Atlanta spent the entire week behind Cleveland in my rankings, only to beat the Cavaliers last night and reaffirm their spot as the best team in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Golden State continues to cruise along as the best team overall and the championship favorite. Here are this week's full rankings:
|
|
|
|
|
Rec
|
Proj
|
|
|
TW
|
LW
|
Team
|
Rating
|
W
|
L
|
W
|
L
|
PO Seed
|
|
1
|
1
|
Golden State
|
-8.84703
|
48
|
12
|
65
|
17
|
W1
|
|
2
|
2
|
LA Clippers
|
-4.9859
|
40
|
22
|
54
|
28
|
W4
|
|
3
|
3
|
Atlanta
|
-4.78084
|
49
|
12
|
64
|
18
|
E1
|
|
4
|
4
|
Cleveland
|
-4.48039
|
39
|
25
|
52
|
30
|
E2
|
|
5
|
5
|
Oklahoma City
|
-3.49078
|
34
|
28
|
47
|
35
|
W8
|
|
6
|
9
|
Portland
|
-3.2591
|
41
|
19
|
55
|
27
|
W3
|
|
7
|
11
|
San Antonio
|
-3.17843
|
38
|
23
|
51
|
31
|
W6
|
|
8
|
7
|
Houston
|
-1.94945
|
42
|
20
|
54
|
28
|
W5
|
|
9
|
8
|
Memphis
|
-1.80343
|
44
|
17
|
56
|
26
|
W2
|
|
10
|
13
|
Utah
|
-1.25358
|
25
|
36
|
38
|
44
|
|
|
11
|
6
|
Dallas
|
-1.04193
|
40
|
24
|
49
|
33
|
W7
|
|
12
|
17
|
Indiana
|
-0.57907
|
26
|
35
|
38
|
44
|
E7
|
|
13
|
10
|
Chicago
|
-0.55205
|
40
|
23
|
51
|
31
|
E3
|
|
14
|
12
|
Milwaukee
|
0.026419
|
32
|
29
|
44
|
38
|
E5
|
|
15
|
14
|
Toronto
|
0.332795
|
38
|
24
|
49
|
33
|
E4
|
|
16
|
16
|
New Orleans
|
1.080221
|
33
|
29
|
42
|
40
|
|
|
17
|
21
|
Charlotte
|
1.434845
|
26
|
34
|
37
|
45
|
E8
|
|
18
|
15
|
Phoenix
|
1.561846
|
33
|
30
|
41
|
41
|
|
|
19
|
18
|
Detroit
|
1.982449
|
23
|
38
|
33
|
49
|
|
|
20
|
22
|
Miami
|
2.72861
|
27
|
34
|
36
|
46
|
|
|
21
|
20
|
Washington
|
2.73777
|
35
|
27
|
43
|
39
|
E6
|
|
22
|
19
|
Boston
|
3.10242
|
25
|
35
|
34
|
48
|
|
|
23
|
23
|
Brooklyn
|
4.669575
|
26
|
34
|
35
|
47
|
|
|
24
|
26
|
Sacramento
|
5.58542
|
21
|
39
|
29
|
53
|
|
|
25
|
25
|
LA Lakers
|
5.656841
|
17
|
44
|
25
|
57
|
|
|
26
|
24
|
Orlando
|
6.076338
|
20
|
43
|
26
|
56
|
|
|
27
|
28
|
Denver
|
6.589441
|
22
|
40
|
28
|
54
|
|
|
28
|
27
|
Minnesota
|
7.303693
|
12
|
48
|
18
|
64
|
|
|
29
|
30
|
Philadelphia
|
9.722171
|
13
|
49
|
19
|
63
|
|
|
30
|
29
|
New York
|
10.65594
|
12
|
48
|
17
|
65
|
|
San Antonio had a 3-0 week, and were most impressive in the first game of the week, holding the Suns to a franchise-record-low 24 points in the first half. They followed that up by destroying Sacramento in their first home game in a month, then gave Denver its first loss since Brian Shaw was fired. It looks like the Spurs are finally ready to turn it on to finish the season strong, just like they do every season.
