Three straight losses this week knocked the Thunder from the top spot for the first time in over a month, and they didn't just fall one spot this time. The loss to Miami wasn't even close, and there's never any excuse for losing to Cleveland at home, especially by 10 points. That cleared the way for the Clippers to take over the top spot after beating OKC this week, though the top two teams in the East are lurking there waiting for LA to slip up. Here are this week's full rankings:
|
Rank
|
LW
|
Team
|
Record
|
Rating
|
Predic
|
Ch
|
Seed
|
|
1
|
2
|
LA Clippers
|
40-20
|
-5.92422
|
56-26
|
+1
|
3W
|
|
2
|
3
|
Indiana
|
44-13
|
-5.08107
|
61-21
|
|
1E
|
|
3
|
6
|
Miami
|
41-14
|
-4.76488
|
59-23
|
+1
|
2E
|
|
4
|
4
|
Golden State
|
36-23
|
-4.44223
|
51-31
|
|
6W
|
|
5
|
1
|
Oklahoma City
|
44-15
|
-4.4267
|
59-23
|
-2
|
1W
|
|
6
|
7
|
Houston
|
39-19
|
-4.36222
|
55-27
|
+2
|
5W
|
|
7
|
5
|
San Antonio
|
42-16
|
-4.22817
|
58-24
|
|
2W
|
|
8
|
11
|
Portland
|
40-18
|
-4.11224
|
56-26
|
+2
|
4W
|
|
9
|
9
|
Minnesota
|
28-29
|
-3.35684
|
44-38
|
+1
|
|
|
10
|
8
|
Toronto
|
32-26
|
-2.90799
|
48-34
|
-1
|
3E
|
|
11
|
12
|
Dallas
|
36-24
|
-2.1098
|
48-34
|
|
7W
|
|
12
|
10
|
Phoenix
|
34-24
|
-1.2268
|
46-36
|
-3
|
8W
|
|
13
|
14
|
Chicago
|
32-26
|
-0.75183
|
46-36
|
+2
|
4E
|
|
14
|
13
|
Memphis
|
32-25
|
-0.48112
|
45-37
|
-1
|
|
|
15
|
15
|
Washington
|
30-28
|
-0.4361
|
45-37
|
+3
|
5E
|
|
16
|
16
|
Brooklyn
|
27-29
|
2.10638
|
40-42
|
|
6E
|
|
17
|
18
|
Charlotte
|
27-31
|
2.18347
|
39-43
|
|
7E
|
|
18
|
17
|
Sacramento
|
20-38
|
2.343903
|
30-52
|
|
|
|
19
|
19
|
Atlanta
|
26-31
|
2.660363
|
37-45
|
-1
|
8E
|
|
20
|
20
|
New Orleans
|
23-35
|
3.457087
|
33-49
|
-2
|
|
|
21
|
23
|
Utah
|
21-37
|
3.948252
|
30-52
|
|
|
|
22
|
25
|
Cleveland
|
24-36
|
4.260316
|
32-50
|
+1
|
|
|
23
|
21
|
New York
|
21-38
|
4.524473
|
30-52
|
-3
|
|
|
24
|
24
|
Detroit
|
23-35
|
4.834508
|
32-50
|
-1
|
|
|
25
|
26
|
Boston
|
20-39
|
5.036841
|
29-53
|
|
|
|
26
|
22
|
Denver
|
25-32
|
5.439534
|
32-50
|
-3
|
|
|
27
|
27
|
LA Lakers
|
20-39
|
5.771757
|
27-55
|
|
|
|
28
|
28
|
Orlando
|
18-42
|
6.334801
|
25-57
|
|
|
|
29
|
29
|
Milwaukee
|
11-46
|
9.504154
|
17-65
|
+2
|
|
|
30
|
30
|
Philadelphia
|
15-43
|
13.39324
|
19-63
|
-1
|
|
The Wizards were hot this week, extending their season-long win streak to 5 games with a triple-overtime upset of the Raptors in Toronto on Thursday. They haven't really beaten any good teams during the streak, other than maybe Toronto, but in the East any win is good, since it doesn't take many to make the playoffs, and it's now looking like Washington will finish comfortably above .500.
Houston just finished off a 5-game Pacific Division road trip, finishing 3-2 with losses at the Clippers and Warriors, both current top 4 teams, while beating the rest of the division. The Rockets return home this week, where they must face the other two top 4 teams, Miami and Indiana, but maybe playing at home will give them the advantage.
