The San Antonio Spurs, despite losing a game this week, held on to the top spot by winning big in their other 3 games, keeping the best record in the West, which is much stronger than the East this year. The Spurs' two losses both came on the road to other top teams in the West, so they shouldn't have much trouble this week. Here are my full rankings, along with each team's projected final record and playoff seeding:
|
Rank
|
LW
|
Team
|
Rec
|
Rating
|
Predic
|
Change
|
Seed
|
|
1
|
1
|
San Antonio
|
14-2
|
-13.0227
|
66-16
|
+1
|
1W
|
|
2
|
3
|
Indiana
|
15-1
|
-9.89032
|
64-18
|
+2
|
1E
|
|
3
|
2
|
Miami
|
13-3
|
-8.47617
|
59-23
|
-1
|
2E
|
|
4
|
7
|
LA Clippers
|
12-5
|
-8.14078
|
56-26
|
+4
|
2W
|
|
5
|
12
|
Houston
|
12-5
|
-7.67436
|
53-29
|
+7
|
4W
|
|
6
|
6
|
Portland
|
13-3
|
-7.2667
|
55-27
|
|
3W
|
|
7
|
5
|
Golden State
|
9-8
|
-6.85894
|
51-31
|
-3
|
6W
|
|
8
|
9
|
Oklahoma City
|
11-3
|
-6.80963
|
53-29
|
+2
|
5W
|
|
9
|
4
|
Minnesota
|
8-9
|
-6.67035
|
49-33
|
-5
|
7W
|
|
10
|
8
|
Memphis
|
8-7
|
-6.09057
|
49-33
|
-1
|
8W
|
|
11
|
14
|
Phoenix
|
9-7
|
-5.3271
|
47-35
|
+4
|
|
|
12
|
15
|
Denver
|
9-6
|
-4.8942
|
47-35
|
+5
|
|
|
13
|
10
|
Dallas
|
10-7
|
-3.86969
|
45-37
|
-3
|
|
|
14
|
11
|
Chicago
|
7-7
|
-2.46851
|
45-37
|
-5
|
3E
|
|
15
|
17
|
New Orleans
|
7-8
|
-2.38636
|
39-43
|
+2
|
|
|
16
|
16
|
Toronto
|
6-9
|
-1.36977
|
41-41
|
-4
|
4E
|
|
17
|
18
|
LA Lakers
|
9-8
|
-1.25161
|
38-44
|
+3
|
|
|
18
|
22
|
Orlando
|
6-10
|
-0.25231
|
38-44
|
+4
|
6E
|
|
19
|
13
|
Atlanta
|
9-8
|
-0.24681
|
39-43
|
-10
|
5E
|
|
20
|
20
|
Sacramento
|
4-10
|
0.431333
|
30-52
|
-1
|
|
|
21
|
21
|
Washington
|
7-9
|
1.118071
|
35-47
|
+1
|
7E
|
|
22
|
19
|
Detroit
|
6-10
|
1.20314
|
34-48
|
-2
|
|
|
23
|
23
|
Boston
|
7-11
|
1.257335
|
35-47
|
+6
|
8E
|
|
24
|
24
|
New York
|
3-12
|
3.579637
|
27-55
|
|
|
|
25
|
25
|
Charlotte
|
8-9
|
4.08789
|
29-53
|
+1
|
|
|
26
|
26
|
Brooklyn
|
4-12
|
4.592111
|
26-56
|
|
|
|
27
|
27
|
Philadelphia
|
6-11
|
5.383575
|
26-56
|
-3
|
|
|
28
|
30
|
Utah
|
2-15
|
6.312131
|
18-64
|
+2
|
|
|
29
|
28
|
Cleveland
|
4-12
|
7.586172
|
20-62
|
-3
|
|
|
30
|
29
|
Milwaukee
|
2-13
|
9.880517
|
15-67
|
-6
|
|
Atlanta's 1-3 record this week sent them plummeting from one of the contenders for a top-4 seed in the East to a team that will struggle to reach .500, although in the East that puts them solidly in the playoff hunt. Their 29-point loss at Houston was the biggest reason for the drop, since they were only picked to lose by 10 but weren't even close. This week doesn't look much nicer for the Hawks, who have to face the Spurs and Clippers.
Not only did Houston blow out Atlanta this week, they also won their other 3 contests, including wins at Memphis and against Minnesota, two other potential playoff foes in the West, and that week has put them in position for the #4 seed in the West, which is a tough height to reach in a conference where 11 teams are projected to win at least 45 games.