The Utah Jazz are the latest team to reach the top 10, and probably the most surprising this season, considering their 11th place standing in the West right now. They have now won 8 of their past 11 games, including wins over Memphis, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Portland, and they haven't lost back-to-back games in over a month. While they have virtually no chance of making the playoffs in the West, they would be right in the thick of the East race and will probably finish far ahead of the #7 seed in the other conference.
Playoff Picks
First Round
(1) Hawks over (8) Hornets
(2) Cavaliers over (7) Pacers
(3) Bulls over (6) Wizards
(5) Bucks over (4) Raptors
(1) Warriors over (8) Thunder
(7) Mavericks over (2) Grizzlies
(6) Spurs over (3) Trail Blazers
(4) Clippers over (5) Rockets
Second Round
(1) Hawks over (5) Bucks
(2) Cavaliers over (3) Bulls
(1) Warriors over (4) Clippers
(7) Mavericks over (6) Spurs
Conference Finals
(2) Cavaliers over (1) Hawks
(1) Warriors over (7) Mavericks
NBA Finals
(1) Warriors over (2) Cavaliers
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
Memphis at New Orleans - Grizzlies by 1
Phoenix at Cleveland - Cavaliers by 8
Sacramento at Miami - Heat by 5
Indiana at New York - Pacers by 9
Atlanta at Philadelphia - Hawks by 12
Portland at Minnesota - Trail Blazers by 8
Washington at Milwaukee - Bucks by 5
Houston at Denver - Rockets by 6
College Basketball
Syracuse at NC State - Wolfpack by 7
Miami (FL) at Virginia Tech - Hurricanes by 4
Pittsburgh at Florida State - Seminoles by 3
(21) Butler at (24) Providence - Friars by 2
Seton Hall at Georgetown - Hoyas by 12
Northwestern at Iowa - Hawkeyes by 14
Michigan State at Indiana - Hoosiers by 1
Bryant at Robert Morris - Colonials by 7
Siena vs. Iona - Gaels by 12
Longwood vs. Winthrop - Eagles by 9
Elon vs. William & Mary - Tribe by 8
UNC Greensboro vs. Wofford - Terriers by 10
Oklahoma State at (20) West Virginia - Mountaineers by 9
Connecticut at Temple - Owls by 5
Wake Forest at Boston College - Golden Eagles by 5
St. John's at (4) Villanova - Wildcats by 15
DePaul at Marquette - Golden Eagles by 9
Georgia Southern at Georgia State - Panthers by 10
Alabama at Texas A&M - Aggies by 8
Florida at (1) Kentucky - Wildcats by 20
LSU at (18) Arkansas - Razorbacks by 8
Saint Joseph's at Rhode Island - Rams by 13
St. Francis (PA) at St. Francis (NY) - Terriers by 8
Gardner-Webb vs. Coastal Carolina - Chanticleers by 6
Xavier at Creighton - Musketeers by 3
Rutgers at Michigan - Wolverines by 12
California at Arizona State - Sun Devils by 11
East Tennessee State vs. Western Carolina - Buccaneers by 3
Hofstra vs. James Madison - Pride by 8
Canisius vs. Monmouth - Golden Griffins by 1
Illinois State vs. (8) Wichita State - Shockers by 8
UMKC at UT Pan American - Kangaroos by 3
North Texas at UTSA - Roadrunners by 7
Portland vs. Saint Mary's - Gaels by 5
UT Arlington at Appalachian State - Mavericks by 2
Massachusetts at George Washington - Colonials by 10
(9) Kansas at (15) Oklahoma - Sooners by 6
Kansas State at Texas - Longhorns by 13
Tulane at South Florida - Bulls by 2
Clemson at (12) Notre Dame - Fighting Irish by 16
Dayton at La Salle - Explorers by 1
Rice at UTEP - Miners by 16
Stanford at (5) Arizona - Wildcats by 16
New Orleans at Northwestern State - Demons by 10
Georgia at Auburn - Bulldogs by 6
