Fifteen weeks in the books. We started with a dominant Celtics team which has been fading ever since, and a Cleveland Cavalier team of disparate parts which has jelled into something potentially very very special. As always, the methodology is here:
| Rank | Team | W | L | Off | Def | Road | SOS | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cavaliers | 41 | 11 | 104.229 (3) | 95.839 (2) | 1.817 | 2.983 (27) | 13.19 |
| 2 | Lakers | 40 | 13 | 101.999 (11) | 96.132 (4) | 1.585 | 3.546 (16) | 10.999 |
| 3 | Magic | 35 | 17 | 102.04 (10) | 96.185 (5) | 1.817 | 3.176 (24) | 10.848 |
| 4 | Celtics | 32 | 17 | 101.334 (12) | 95.465 (1) | 1.786 | 2.912 (29) | 10.567 |
| 5 | Jazz | 31 | 18 | 102.502 (7) | 98.505 (10) | 1.5 | 4.077 (4) | 9.573 |
| 6 | Nuggets | 34 | 17 | 103.885 (4) | 99.291 (14) | 1.716 | 3.173 (25) | 9.483 |
| 7 | Spurs | 29 | 21 | 102.409 (9) | 97.915 (9) | 1.47 | 3.445 (20) | 9.409 |
| 8 | Hawks | 32 | 17 | 103.765 (5) | 99.792 (16) | 1.643 | 3.771 (11) | 9.387 |
| 9 | Thunder | 29 | 21 | 99.49 (18) | 95.916 (3) | 1.75 | 3.795 (9) | 9.119 |
| 10 | Suns | 31 | 21 | 106.833 (1) | 103.476 (28) | 1.885 | 3.576 (15) | 8.818 |
| 11 | Mavericks | 32 | 19 | 102.411 (8) | 99.123 (12) | 1.853 | 3.64 (14) | 8.781 |
| 12 | Blazers | 30 | 23 | 103.467 (6) | 101.042 (18) | 1.651 | 3.781 (10) | 7.856 |
| 13 | Heat | 24 | 27 | 100.033 (15) | 99.002 (11) | 1.784 | 4.081 (3) | 6.896 |
| 14 | Rockets | 27 | 23 | 99.776 (17) | 99.222 (13) | 1.75 | 4.304 (1) | 6.608 |
| 15 | Bobcats | 24 | 25 | 96.962 (23) | 96.354 (6) | 1.786 | 3.94 (5) | 6.334 |
| 16 | Raptors | 28 | 23 | 104.353 (2) | 104.459 (30) | 1.784 | 3.496 (18) | 5.175 |
| 17 | Bucks | 23 | 26 | 96.934 (24) | 97.461 (7) | 1.857 | 3.299 (22) | 4.629 |
| 18 | Hornets | 27 | 25 | 100.704 (14) | 101.93 (21) | 1.885 | 3.194 (23) | 3.853 |
| 19 | Grizzlies | 26 | 24 | 101.218 (13) | 103.3 (27) | 1.75 | 3.858 (7) | 3.526 |
| 20 | Knicks | 19 | 31 | 99.916 (16) | 101.712 (20) | 1.61 | 2.91 (30) | 2.724 |
| 21 | Clippers | 21 | 29 | 96.889 (25) | 99.452 (15) | 1.82 | 3.378 (21) | 2.635 |
| 22 | Bulls | 24 | 25 | 94.549 (29) | 97.774 (8) | 1.857 | 3.871 (6) | 2.504 |
| 23 | Sixers | 19 | 31 | 99.081 (19) | 101.545 (19) | 1.82 | 2.967 (28) | 2.323 |
| 24 | Kings | 16 | 34 | 99.069 (20) | 102.859 (24) | 1.75 | 4.116 (2) | 2.077 |
| 25 | Warriors | 13 | 37 | 98.797 (21) | 103.07 (26) | 1.82 | 3.81 (8) | 1.357 |
| 26 | Wizards | 17 | 32 | 97.601 (22) | 102.301 (23) | 1.714 | 3.532 (17) | 0.547 |
| 27 | Pacers | 18 | 33 | 95.288 (27) | 100.318 (17) | 1.784 | 3.076 (26) | -0.17 |
| 28 | Pistons | 17 | 32 | 95.924 (26) | 102.056 (22) | 1.643 | 3.482 (19) | -1.007 |
| 29 | Timberwolves | 13 | 38 | 94.656 (28) | 102.906 (25) | 1.716 | 3.73 (12) | -2.805 |
| 30 | Nets | 4 | 46 | 91.7 (30) | 103.696 (29) | 1.89 | 3.686 (13) | -6.42 |
Impressions:
- Only two 40 win teams at this juncture, the two teams we probably expected. The Lakers were very impressive the last two nights out with Kobe-less wins over the Blazers and Spurs. I am not sure they have quite rounded into form. Their #4 defense had that ghastly oopsie against Denver on Friday, although 15-22 from 3 point land might be just incredible bad luck. One thing worth noting is the raw score. Despite the record being close to Cleveland, they are honestly closer in rating to 10th place than 1st.
- Not sure if Cleveland will keep this up and live to its promise of greatness, but it’s getting closer.
- Spurs are 7th and have the fundamentals of a very good team numerically. However, their 1.47 Home/Away number is the lowest in the league, thus the most home-tilted schedule to date. This portends to possibly slippage – their fortune in close games might hurt their seed, chances to cash in that they whiffed on.
- Jazz have been the best team in the league since the new year, and the rise to 5th shows. Really the success has lay in the defense, which is a vast improvement on a year ago, and good enough for an estimable 10th this year. Add in the tough schedule, albeit a bit home kinked, and presto.
Meadow Muffins of the Mind 