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posted February 21, 2008 at 17:19 in NBA Articles

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

1) LA Lakers (37-17/2-0) (34-18-1 ATS) (LW: 5) The Lakers have been flat out getting it done ever since I said they’d start losing a number of games due to injuries. That just hasn’t been the case as Head Coach Phil Jackson’s crew is now 10-2 SU and 11-1 ATS since that comment. Pau Gasol has fit in better than anyone in the Lakers front office could have imagined, and the Lakers are playing the best basketball in the league by far. Because of that, they leapfrog everyone and grab the #1 slot for the second time this season. They’ll continue to prey on western Conference opposition this week with games set to go this week against the Clippers, Sonics, and Trailblazers.

2) New Orleans Hornets (37-15/1-0) (32-19-1 ATS) (LW: 3) The Hornets picked right back up where they left off before the break and kept its winning streak alive by knocking off Dallas in Jason Kidd’s debut at the point. They currently hold a 2-game lead over the Spurs in the Southwest, and it looks like they’ll be in contention for the division championship the rest of the way. That said, this is a crucial week for the Hornets with game slated to go against division rivals Houston and San Antonio.

3) Boston Celtics (41-11/0-2) (31-19-2 ATS) (LW: 1) The Celtics relinquish the top spot after dropping each of its first two games on the road out of the break. This clubs health has been a major problem over the last couple weeks, but they still found ways to win. That hasn’t been the case so far this trip, but the schedule becomes a bit easier after Friday night’s showdown with Phoenix. Boston’s yet to go on a prolonged losing streak this season, and it might just be that time to get it out of their systems.

4) Detroit Pistons (39-15/0-2) (30-23-1 ATS) (LW: 2) What the heck was that Detroit??!!! A little too much partying over the break? They got rolled up and smoked by the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, and followed that effort up with a 103-98 road defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks whom they already smeared twice earlier this season. In all actuality, the Pistons historically struggle right out of the gates after the break, so they should be good to go at home against Milwaukee Friday night before packing their bags for a four-game western Conference road swing.

5) Utah Jazz (35-19/1-0) (29-25 ATS) (LW: 7) Posted last week: Hopefully they don’t do too much Boozing over the break because they have a date with Golden State right after it, and you don’t want to be hung-over chasing those guys up and down the court. They didn’t, and they secured the 119-109 home win and cover to secure a victory in their lone game of the week. These guys are playing out of their minds right now winning 9 of their L/10 and 17 of their L/19. On top of that, they’ve been betting gold winning 11 of 13 ATS. They’ve got a pair of road games at LA and Minnesota as well as two home games against Atlanta and Detroit set to go this week.

6) San Antonio Spurs (35-17/1-0) (25-26-1 ATS) (LW: 8) Don’t look now, but the defending champs have gotten healthier and turned their level of play up a couple notches over the last couple weeks. Since dropping back-to-back road affairs to the Jazz and Sonics, they’re 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS. They pasted Charlotte by 20 right out of the break and held them to a ridiculously low 65 points. They’ll hit the road to play Minny Thursday night, but then return home for three against Atlanta and division rivals Dallas and New Orleans.

7) Phoenix Suns (37-17/1-1) (24-28-2 ATS) (LW: 4) The Suns picked up a nice win over Dallas before the break, but then had its bubble burst at home against the Lakers in Shaq’s debut. The game was flat out sensational, and one of the best regular season match-ups I’ve ever witnessed. It will take some time for everyone to settle in with one another but Shaq looked 10 years younger playing on a contender, so GM Steve Kerr looks to have made a wise decision to help them in the post-season. They’ll welcome in the two Eastern Conference Superpowers (Boston & Detroit) before hitting the road to take on Memphis and New Orleans later in the week.

8) Golden State Warriors (33-21/1-1) (23-31 ATS) (LW: 9) I don’t care what anyone says about this Warriors club, they are just exceptionally fun to watch. Baron Davis and Monta Ellis’ performances against Boston were fantastic, and this Warriors club is the last team anyone wants to match-up with in the post-season. They don’t have to hit the road until March, so look for the good times to continue to roll over the next week.

