NBA Rankings - 11 Jan

The four teams with the best records in the league all play in the Western Conference, and those 4 teams also happen to be at the top of my rankings, although in a different order. Only 2 of my top 10 play in the East, including the defending champs, who have been struggling mightily to live up to the high expectations after finally breaking through last season. Here are my current rankings, with teams grouped by similar level of performance.

TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall
1. (1) San Antonio (2-1) 28-10

2. (3) Oklahoma City (3-1) 27-8
3. (2) LA Clippers (3-0) 28-8

4. (6) Memphis (3-1) 23-10

5. (4) Denver (3-0) 21-16

6. (7) New York (1-2) 23-12
7. (5) Houston (3-1) 21-15

8. (8) Golden State (0-2) 22-12
9. (9) Miami (1-3) 23-11

10. (10) LA Lakers (0-4) 15-20
11. (11) Indiana (3-1) 22-14
12. (17) Brooklyn (3-0) 20-15
13. (13) Utah (3-1) 19-18

14. (12) Atlanta (0-4) 20-14
15. (16) Milwaukee (2-2) 18-16
16. (19) Chicago (2-1) 19-14
17. (14) Minnesota (1-2) 16-16
18. (15) Toronto (1-2) 13-22
19. (23) Boston (4-0) 18-17
20. (18) Detroit (1-1) 13-23
21. (21) Portland (4-0) 20-15

22. (25) New Orleans (3-0) 10-25

23. (26) Dallas (1-3) 14-23

24. (20) Philadelphia (0-4) 15-22
25. (24) Phoenix (0-4) 12-25

26. (22) Sacramento (1-3) 13-23
27. (27) Orlando (0-3) 12-23
28. (28) Cleveland (2-2) 9-28

29. (29) Charlotte (1-2) 9-25
30. (30) Washington (1-2) 5-28

Since switching coaches, the Brooklyn Nets have gone 6-1, making them one of the hottest teams in the league. Most of those wins have come against the worst teams, with 5 of them ranked in my bottom 7, but they also won at Oklahoma City, so it may not just be the schedule. Brook Lopez has been great, scoring 27 and grabbing 13 rebounds in their win at Washington last Friday.

Boston has won 4 straight games for the first time this season, including road wins in Atlanta and New York, and a win over the hot Indiana Pacers. Jared Sullinger has been playing like a rising star, and it was his 12 points and 16 rebounds that were instrumental in leading the Celtics to their most recent win, over the Phoenix Suns.

Memphis moved back into the top 5 after two weeks on the outside after sweeping a road trip to the Pacific Division this week. They didn't have to play either of the teams in LA, but they did blow out the bottom feeders before knocking off the surprising Warriors on Wednesday. Tonight the Grizz are hoping to keep the streak alive by upsetting the visiting top-ranked Spurs.

The New Orleans Hornets have won three straight games for the first time this season, and are on only their second winning streak of the season, but what makes it more impressive is that the wins all came against the Texas triangle. Beating Dallas isn't as tough as it used to be, but taking out the Spurs and Rockets right in a row is pretty tough, but the Hornets pulled it off this week.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

Charlotte at Toronto - Raptors by 10
Phoenix at Brooklyn - Nets by 9
Houston at Boston - Rockets by 2
Utah at Atlanta - Hawks by 2
Chicago at New York - Knicks by 7
San Antonio at Memphis - Grizzlies by 1
Minnesota at New Orleans - Hornets by 1
Detroit at Milwaukee - Bucks by 4
Cleveland at Denver - Nuggets by 13
Oklahoma City at LA Lakers - Thunder by 3
Portland at Golden State - Warriors by 8

College Basketball

(13) Creighton at Missouri State - Bluejays by 15

Prediction Results

NBA: 1-2 (.333) 360-168 overall (.682)
Upsets: 1-0 (1.000) 66-42 overall (.611)
College Basketball: 4-2 (.667) 424-81 overall (.840)
Upsets: 1-2 (.333) 29-31 overall (.483)