Before we get started with this week’s rankings (methodology here): The Celtics have just come off of a 1-3 stretch of 4 games in 5 nights where they lost to the Lakers, Magic and Hawks by a combined total of 12 points. Team is struggling in some close-and-late situations, but the raw material is there to get better. That said, they could use another body, a shot in the arm. Now, release the numbers!
| Rank | Team | W | L | Off | Def | Road | SOS | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cavaliers | 38 | 11 | 104.024 (3) | 96.015 (5) | 1.929 | 2.998 (27) | 12.935 |
| 2 | Celtics | 30 | 16 | 101.371 (13) | 95.046 (1) | 1.902 | 2.954 (28) | 11.181 |
| 3 | Lakers | 37 | 12 | 101.713 (12) | 95.717 (2) | 1.643 | 3.296 (21) | 10.935 |
| 4 | Magic | 32 | 16 | 102.014 (9) | 96.351 (6) | 1.896 | 3.208 (24) | 10.767 |
| 5 | Nuggets | 33 | 15 | 103.925 (4) | 98.782 (12) | 1.677 | 2.836 (29) | 9.656 |
| 6 | Spurs | 27 | 19 | 102.731 (7) | 97.814 (8) | 1.293 | 3.423 (19) | 9.634 |
| 7 | Hawks | 30 | 16 | 103.806 (5) | 99.813 (15) | 1.674 | 3.836 (11) | 9.503 |
| 8 | Mavericks | 30 | 18 | 101.881 (10) | 98.671 (11) | 1.896 | 3.953 (5) | 9.059 |
| 9 | Jazz | 29 | 18 | 101.858 (11) | 98.511 (10) | 1.564 | 4.005 (3) | 8.916 |
| 10 | Thunder | 26 | 21 | 99.155 (18) | 95.898 (4) | 1.713 | 3.874 (9) | 8.844 |
| 11 | Suns | 29 | 21 | 106.655 (1) | 103.55 (29) | 1.82 | 3.613 (15) | 8.538 |
| 12 | Blazers | 29 | 21 | 103.667 (6) | 100.484 (17) | 1.68 | 3.503 (17) | 8.366 |
| 13 | Heat | 24 | 24 | 100.33 (15) | 98.794 (13) | 1.677 | 3.91 (8) | 7.123 |
| 14 | Bobcats | 24 | 23 | 96.754 (25) | 95.821 (3) | 1.787 | 3.866 (10) | 6.587 |
| 15 | Rockets | 25 | 22 | 99.586 (16) | 99.688 (14) | 1.787 | 4.564 (1) | 6.249 |
| 16 | Raptors | 26 | 22 | 104.193 (2) | 104.417 (30) | 1.823 | 3.93 (6) | 5.529 |
| 17 | Bucks | 21 | 25 | 96.999 (24) | 97.448 (7) | 1.826 | 3.376 (20) | 4.754 |
| 18 | Grizzlies | 26 | 21 | 102.162 (8) | 103.11 (27) | 1.713 | 3.803 (12) | 4.567 |
| 19 | Hornets | 26 | 22 | 100.408 (14) | 101.608 (20) | 1.896 | 3.047 (25) | 3.743 |
| 20 | Bulls | 23 | 22 | 95.126 (27) | 97.87 (9) | 1.867 | 3.911 (7) | 3.033 |
| 21 | Clippers | 20 | 27 | 97.535 (23) | 99.947 (16) | 1.787 | 3.241 (22) | 2.616 |
| 22 | Knicks | 18 | 29 | 99.304 (17) | 101.58 (19) | 1.638 | 2.804 (30) | 2.166 |
| 23 | Kings | 16 | 31 | 98.677 (21) | 102.34 (23) | 1.787 | 3.974 (4) | 2.097 |
| 24 | Sixers | 16 | 31 | 98.833 (20) | 101.835 (21) | 1.787 | 3.03 (26) | 1.815 |
| 25 | Warriors | 13 | 33 | 99.025 (19) | 102.985 (26) | 1.826 | 3.586 (16) | 1.451 |
| 26 | Wizards | 16 | 31 | 98.008 (22) | 102.355 (24) | 1.638 | 3.494 (18) | 0.785 |
| 27 | Pistons | 15 | 31 | 95.749 (26) | 102.025 (22) | 1.598 | 4.141 (2) | -0.537 |
| 28 | Pacers | 16 | 32 | 94.715 (28) | 100.633 (18) | 1.823 | 3.218 (23) | -0.877 |
| 29 | Timberwolves | 11 | 38 | 93.964 (29) | 102.955 (25) | 1.714 | 3.712 (14) | -3.564 |
| 30 | Nets | 4 | 42 | 91.191 (30) | 103.46 (28) | 1.826 | 3.748 (13) | -6.695 |
The takeaways?
- Cavaliers lead continues to grow. Celtics stumbling and Lakers sort of flatness has made it easy. That said the compression at the top continues, as spots 2 through 10 are only separated by 2.5 points (inside the normal spread for home court). In a playoff series, the usual suspects still seem to be good picks, but definitely more volatility in the middle as we have said all along.
- It is starting to look like last year between the conferences with the East occupying 3 of the top 4 positions, but only one other position in the top 12. The West’s middle is just so much stronger and their tournament so much more compelling.
- Surprise surge of the last month are the Jazz, who looked like the 3rd best team in the NBA in 2008, looked near dead a year ago, but now have sneaked into the Top 10. Probably playing the best ball in the league since the new year.
Meadow Muffins of the Mind 