Phoenix went cold this week, losing three in a row, two against teams that won't make the playoffs, but they are looking forward to seeing Eric Bledsoe back on the court in the near future, which is exactly what they need as they have slipped into the 8th spot in the West, just ahead of the surging Memphis Grizzlies. Goran Dragic has set two new career-highs in scoring this week while sitting out a game and a half in between with an ankle injury.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Orlando at Miami - Heat by 14
Washington at Philadelphia - Wizards by 11
Detroit at Houston - Rockets by 12
Indiana at Boston - Pacers by 7
Brooklyn at Milwaukee - Nets by 4
Cleveland at Memphis - Grizzlies by 10
Denver at Portland - Trail Blazers by 13
Minnesota at Sacramento - Timberwolves by 4
New Orleans at LA Clippers - Clippers by 15
College Basketball
Stetson at Lipscomb - Bisons by 14
Massachusetts at Dayton - Flyers by 2
(11) Cincinnati at Connecticut - Huskies by 6
South Florida at Rutgers - Scarlet Knights by 5
Miami (FL) at North Carolina State - Wolfpack by 6
Vanderbilt at Tennessee - Volunteers by 12
Miami (OH) at Buffalo - Bulls by 14
North Florida at Kennesaw State - Ospreys by 2
Jacksonville at Mercer - Bears by 24
Florida Gulf Coast at Northern Kentucky - Eagles by 1
Northern Iowa at Indiana State - Sycamores by 4
Drexel at Northeastern - Huskies by 1
TCU at West Virginia - Mountaineers by 18
Texas Tech at Baylor - Bears by 9
Mississippi State at Missouri - Tigers by 18
Missouri State at (2) Wichita State - Shockers by 20
(7) Louisville at (21) Memphis - Cardinals by 5
Charleston Southern at Coastal Carolina - Buccaneers by 1
St. Francis (PA) at Mount St. Mary's - Mountaineers by 12
Boston at Holy Cross - Crusaders by 4
Bucknell at American - Eagles by 9
Colgate at Lehigh - Mountain Hawks by 3
Loyola (MD) at Navy - Midshipmen by 6
Pittsburgh at Notre Dame - Panthers by 3
Delaware at Charleston - Fighting Blue Hens by 1
Colorado at Utah - Utes by 11
Richmond at Rhode Island - Rams by 1
Wright State at Illinois-Chicago - Raiders by 2
Central Michigan at Ball State - Cardinals by 2
Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 13
Kent State at Ohio - Bobcats by 11
IPFW at Nebraska-Omaha - Mavericks by 7
(19) North Carolina at Virginia Tech - Tar Heels by 8
Eastern Washington at North Dakota - No Nicknames by 6
Lafayette at Army - Black Knights by 6
Saint Joseph's at St. Bonaventure - Bonnies by 6
Auburn at Alabama - Crimson Tide by 7
Bradley at Drake - Bulldogs by 10
Central Connecticut State at Sacred Heart - Pioneers by 7
LSU at (1) Florida - Gators by 14
(4) Syracuse at (12) Virginia - Cavaliers by 7
Illinois at (18) Michigan State - Spartans by 15
UCF at (23) Southern Methodist - Mustangs by 19
(24) Texas at Oklahoma - Sooners by 7
Presbyterian at Winthrop - Eagles by 19
Evansville at Loyola (IL) - Ramblers by 6
Boston College at Wake Forest - Demon Deacons by 8
Abilene Christian at McNeese State - Cowboys by 6
William & Mary at Towson - Tigers by 9
UNLV at Air Force - Rebels by 6
Georgia at Arkansas - Razorbacks by 13
Cleveland State at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 3
Green Bay at Detroit - Phoenix by 3
Brigham Young at San Diego - Cougars by 4
Bethune-Cookman at Morgan State - Bears by 16
Maryland-Eastern Shore at Coppin State - Eagles by 12
Oregon at USC - Ducks by 7
Howard at Delaware State - Hornets by 11
South Carolina State at North Carolina Central - Eagles by 27
Illinois State at Southern Illinois - Salukis by 5
Gardner-Webb at UNC Asheville - Bulldogs by 4
Radford at Liberty - Flames by 3
Virginia Military at Longwood - Keydets by 8
Bryant at LIU Brooklyn - Bulldogs by 3
Incarnate Word at Nicholls State - Colonels by 3