9) Houston Rockets (33-20/1-0) (28-24-1 ATS) (LW: 10) The Rockets continued on its longest winning streak in years right out of the break by going into Cleveland and handing Lebron and company a 93-85 defeat. It’s finally nice to see this club play according to its talent on the roster, and it looks as if they’re in the midst of executing a trade before the deadline. They get the luxury of hosting three Eastern Conference dregs this week, but Friday night’s battle in New Orleans is certainly a must see.

10) Dallas Mavericks (35-19/0-2) (21-30-3 ATS) (LW: 6) In all honesty, I don’t know what the Mavs front office (mainly Mark Cuban) was thinking when they traded away all those players for Jason Kidd. Their problem wasn’t at the point, and I don’t think they’ve improved themselves with the trade. That said, they lost before the break at Phoenix, and they lost with the newly acquired Kidd at New Orleans for the second time this season. Luckily, the week looks brighter with what should be W’s against Memphis, Minnesota, and Chicago.

11) Denver Nuggets (33-20/1-0) (28-25 ATS) (LW: 11) The Nuggets picked up a nice victory over Boston right out of the break. As good as this team has been at home (22-6) they’ve been that mediocre on the road (11-14), and they’re going to need to pick their play up as a visitor if they have any intentions of hoisting any kind of hardware this season. They’ll also need to tighten up the screws defensively. They’re on the road for three games this week against Chicago, Milwaukee, and Seattle with a home game against Detroit. Hopefully they execute better on the road this week against three terrible teams.

12) Cleveland Cavaliers (30-24/1-1) (25-29 ATS) (LW: 12) Lebron and company suffered a tough home loss to the red hot Rockets out of the break, but bounced back the following night with a solid road win and cover at Indiana. Injuries played a role in the Cavs mediocre play right before the break, but those guys are scheduled to get back in the line-up real soon. They have what looks to be an easier week ahead of them with game slated to go against Washington, Memphis, and Milwaukee on the road.

13) Toronto Raptors (29-23/1-0) (29-22-1 ATS) (LW: 13) The Raptors dropped 127 on the Magic in their lone game after the break. What looks to be an easier week lies ahead with a pair of games slated to go against NY before taking on Indiana and Minnesota. I really like the make-up of this club, but I don’t like their inconsistency. One night they look like world beaters and the next night they’re losing at home to the Clippers. Hopefully they find some middle ground in the second half of the season to gain the confidence needed to advance in the post-season this time around.

14) Orlando Magic (34-22/1-1) (34-21-1 ATS) (LW: 14) Orlando shocked many, including me, by going into Detroit and laying the smack down on Tuesday night. However, the adrenaline from that win didn’t carry over north of the border when they got trounced in Toronto. The Magic are the Eastern Conferences wild card club that could pull off a couple upsets in the post-season. That being said, they’ll have to force themselves to stay sharp considering they play in one of the worst divisions in the NBA.

15) Philadelphia 76ers (24-31/1-1) (28-24-3 ATS) (LW: 16) The Sixers saw their 5-game winning streak snapped at Minnesota in their first game after the break, but they got right back on track by pummeling the NY Knicks by a 124-84 final count the very next night. This Philly club has been playing some excellent ball of late and now find themselves right back in the thick of the playoff race. They have home and away games scheduled with Orlando along with a road date with Miami scheduled this week.

16) Sacramento Kings (25-28/2-0) (30-23 ATS) (LW: 18) The Kings picked up a nice SU dog win and cover at Portland to kick off the second half of their season, and followed it up with another home win and cover against Atlanta the following night. The strangest thing about that game was seeing the freshly traded Mike Bibby sporting Atlanta’s jersey in Arco. It took me awhile to get used to that one. Friday night is the start of a 5-game road swing that the Kings must make hay on in order to get closer to the 8th seed.

17) New Jersey (24-30/1-0) (21-32-1 ATS) (LW: 19) Nothing like hosting Chicago and being a member of the nets. The Bulls haven’t won in Jersey in like forever, so the Nets got off on the right foot in the post-Kidd era. Now it’s Carter and Jefferson’s show and I expect former UCONN star Marcus Williams to really blossom over the coming weeks and help the Nets grab one of the last playoff spots in the East.

