The push for the playoffs has started with Miami clinching a playoff berth, and although there is very little debate over which teams will make the playoffs, there is still a lot of drama taking place as teams battle for seeding. The only team not currently in playoff position with a real chance to sneak in is Los Angeles, but somebody's got to fade for the Lakers to get in. Here are my current NBA rankings, with teams grouped by similar level of performance and projected record and seeding included as well.
TW. (LW) Team (Week) Overall (Projected) Seed
1. (1) Oklahoma City (4-1) 46-16 (62-20) 1W
2. (2) San Antonio (3-1) 48-15 (62-20) 2W
3. (3) Miami (5-0) 46-14 (63-19) 1E
4. (4) LA Clippers (2-2) 44-20 (57-25) 3W
5. (7) Denver (4-0) 41-22 (53-29) 5W
6. (5) Indiana (3-1) 39-23 (52-30) 2E
7. (6) Houston (3-1) 34-29 (47-35) 6W
8. (8) Memphis (3-1) 41-19 (54-28) 4W
9. (9) New York (3-2) 37-22 (50-32) 3E
10. (10) LA Lakers (3-1) 32-31 (43-39) 8W
11. (13) Boston (4-0) 34-27 (45-37) 7E
12. (11) Atlanta (1-4) 34-27 (46-36) 5E
13. (12) Chicago (2-2) 35-27 (45-37) 6E
14. (17) Utah (1-3) 32-30 (42-40) 9W
15. (14) Brooklyn (2-2) 36-26 (46-36) 4E
16. (16) Dallas (3-1) 28-33 (38-44) 11W
17. (15) Golden State (2-3) 35-28 (45-37) 7W
18. (18) Toronto (1-4) 24-39 (34-48) 9E
19. (24) Portland (3-1) 29-32 (38-44) 10W
20. (19) Milwaukee (2-1) 30-29 (41-41) 8E
21. (23) Cleveland (1-3) 21-41 (29-53) 12E
22. (22) New Orleans (1-2) 21-41 (29-53) 13W
23. (21) Washington (1-3) 19-41 (29-53) 13E
24. (20) Minnesota (1-2) 21-37 (30-52) 12W
25. (25) Detroit (0-4) 23-41 (30-52) 11E
26. (26) Philadelphia (1-4) 23-38 (31-51) 10E
27. (28) Sacramento (2-3) 22-42 (28-54) 14W
28. (27) Phoenix (1-2) 21-41 (27-55) 15W
29. (29) Orlando (1-4) 17-46 (21-61) 14E
30. (30) Charlotte (0-5) 13-49 (17-65) 15E
The hottest team in the league right now is the Portland Trail Blazers, who are making a playoff push, even though it may be a little too late. Last night, they turned a halftime tie at San Antonio into a 30-point blowout, the largest home loss in Tim Duncan's career. I'm currently projecting them to come in 10th in the West, and I just don't see them catching both Utah and Los Angeles, but that's no reason not to try.
Utah is playing well right now as well, despite their current 3-game losing streak. All three games were on the road in the Eastern Conference, and each came down to the final possession before Utah went down. Right now it's looking like the Lakers will catch the Jazz and keep Utah just outside the playoffs, but if they can win just one game that they shouldn't, it could be enough to hold off LA.
Memphis has won 11 of their last 12 games, and the lone loss during that stretch came at Miami, who has now won 16 games in a row. Even though I have them ranked behind 5 Western Conference teams, this current hot streak has given them enough of a cushion that they should still end up with the #4 seed and home court advantage in the first round, which will be very important if they face Denver to open the playoffs.
