) 57/85 overall (.671)

NBA: 6/7 (.857) 265/367 overall (.722)

College Basketball: 7/7 (1.000) 240/284 overall (.845)

Upsets: 2/2 (1.000) 54/91 overall (.593)