18) Portland Trailblazers (28-25/0-1) (27-26 ATS) (LW: 15) The Blazers futility survived the All Star break and reared its ugly head once again in their lone game against Sacramento. Since running off that insane 17-of-18 winning streak, the Blazers have gone 6-11 SU and now find themselves on the outside looking into the Playoffs. Still, the future looks very bright in Portland, so don’t expect management to go out and make a desperate trade right before the deadline.

19) Atlanta Hawks (22-30/0-2) (24-27-1 ATS) (LW: 20) The Hawks dropped four in a row before the break, and that streak now stands at six in a row after getting pounded by both the Lakers and Kings. I like the trade they pulled off to get Bibby out of Sacramento, and it should start to pay off once he gets a couple games in with his new mates. They’ll wrap up this 6-game road trip this week and then return home to host the Kings in a game I’ll most definitely be very interested in.

20) Washington Wizards (25-28/0-1) (30-23 ATS) (LW: 17) The Wizards snapped its 9-game losing streak against the Clippers right before the break, but they weren’t able to build off that win after dropping a heartbreaking 113-100 decision to the Knicks in overtime on Tuesday night. Washington is falling from the ranks with every passing week, and one has to think it might be better to shut Gilbert down for the whole year and have him 100% healthy for next season.

21) Indiana Pacers (21-33/0-1) (25-29 ATS) (LW: 21) The Pacers have been a tough team to read all season long, and it looks as if that will continue throughout the rest of the season. Still, a post-season bid is in the cards playing in the mediocre Eastern Conference.

22) Charlotte Bobcats (19-35/0-1) (21-32-1 ATS) (LW: 22) The Bobcats closed the first half with a nice OT win over Atlanta taking some momentum with them into the break, but it then got squashed by the San Antonio Spurs when they only managed 65 points in the 20-point defeat.

23) Chicago Bulls (21-32/1-1) (22-31 ATS) (LW: 23) The Bulls looked to be playing better ball before the break, but found a way to lose in New jersey once again right out of it. This is such a flawed club that not even the return of Deng, Gordon, or Hinrich is enough to get them back to the post-season.

24) Minnesota Timberwolves (11-41/1-0) (25-27 ATS) (LW: 24) I was very much encouraged by the beatdown they served up against Philly right out of the break after getting their doors blown off by the Lakers heading into it. This is a very young team that’s found its stride over the last month or so, and a few more wins are certainty if they continue to play at the level they did against the Sixers.

25) Milwaukee Bucks (20-34/1-0) (24-29 ATS) (LW: 25) The Bucks had enough of getting its salad tossed at home, and surprisingly came out of the break and upended the Detroit Pistons as 6-point home pups. That was nice to see since they excelled in the Bradley Center earlier this season, and hopefully they can keep the momentum going this week against the likes of Detroit, Denver, and Cleveland.

26) Seattle Supersonics (14-38/1-0) (25-26-1 ATS) (LW: 26) The Sonics picked up the win over Memphis in dramatic fashion, and handed Grizz backers one of the worst ATS losses of the season in the process. PJ’s bunch has been much more competitive of late, but they’re up against it this week with a schedule that includes home and away bouts with Portland, home to the Lakers, on the road at Golden State, and at home against Denver. This club will be running on fumes next week…

27) Miami Heat (9-43/0-1) (18-33-1 ATS) (LW: 27) The Heat haven’t been able to earn a victory since the big trade, but they’ve played some solid ball and I foresee them picking up quite a number of wins in the second half of the season (at least more than nine). They’ll still come nowhere near making the post-season, but the time Marion and Wade share together will only make them that much better for their 2008-09 campaign.

28) LA Clippers (18-33/1-0) (23-28 ATS) (LW: 28) The Clippers picked up a nice home win and cover over Memphis right out of the break, but the pushover opposition is now over as they’re scheduled to go up against the Jazz, Lakers, Celtics, and Trailblazers this week. Good luck….

29) Memphis Grizzles (14-40/0-2) (24-29-1 ATS) (LW: 29) The Memphis Grizzles (14-40/0-2) (24-29-1 ATS) (LW: 29) The Grizzlies are the Grizzlies….nothing else.

30) NY Knicks (16-38/1-1) (26-27-1 ATS) (LW: 30) This is so the Knicks. Go into Washington and pick up a fantastic OT win, and then go into Philly the next night and lose by 40!!! It’s simply unreal what management has done with this once proud franchise!!!

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