Sacramento has won only 3 of their last 12 games, but those 3 came against the teams they should beat, the three lowest-ranked teams on my list this week. The Kings pulled ahead of Phoenix yesterday thanks to their 9-point victory, and they may be able to pass a couple more teams before the season ends and the NBA leaves Sacramento forever.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Brooklyn at Atlanta - Hawks by 4
Utah at New York - Knicks by 5
Charlotte at Washington - Wizards by 11
New Orleans at Memphis - Grizzlies by 10
Minnesota at Denver - Nuggets by 11
Houston at Phoenix - Rockets by 7
Milwaukee at Golden State - Warriors by 4
College Basketball
Loyola Marymount vs. (1) Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 23
(3) Duke at North Carolina - Tar Heels by 1
(4) Kansas at Baylor - Jayhawks by 4
(17) Syracuse at (5) Georgetown - Hoyas by 2
Clemson at (6) Miami - Hurricanes by 15
(24) Notre Dame at (8) Louisville - Cardinals by 14
(9) Kansas State at (13) Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 9
(11) Florida at Kentucky - Gators by 6
(12) New Mexico at Air Force - Lobos by 2
(15) Marquette at Saint John's - Golden Eagles by 2
LaSalle at (16) Saint Louis - Billikens by 6
Arizona State at (18) Arizona - Wildcats by 13
(19) Oregon at Utah - Ducks by 2
(20) Pittsburgh at DePaul - Panthers by 10
(23) UCLA at Washington - Huskies by 1
UAB at (25) Memphis - Tigers by 16
Minnesota at Purdue - Golden Gophers by 1
New Hampshire vs. Vermont - Catamounts by 6
VMI vs. Charleston Southern - Buccaneers by 10
Georgia Southern vs. Davidson - Wildcats by 15
Florida Gulf Coast at Mercer - Bears by 7
Long Island at Wagner - Seahawks by 9
Ole Miss at LSU - Tigers by 1
Iowa State at West Virginia - Cyclones by 4
UMBC vs. Hartford - Hawks by 9
North Carolina State at Florida State - Wolfpack by 3
Lehigh at Lafayette - Mountain Hawks by 1
Liberty vs. Gardner Webb - Bulldogs by 7
Nebraska at Iowa - Hawkeyes by 14
Siena vs. Niagara - Purple Eagles by 11
Furman vs. Appalachian State - Mountaineers by 10
Mount Saint Mary's at Robert Morris - Colonials by 10
Indiana State vs. Creighton - Bluejays by 11
San Diego State at Boise State - Broncos by 4
Drexel vs. George Mason - Patriots by 1
Missouri at Tennessee - Volunteers by 1
South Florida at Cincinnati - Bearcats by 16
Oregon State at Colorado - Buffaloes by 15
Canisius vs. Iona - Gaels by 2
Army at Bucknell - Bison by 13
Oklahoma at TCU - Sooners by 12
Illinois State vs. Wichita State - Shockers by 3
Cornell at Harvard - Crimson by 18
Hofstra vs. Delaware - Blue Hens by 10
Wright State vs. Detroit - Titans by 6
UNC-Greensboro vs. Elon - Phoenix by 6
Fresno State at UNLV - Rebels by 16
Binghamton vs. Stony Brook - Seawolves by 26
Murray State vs. Belmont - Bruins by 11
Louisiana Tech at Denver - Pioneers by 8
Arkansas-Little Rock vs. Florida International - Golden Panthers by 2
IUPUI vs. South Dakota State - Jackrabbits by 20
Texas A&M-CC at Stephen F Austin - Lumberjacks by 22
Fairfield vs. Rider - Broncs by 1
Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 19
Long Beach State at Pacific - Tigers by 10
Maine at Albany - Great Danes by 19
West Carolina vs. Charleston - Cougars by 5
William & Mary vs. James Madison - Dukes by 1
Green Bay at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 12
Nevada at Colorado State - Rams by 21
Northern Arizona at Montana - Grizzlies by 17
Western Kentucky vs. South Alabama - Hilltoppers by 1
Manhattan vs. Loyola-Maryland - Greyhounds by 3
South Dakota vs. Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 5
Troy vs. Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 11
San Diego vs. Saint Mary's - Gaels by 15
Prediction Results
NBA: 11-1 (.917) 622-301 overall (.674)
Upsets: 3-0 (1.000) 110-85 overall (.564)
College Basketball: 13-10 (.565) 981-256 overall (.793)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 106-78 overall (.576)
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