For the first time in three weeks, the #1 team was able to maintain the top spot for a second week. This week, the Los Angeles Clippers extended their franchise-record winning streak to 15 games, and they are showing no signs of letting up. They now have the league's best record and two of its best players, and they are always fun to watch. Here are how they and the rest of the teams stack up, with teams grouped by similar level of performance.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall
1. (1) LA Clippers (4-0) 23-6
2. (3) San Antonio (3-0) 22-8
3. (2) Oklahoma City (1-1) 22-6
4. (5) Miami (3-0) 20-6
5. (10) Houston (3-0) 16-12
6. (7) Denver (2-1) 16-14
7. (4) Memphis (1-2) 18-8
8. (6) New York (2-2) 21-8
9. (15) LA Lakers (2-1) 14-15
10. (11) Indiana (2-0) 16-12
11. (9) Golden State (2-1) 19-10
12. (14) Minnesota (0-2) 13-13
13. (12) Atlanta (2-1) 17-9
14. (8) Chicago (1-2) 15-12
15. (16) Utah (1-2) 15-15
16. (13) Brooklyn (1-2) 14-14
17. (19) Boston (1-2) 14-14
18. (20) Portland (2-1) 14-13
19. (24) Detroit (2-1) 9-22
20. (18) Milwaukee (2-1) 15-12
21. (17) Orlando (0-3) 12-16
22. (26) Philadelphia (2-1) 14-15
23. (23) Toronto (1-1) 9-20
24. (21) Phoenix (0-3) 11-18
25. (25) New Orleans (1-2) 6-22
26. (22) Dallas (0-3) 12-17
27. (27) Cleveland (2-1) 7-23
28. (28) Sacramento (1-2) 9-19
29. (30) Charlotte (0-3) 7-21
30. (29) Washington (0-3) 3-23
Houston had the best week of any team in the league this week, beating Memphis by 25, Chicago by 23 on the road, and Minnesota by 3 on the road. The combination of James Harden scoring points, Jeremy Lin spreading the ball around, and Omer Asik clearing the boards has been working to perfection, and the Rockets, who had low expectations to begin the season after blowing up the roster in the offseason, are looking better than they have in years.
Philadelphia broke out of a 5-game slump this week, winning 2 games against teams currently in playoff position, including a 10-point win at Memphis 2 nights ago. They still have 6 games remaining on their West Coast trip, which finishes up with games at Oklahoma City and San Antonio next weekend. They haven't won back-to-back games yet in December, and if they want to, they'll have to beat Golden State tonight in Oakland, which doesn't look very promising.
Brooklyn had the worst week of any team in the league, and it culminated in the firing of Avery Johnson as head coach. The Nets were 11-4 when December began, but have gone 3-10 this month to drop to .500, and this week they lost to both Boston and Milwaukee by double digits, and neither of those teams are among the East's top contenders. Their interim coach has been given a gift with Charlotte and Cleveland as his first two opponents, but after that they face the Thunder and Spurs, so something needs to get fixed quickly.
Memphis has had an up-and-down month, and this week leaned heavily toward the down side. After winning 4 straight games, including a road win at Utah, the Grizzlies have now lost 2 in a row, and neither one was even close. They got demolished by the Rockets last Saturday, then let the 76ers control them at home on the day after Christmas. Hopefully it was just a lack of focus around the holidays that caused this swoon.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Phoenix at Indiana - Pacers by 8
Orlando at Washington - Magic by 4
Charlotte at Brooklyn - Nets by 11
Miami at Detroit - Heat by 6
Atlanta at Cleveland - Hawks by 3
Toronto at New Orleans - Hornets by 2
Denver at Dallas - Nuggets by 6
Houston at San Antonio - Spurs by 6
LA Clippers at Utah - Clippers by 9
New York at Sacramento - Knicks by 6
Portland at LA Lakers - Lakers by 7
Philadelphia at Golden State - Warriors by 8
College Basketball
Belmont vs. Boston - Bruins by 9
Jacksonville at (5) Indiana - Hoosiers by 47
Baylor at (13) Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 10
(7) Missouri at UCLA - Bruins by 1
Prediction Results
NBA: 2-0 (1.000) 291-132 overall (.688)
College Basketball: 0-1 (.000) 338-66 overall (.837)
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