Boston went 3-1 this week, with all 3 wins coming against Eastern Conference rivals, which boosted them up into the projected #8 spot in the Eastern Conference, which would be a pretty nice finish for rookie coach Brad Stevens, especially with how this team was gutted over the offseason. They should win 2 more this week, with back-to-back games with last place Milwaukee coming up on the schedule.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Atlanta at Washington - Wizards by 2
Chicago at Cleveland - Bulls by 9
Brooklyn at Memphis - Grizzlies by 18
Minnesota at Dallas - Timberwolves by 2
Houston at San Antonio - Spurs by 9
Boston at Milwaukee - Celtics by 5
Utah at Phoenix - Suns by 15
College Basketball
Robert Morris at Delaware - Fighting Blue Hens by 17
Lipscomb at Georgetown - Hoyas by 22
Brevard at Furman - Paladins by 18
Regina at Bryant - Bulldogs by 39
Davidson at Stetson - Hatters by 3
South Alabama at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 8
Houston Baptist at Army - Black Knights by 3
St. Peter's at Boston - Terriers by 22
Pittsburgh vs. Duquesne - Panthers by 19
Northern Illinois at Nebraska - Cornhuskers by 12
Abilene Christian vs. Towson - Tigers by 21
Arkansas-Pine Bluff vs. Hampton - Pirates by 9
Xavier vs. USC - Musketeers by 14
Central Connecticut State at Brown - Bears by 28
American at St. Francis (PA) - Red Flash by 1
Tennessee State at USC Upstate - Spartans by 18
Pennsylvania at Lafayette - Leopards by 4
Evansville at Ohio - Bobcats by 11
Delaware State at Buffalo - Bulls by 1
Johnson & Wales at Wofford - Terriers by 24
St. John's vs. Georgia Tech - Red Storm by 1
Iowa Wesleyan at Nebraska-Omaha - Mavericks by 42
San Diego at New Mexico - Lobos by 13
Western Carolina at Wright State - Raiders by 16
Texas A&M-Int at Incarnate Word - Cardinals by 21
West Alabama vs. Citadel - Bulldogs by 16
Southern Illinois at Chicago State - Salukis by 3
Pacific vs. Cal Poly - Mustangs by 3
Sam Houston vs. Liberty - Bearkats by 13
Tennessee vs. Wake Forest - Volunteers by 1
Marshall vs. East Tennessee State - Thundering Herd by 6
Manhattan at Hofstra - Jaspers by 5
Niagara at Northwestern State - Demons by 9
Colorado at Air Force - Buffaloes by 15
Yale at Hartford - Bulldogs by 5
Rhode Island at George Mason - Patriots by 17
Florida Memorial at Florida A&M - Rattlers by 27
Denver at Alaska-Anchorage - Pioneers by 10
Penn State vs. Ole Miss - Rebels by 1
Longwood vs. Mississippi Valley State - Lancers by 3
Georgia State at FIU - Golden Panthers by 15
SE Missouri State vs. Tulane - Redhawks by 19
Idaho at UC Davis - Aggies by 1
William & Mary at Howard - Tribe by 9
Graceland at South Dakota - Coyotes by 26
New Mexico State at Colorado State - Aggies by 2
James Madison at Richmond - Spiders by 12
Rochester at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 31
Indiana State vs. Pepperdine - Sycamores by 3
North Dakota at (14) Oregon - Ducks by 16
Long Beach State at Washington - Huskies by 13
SMU vs. Texas A&M - Mustangs by 6
UTEP vs. (2) Kansas - Jayhawks by 22
Detroit at South Florida - Bulls by 9
Campbell at Georgia Southern - Eagles by 13
Holy Cross at New Hampshire - Crusaders by 3
Princeton at Bucknell - Bison by 10
Arkansas State at Lamar - Red Wolves by 4
Tennessee-Martin at UNLV - Rebels by 20
Jacksonville State at Central Michigan - Chippewas by 12
Ball State at Cleveland State - Vikings by 13
North Carolina A&T at Monmouth - Hawks by 5
Austin Peay at Youngstown State - Penguins by 26
Texas State vs. Northern Kentucky - Bobcats by 3
Drake vs. Northern Arizona - Bulldogs by 21
Texas A&M-CC at Houston - Cougars by 11
SE Louisiana at North Texas - Lions by 1
Texas-Pan American at Bradley - Braves by 9
Utah Valley at Tennessee Tech - Golden Eagles by 12
Eastern Kentucky at North Carolina State - Colonels by 2
Greenville at Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 29
Milwaukee at UMKC - Panthers by 14
Cincinnati Christian at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 40
San Jose State at Weber State - Wildcats by 3
Eastern Illinois at Western Kentucky - Hilltoppers by 12
Vermont vs. Sonoma State - Catamounts by 24
BYU vs. Utah State - Aggies by 2
Virginia vs. Missouri State - Cavaliers by 10
Rice vs. Santa Clara - Broncos by 6
Bethune-Cookman vs. Northern Colorado - Bears by 13
(23) Iowa vs. Villanova - Hawkeyes by 11
Montana State at Wyoming - Cowboys by 24
Cal State Bakersfield at Fresno State - Bulldogs by 7
Tulsa vs. Green Bay - Phoenix by 3
UC Irvine at Sacramento State - Anteaters by 3
Murray State at Saint Mary's - Gaels by 26
Illinois State at San Francisco - Dons by 13
Rider vs. North Dakota State - Bison by 10
TCU vs. Harvard - Crimson by 16
Pick of the Day
Brown
For the second time this week I am picking an Ivy League squad, with the Bears hosting Central Connecticut this afternoon, and Brown should have no trouble with the other Blue Devils.
Prediction Results
NBA: 11-2 (.846) 157-83 overall (.654)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 24-19 overall (.558)
College Basketball: 56-12 (.824) 999-226 overall (.816)
Upsets: 3-4 (.429) 99-55 overall (.643)