South Carolina at Tennessee - Volunteers by 3
Fordham at St. Bonaventure - Bonnies by 12
Sacramento State at Northern Arizona - Lumberjacks by 6
(13) Utah at Washington - Utes by 12
Illinois at Purdue - Boilermakers by 5
Abilene Christian at Texas A&M-CC - Islanders by 13
Texas State at UL Monroe - Warhawks by 8
San Diego vs. Pepperdine - Toreros by 1
Troy at South Alabama - Jaguars by 5
Loyola (IL) vs. (11) Northern Iowa - Panthers by 11
Western Kentucky at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 10
George Mason at VCU - Rams by 19
Saint Peter's vs. Rider - Broncs by 1
Alcorn State at Prairie View - Panthers by 16
Brown at Harvard - Crimson by 17
Columbia at Princeton - Tigers by 4
Cal Poly at UC Santa Barbara - Gauchos by 9
Alabama A&M at Grambling State - Bulldogs by 8
Furman vs. Chattanooga - Mocs by 10
Charleston vs. UNC Wilmington - Seahawks by 6
(2) Virginia at (16) Louisville - Cardinals by 1
Alabama State at Jackson State - Tigers by 3
Colorado at Washington State - Buffaloes by 1
Missouri at Mississippi State - Bulldogs by 7
Davidson at Duquesne - Wildcats by 8
Cornell at Pennsylvania - Big Red by 1
Yale at Dartmouth - Bulldogs by 1
Marshall at Charlotte - 49ers by 15
Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic - Blue Raiders by 1
Western Illinois vs. South Dakota State - Jackrabbits by 16
UIC vs. Green Bay - Phoenix by 14
Belmont vs. (25) Murray State - Racers by 5
Sam Houston at SF Austin - Lumberjacks by 7
UAB at FIU - Blazers by 1
Fresno State at Boise State - Broncos by 17
Wyoming at New Mexico - Lobos by 6
Incarnate Word at Houston Baptist - Huskies by 1
Nicholls State at SE Louisiana - Lions by 12
Long Beach State at UC Riverside - Highlanders by 1
Hawaii at CS Fullerton - Warriors by 2
Saint Louis at Richmond - Spiders by 20
Marist vs. Manhattan - Jaspers by 8
UL Lafayette at Arkansas State - Ragin Cajuns by 4
(17) Iowa State at TCU - Cyclones by 1
Southern at Texas Southern - Tigers by 9
VMI vs. Mercer - Bears by 3
Delaware vs. Northeastern - Huskies by 9
North Dakota at Northern Colorado - Bears by 8
Eastern Washington at Weber State - Eagles by 2
Idaho at Idaho State - Vandals by 1
Portland State at Southern Utah - Thunderbirds by 3
(3) Duke at (19) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 3
Seattle at Grand Canyon - Antelopes by 4
Chicago State at New Mexico State - Aggies by 21
Colorado State at Utah State - Rams by 1
Vanderbilt at Ole Miss - Rebels by 1
San Francisco vs. (7) Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 18
Montana at Montana State - Grizzlies by 4
CS Bakersfield at Utah Valley - Wolverines by 1
Denver vs. North Dakota State - Pioneers by 1
Cleveland State vs. Valparaiso - Crusaders by 2
Nevada at San Diego State - Aztecs by 22
UNLV at San Jose State - Rebels by 16
UC Irvine at UC Davis - Aggies by 4
Santa Clara vs. BYU - Cougars by 16
Prediction Results
NBA: 11-1 (.917) 622-289 overall (.683)
Upsets: 3-0 (1.000) 59-74 overall (.444)
College Basketball: 21-9 (.700) 4047-1419 overall (.740)
Upsets: 3-3 (.500) 356-365 overall (.494)
Pick of the Day: 107-3
Pick of the Day
New Mexico State
The Aggies have run away with the WAC this season, and tonight they are playing Chicago State, currently second from the bottom of the conference. Just one more easy win as New Mexico State gets ready for March Madness.
