Posted on 4/3/2008 6:21:41 PM

NBA Basketball Betting Power Poll - Week 23 – Part 2

By Mike Rose

(CURRENT) (TEAM) (W/L OVERALL & W/L FOR WEEK) (ATS RECORD) (LAST WEEKS RANK)

16) Washington Wizards (38-37/1-3) (42-33 ATS) (LW: 15) It was a brutal week for the Wizards as they went 1-3 SU and 2-2 ATS, and now find themselves in a three team tie with Toronto and Philadelphia for the 5th-7th seeds. However, “Agent 0” is back on the roster after a six-month hiatus, and the Wizards are now a stronger dark horse club in the East in my opinion. They should get healthier this week with games slated to go against the pathetic Miami Heat and worthless Chicago Bulls.

17) Toronto Raptors (38-37/2-2) (37-37-1 ATS) (LW: 18) The Raptors continued to fizzle out this past week splitting both of the games SU, but going 1-3 ATS to pull even ATS for the first time all year. Their recent play now finds them in a three-way tie with Washington and Philadelphia for the 5,6, and 7 seeds, and Atlanta only trails them by three games. If they don’t pick up their game, the Dinos are in jeopardy of falling from the 5th seed to the 8th seed throughout the last two weeks of the regular season.

18) Portland Trailblazers (38-37/0-3) (37-35 ATS) (LW: 17) The little hope the Blazers held on to with last weeks 3-1 SU effort was all but squashed after they lost all three games SU this past week. We won’t get to see this club battle in the post-season this year, but let it be known now that Portland will become one of the premiere teams in the West once Mr. Oden finds his way to the Rose Garden.

19) Sacramento Kings (34-40/2-1) (38-35-1 ATS) (LW: 19) The Kings bounced back from last years nightmare of a week to go 2-1 SU and ATS. They won’t be making the post-season this year, but they can really be a thorn in the side of the teams that are considering they face playoff teams in six of their final eight games of the season. This week has them hosting the Clippers and Lakers and visiting both the Nuggets and Warriors.

20) Indiana Pacers (31-44/2-1) (35-39-1 ATS) (LW: 21) The end of the Donnie Walsh era has arrived, and Larry Bird now has full control of the Pacers franchise. Hopefully he can make some moves to turn the Pacers back into a contender in the East sooner rather than later. They’ve got a pair against Milwaukee this week followed by a trip to take on the red-hot Atlanta Hawks.

21) Charlotte Bobcats (28-47/2-2) (32-41-2 ATS) (LW: 24) The Bobcats strung together a 2-2 SU and 1-2-1 ATS mark this week, but it could have been better with tough SU and ATS losses to both Cleveland and Toronto. The Bobcats have been playing much better ball of late, so look for them to keep playing at this level hoping to gain more confidence and experience for next years campaign.

22) New Jersey Nets (31-44/0-3) (30-43-2 ATS) (LW: 20) Posted last week: Look for this club to finally go away over the next week and a half with games slated to go against Indy, Phoenix, Philly, Detroit, and Toronto. Finally, we can put a fork in this club! Now four games in back of Atlanta for the #8 seed in the East, the Nets season looks to be coming to a close after they play out the string of their regular season schedule.

23) Chicago Bulls (29-45/1-2) (32-42 ATS) (LW: 22) The Bulls 1-2 SU and ATS mark this past week clearly signals that this club’s season is over. These guys have to be the biggest disappointment in the league as many had them pegged to go to the Eastern Conference Finals this season. Boston let it be known that’s hardly the truth by pasting them by 14 in the United Center Tuesday night. GM John Paxson has plenty of work to do this off-season.

24) Milwaukee Bucks (26-48/2-2) (32-41 ATS) (LW: 26) The Bucks picked up a couple more wins this week to improve its SU mark to 26-48 on the year. At least they’re playing with some gusto to close out the year.

25) Minnesota Timberwolves (19-55/1-3) (35-38-1 ATS) (LW: 23) The Timberwolves shockingly took care of the Jazz at home for their lone win of the week, and followed it up with a solid effort against the Pistons in a losing but covering effort. They travel to the land of the sun to take on Phoenix to start this week, and have a chance to pick up their 20th win of the season against both Memphis and Charlotte to close it out.

26) Seattle Supersonics (17-58/0-3) (35-37-3 ATS) (LW: 25) Who really cares about what this dreadful team did this past week? This season’s been lost for quite some time. The more important thing to take note of is that the NBA will no longer take part at competing in Seattle. The franchise will pack the Mayflower buses and move to Oklahoma City to play starting next season.

27) LA Clippers (23-52/2-2) (32-43 ATS) (LW: 28) The Clippers only have seven games left in their nightmarish 2007-08 season, which gives Elton Brand the opportunity to get back in the swing of things before he can immediately start rehabbing again. Fun!!!

28) NY Knicks (20-55/0-4) (33-41-1 ATS) (LW: 27) The Knicks came to the last of their backers aid this past week by going 3-1 ATS even though they lost all four of their games SU. Hopefully Donnie Walsh is the man to turn this desperate franchise back into a contender.

29) Memphis Grizzles (20-55/2-2) (33-41-1 ATS) (LW: 29) The Grizzlies win at the Lakers was one of the teams best victories of the season, and they’re now 5-5 and 7-3 ATS their L/10. Why they’re trying so hard at this stage of the game is beyond me. The more games they win, the less ping-pong balls they’ll have in the lottery. Doesn’t make sense, but not much has made since about this franchise since its days in Vancouver.

30) Miami Heat (13-62/0-4) (29-45-1 ATS) (LW: 30) Miami has completely thrown the towel in for the season with both Shawn Marion and Dwayne Wade on the shelf. They’ll be happy just to play the string out and hopefully win the NBA Lottery over the summer for the rights to the #1 pick in the draft.

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