(9) Creighton at Xavier - Bluejays by 3
Fairleigh Dickinson at St. Francis (NY) - Terriers by 13
South Dakota at South Dakota State - Jackrabbits by 9
Troy at Louisiana-Monroe - Warhawks by 8
Austin Peay at Tennessee-Martin - Skyhawks by 2
Lamar at Central Arkansas - Bears by 8
La Salle at Fordham - Explorers by 1
Northwestern at Nebraska - Cornhuskers by 10
Georgia State at Texas State - Panthers by 6
Belmont at Jacksonville State - Bruins by 7
Stephen F Austin at Southeastern Louisiana - Lumberjacks by 11
(10) Saint Louis at Virginia Commonwealth - Rams by 8
Minnesota at (16) Michigan - Wolverines by 13
(17) Kentucky at South Carolina - Wildcats by 7
Robert Morris at Wagner - Colonials by 4
Eastern Illinois at SIU Edwardsville - Cougars by 8
Brown at Princeton - Tigers by 7
California at Arizona State - Sun Devils by 9
Ole Miss at Texas A&M - Aggies by 2
Norfolk State at Hampton - Pirates by 9
Savannah State at North Carolina A&T - Aggies by 2
Portland at Pacific - Tigers by 9
Western Michigan at Toledo - Rockets by 9
Alabama A&M at Prairie View A&M - Panthers by 2
Southern at Alcorn State - Jaguars by 8
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State - Golden Lions by 5
Boise State at Wyoming - Cowboys by 1
Rice at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 21
Murray State at Southeast Missouri State - Redhawks by 4
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State - Tigers by 15
(15) Iowa State at Kansas State - Cyclones by 1
Tennessee State at Eastern Kentucky - Colonels by 18
James Madison at Hofstra - Pride by 5
Columbia at Harvard - Crimson by 13
Cornell at Dartmouth - Big Green by 16
Yale at Pennsylvania - Bulldogs by 1
Bowling Green at Akron - Zips by 8
Appalachian State at Chattanooga - Mocs by 11
Davidson at Elon - Phoenix by 2
Western Carolina at Samford - Catamounts by 3
UNC Greensboro at Wofford - Terriers by 16
Oakland at Youngstown State - Penguins by 8
Georgia Southern at Citadel - Eagles by 3
Northwestern State at New Orleans - Demons by 1
Tennessee Tech at Morehead State - Eagles by 12
IUPUI at Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 11
Denver at North Dakota State - Bison by 12
Arkansas State at Arkansas-Little Rock - Red Wolves by 1
UC Santa Barbara at UC Davis - Gauchos by 9
Houston Baptist at Texas A&M-CC - Islanders by 13
Utah State at San Jose State - Aggies by 5
Santa Clara at Pepperdine - Waves by 7
Western Kentucky at Texas-Arlington - Mavericks by 3
Sam Houston State at Oral Roberts - Golden Eagles by 5
Alabama State at Texas Southern - Tigers by 7
(5) Kansas at Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 4
Houston at Temple - Owls by 7
Northern Arizona at Weber State - Wildcats by 14
Southern Utah at Montana - Grizzlies by 20
Chicago State at Grand Canyon - Antelopes by 12
Long Beach State at Cal State Fullerton - Titans by 1
Sacramento State at Idaho State - Bengals by 7
Portland State at Northern Colorado - Bears by 10
Texas-Pan American at Utah Valley - Wolverines by 13
New Mexico State at Cal State Bakersfield - Aggies by 4
Idaho at Seattle - Redhawks by 8
Cal State Northridge at UC Riverside - Highlanders by 4
Gonzaga at Saint Mary's - Gaels by 2
San Francisco at Loyola Marymount - Lions by 1
(13) San Diego State at Fresno State - Aztecs by 4
Cal Poly at UC Irvine - Anteaters by 11
Pick of the Day #111
Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders host Rice this afternoon, and while Middle Tennessee is tied for the conference lead, the Owls are dead last in a 16-team conference, so this is an easy win.
Prediction Results
NBA: 5-2 (.714) 560-311 overall (.643)
College Basketball: 10-2 (.833) 3867-1272 overall (.752)
Upsets: 1-2 (.333) 635-415 overall (.605)
Pick of the Day: 106-4 overall (.964)
