The Los Angeles Clippers are currently enjoying the longest winning streak in franchise history, which has boosted them to the top of my rankings, displacing the Spurs, who ascended to the top last week. This is the first time they have ever been ranked #1, and they currently have the second-best record in the league. Here are my full current rankings, with teams grouped by similar level of performance.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall
1. (2) LA Clippers (3-0) 19-6
2. (3) Oklahoma City (3-1) 21-5
3. (1) San Antonio (1-2) 19-8
4. (5) Memphis (3-1) 17-6
5. (8) Miami (3-0) 17-6
6. (4) New York (2-1) 19-6
7. (9) Denver (3-1) 14-13
8. (10) Chicago (2-1) 14-10
9. (12) Golden State (2-2) 17-9
10. (18) Houston (3-1) 13-12
11. (15) Indiana (3-1) 14-12
12. (6) Atlanta (1-2) 15-8
13. (14) Brooklyn (1-3) 13-12
14. (13) Minnesota (3-2) 13-11
15. (11) LA Lakers (3-0) 12-14
16. (7) Utah (1-3) 14-13
17. (20) Orlando (4-0) 12-13
18. (19) Milwaukee (2-2) 13-11
19. (16) Boston (1-3) 13-12
20. (21) Portland (2-0) 12-12
21. (25) Phoenix (3-0) 11-15
22. (17) Dallas (1-3) 12-14
23. (29) Toronto (4-0) 8-19
24. (22) Detroit (0-4) 7-21
25. (26) New Orleans (0-4) 5-20
26. (24) Philadelphia (0-4) 12-14
27. (28) Cleveland (0-4) 5-22
28. (23) Sacramento (1-3) 8-17
29. (27) Washington (0-4) 3-20
30. (30) Charlotte (0-3) 7-18
The hottest team in the NBA this week is not one you would expect. A week ago, when Andrea Bargnani called the Toronto Raptors the worst team in the league, they had lost 12 of 13 games and were ahead of only Charlotte in my rankings. Since that statement, the Raptors have won 4 straight, two by large margins, and are swiftly moving up the rankings, passing 5 teams that failed to win this week.
Miami also looked strong this week, beating all three of its opponents by at least 10 points, and dominating a matchup of the last 2 NBA champions last night on the road. 5 of Miami's 6 losses so far have come against top 10 teams, with the other loss coming at Washington in one of the most confusing results of this season so far. They host the Thunder in a Christmas Day rematch of the NBA Finals this week.
The Houston Rockets also had a good week, losing to the red-hot Raptors to open the week, then taking out their frustration on New York as Jeremy Lin made his old team regret letting him leave. They followed up the impressive road win with a home drubbing of Philadelphia, taking down the 76ers by 22 points to move into the playoff picture again.
The Phoenix Suns are another team that looks to be turning things around, winning 4 straight in their recent homestand. The streak started with upsets over Memphis and Utah, then continued as they knocked out the Kings and Bobcats. They will be in Portland tomorrow before returning home to host the Clippers and Knicks before and after Christmas.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Orlando at Toronto - Raptors by 1
Atlanta at Philadelphia - Hawks by 4
Milwaukee at Boston - Celtics by 3
Chicago at New York - Knicks by 6
Washington at Detroit - Pistons by 7
Indiana at Cleveland - Pacers by 4
Dallas at Memphis - Grizzlies by 13
New Orleans at San Antonio - Spurs by 15
Sacramento at LA Clippers - Clippers by 19
Charlotte at Golden State - Warriors by 14
College Basketball
Vanderbilt at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 21
Longwood at VCU - Rams by 45
UCSB at Wyoming - Cowboys by 21
FAU at (6) Indiana - Hoosiers by 41
Niagara at (22) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 15
Prediction Results
NBA: 1-2 (.333) 260-119 overall (.686)
College Basketball: 3-0 (1.000) 313-59 overall (.841)
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