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Change
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Team
|
W-L
(ATS)
|
Power Rating
|
Team Comments
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| 1 |
1 |
 |
 |
13-5
(8-10-0)
|
-14.0 |
Miami
They don't have the best record, but they will be a favorite in every game this year and are still the front-runners to win the NBA title. |
| 2 |
2 |
|
 |
17-4
(14-6-1)
|
-13.8 |
Oklahoma City
Eight-game win streak averaging 111.4 PPG. The Thunder own the league's best scoring differential and are the highest scoring team. |
| 3 |
3 |
|
 |
17-4
(14-6-1)
|
-13.5 |
San Antonio
Just a hair behind Oklahoma City right now in terms of scoring, point differential and our rankings. Only loss in last 11 games is when Popovich rested his stars. |
| 4 |
5 |
 1 |
 |
14-6
(12-8-0)
|
-12.0 |
L.A. Clippers
All of a sudden the Clippers have gotten hot again with seven straight wins. Looking at the upcoming schedule, that streak could reach double digits. |
| 5 |
6 |
1 |
 |
15-5
(13-7-0)
|
-11.0 |
New York
The two wins over Miami look great. But can the Knicks possibly continue to shoot this well? Probably not. |
| 6 |
4 |
 2 |
 |
14-4
(12-5-1)
|
-10.8 |
Memphis
Just 4-4-1 ATS after eight-game SU/ATS win streak. Getting a Top-4 seed in the West would be huge. But being star-less in this league means you won't win a championship. |
| 7 |
7 |
|
 |
11-8
(10-7-2)
|
-10.0 |
Brooklyn
Have lost five in a row, three to division leaders. Like Memphis, the goal is to get a Top-4 seed in the conference. |
| 8 |
13 |
5 |
 |
12-5
(7-9-1)
|
-9.0 |
Atlanta
I never trust this team, so it was no surprise to see them lose at Miami. Their only other loss during the last 11 games was at the buzzer to Cleveland. |
| 9 |
8 |
1 |
 |
11-9
(8-10-2)
|
-8.8 |
Boston
The Celtics will perpetually let you down in the regular season, but their past pedigree keeps them high. Have only won back-t-back games three times. |
| 10 |
14 |
4 |
 |
11-8
(7-12-0)
|
-8.5 |
Chicago
The Bulls have been unbelievable defensively of late, holding nine of last 10 opponents to 94 points or less. |
| 11 |
10 |
1 |
 |
11-9
(10-10-0)
|
-8.3 |
Philadelphia
Is Andrew Bynum ever going to play? I can't answer that, but the Sixers have won seven of their last eight home games. |
| 12 |
12 |
|
 |
12-10
(10-11-1)
|
-8.0 |
Utah
The strongest home/road dichotomy in the league - 8-1 SU at home, 4-9 on the road. Lone home loss was by a point. |
| 13 |
11 |
2 |
 |
10-11
(11-10-0)
|
-7.8 |
Denver
Haven't won back-to-back games since Thanksgiving. Have yet to live up to preseason promise that had some (cough, ESPN, cough) thinking they'd be at the top of the West. |
| 14 |
9 |
5 |
 |
9-12
(9-12-0)
|
-7.6 |
L.A. Lakers
Last week, I said it was hard to justify their Top-10 ranking. Now, it would be impossible. Not to overreact or anything, but the Mike D'Antoni hire stinks. |
| 15 |
21 |
6 |
 |
13-7
(12-7-1)
|
-7.5 |
Golden State
Are you even aware the Warriors are 14-7 straight up? I'm guessing no. Mark Jackson has completely flipped the team's identity and they could be the surprise playoff team this year. |
| 16 |
18 |
2 |
 |
9-9
(11-7-0)
|
-7.3 |
Minnesota
Have covered five of last six and are getting healthier. I was shocked to see they have scored more than 100 points only twice all season. |
| 17 |
17 |
|
 |
10-10
(9-11-0)
|
-7.0 |
Dallas
Just when you think the Mavs are going South, they win three straight. But six of next eight games are on the road. |
| 18 |
19 |
1 |
 |
9-10
(9-9-1)
|
-6.8 |
Houston
Not only do they have a highly-overrated backcourt, but the Rockets play no defense. Have allowed 114 or more points in five of last six games. |
| 19 |
15 |
4 |
 |
10-9
(9-10-0)
|
-6.3 |
Milwaukee
Their "strong" start in the Central Division was largely a byproduct of Chicago and Indiana's early season struggles. Look for the Bucks to fade. |
| 20 |
16 |
4 |
 |
10-11
(10-11-0)
|
-6.0 |
Indiana
Until Danny Granger comes back, this is a fringe playoff team at best. Have only scored more than 100 points only three times all season. |
| 21 |
20 |
1 |
 |
8-12
(7-12-1)
|
-5.0 |
Portland
Monday night saw them defeat the Raptors by 18 despite going 0-for-20 from 3-point range. That's the most attempts without a make in league history. |
| 22 |
27 |
5 |
 |
7-15
(10-12-0)
|
-3.5 |
Detroit
Since opening 0-8, they are a respectable 7-9 straight up, but Tuesday's loss was their sixth in eight games. |
| 23 |
23 |
|
 |
8-12
(10-9-1)
|
-3.1 |
Orlando
A respectable 5-5 SU their last 10 games. They just went 4-1 ATS on a West Coast trip, winning outright twice as a double-digit dog. |
| 24 |
25 |
1 |
 |
7-12
(7-11-1)
|
-3.0 |
Sacramento
Just won its first road game, 99-80 at Portland for a season-high three-game win streak. Then promptly got waxed by 23 at Dallas. |
| 25 |
22 |
3 |
 |
7-15
(6-15-1)
|
-2.8 |
Phoenix
This was our pick before the season to be the worst team in the Western Conference. They've lived up to advanced billing with seven straight losses. |
| 26 |
29 |
3 |
 |
4-17
(9-12-0)
|
-2.5 |
Cleveland
Kyrie Irving is back and they beat the Lakers outright Tuesday for just their third win in the last 18 games. |
| 27 |
24 |
3 |
 |
4-17
(9-12-0)
|
-2.3 |
Toronto
The only team "North of the Border" is quickly heading South with 11 losses in their last 12 games. |
| 28 |
26 |
2 |
 |
5-14
(10-9-0)
|
-2.0 |
New Orleans
Wow, has this gotten ugly in a hurry. Losing 13 of 15 is bad, but scoring only 70 points and losing at home to the Wizards is unforgivable. |
| 29 |
28 |
1 |
 |
7-12
(8-11-0)
|
-1.5 |
Charlotte
Remember when everyone was starting to praise Michael Jordan when the Bobcats got to seven wins? That was three weeks ago and the team hasn't won since. |
| 30 |
30 |
|
 |
2-15
(8-8-1)
|
-1.0 |
Washington
Have won three of six. I'm starting to think they might escape the bottom of the rankings in the upcoming weeks. |
| Return to the Current Week's rankings |
Power Ratings compute offensive and defensive statistics into one number for each team, while accounting for factors like recent performances and strength of schedule. Power Ratings can be used as a baseline for relative spread index to compare current or future match-ups between two teams. The relative spread does not account for non-statistical factors like home-field advantage, recent injuries, game time decisions, rivalries, publicity, and weather.