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Any week where the Warriors lose will set off hot takes galore. Perspective reminds us that this team has now played 124 consecutive regular season games without suffering back-to-back losses, extending an NBA record. (DB)
2016–17 record: 32-6
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8-2 in their last ten, the Spurs keep rolling as always. A 21-point outburst from rookie second-round pick Davis Bertans this weekend proves San Antonio continues to find diamonds in the rough. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 30-7
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The Cavs got better over the last seven days as they got rid off two players who weren’t in their rotation for one of the best three point shooters in the history of the NBA. And they saved salary cap money in the process. Toronto and Golden State take notice. (DB)
2016–17 record: 28-8
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Winners of 19 of their last 21, the Rockets rapid-fire shooting ways are leading them to wins— James Harden, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson, and Trevor Ariza have combined to hit more threes than any other team this season. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 30-9
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Losers of five of their last seven, the Raptors are a struggling fatigued bunch at the moment. Paul Millsap would correct all of this though, right? (SL)
2016–17 record: 24-13
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The Celtics have won 10 of their last 12 games and, with some thanks to the Raptors struggles of late, are now just one game back of Toronto for tops in the Atlantic Division and second overall in the Eastern Conference. (SL)
2016–17 record: 23-14
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A 24-point comeback OT victory over the Warriors, followed by a win over the Jazz, and vintage performances from Zach Randolph have the Grizzlies in contention for home court advantage in the West. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 24-16
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The Clippers got their 4th straight win to open 2017 after holding the Heat to under 40% FG and 90 points. They’ve fallen off the pace atop the West but are back to playing elite basketball. (DB)
2016–17 record: 26-14
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Dante Exum and George Hill are finally back meaning the Jazz are fully healthy at long last. There might be some issues figuring out the best rotations, but this is very good news for a Utah team that’s already been quite good thus far this season. (SL)
2016–17 record: 23-16
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All eyes are on the Hawks and impending free agent Paul Millsap as the trade deadline approaches. After having seen Al Horford, DeMarre Carroll, and Jeff Teague walk away as free agents, you can bet the Hawks are looking to avoid the same fate. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 21-16
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Thirty-eight games into the Thunder’s season and Russell Westbrook is still averaging a triple-double. Despite this, ESPN is only giving Westbrook a 35 per cent shot at keeping it up for the entire season. (SL)
2016–17 record: 22-16
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During their 5 game winning streak, the Pacers have ranked 2nd in net rating, 1st in offensive rating, and 13th in defensive rating. If this hot streak continues could they get a second all-star with Myles Turner joining Paul George? (DB)
2016–17 record: 20-18
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New players, same old late game domination of the Raptors. They’ve relegated Rajon Rondo to a glorified cheerleader— and got better. (DB)
2016–17 record: 19-18
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The Hornets have dropped four of five and with games against Houston and Boston in the next week, more L’s could mean Charlotte temporarily slides out of the crowded playoff picture in the East. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 20-18
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Remarkably, the Blazers find themselves in a playoff spot despite a porous 16-23 record. By the looks of things it’ll be a dog fight among the West’s least for that No. 8 spot. (SL)
2016–17 record: 16-23
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After looking like East bottom feeders for the first chunk of the season, the Wizards currently hold down the eight-seed, thanks to the reliable brilliance of John Wall and a bounce-back from backcourt mate Brad Beal. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 18-18
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The Kings being interested in trading for Paul Milsap and Boogie Cousins believing his jersey will be hanging in the rafters in Sacramento are two actual Kings headlines this week. Crazily enough neither would be altogether surprising. (DB)
2016–17 record: 15-22
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The best Bucks news of late is the NBA ruling they are going to account for spelling mistakes of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name in their social media all-star voting. Despite the massive amount of characters needed to tweet for him “the Greek Freak” deserves to be a starter in New Orleans. (DB)
2016–17 record: 18-18
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The Pistons are 2.5 games out of the five spot in the East. They also might be better off being in the lottery and adding cheap talent. Stan Van Gundy has some tough decisions to make before the deadline. (DB)
2016–17 record: 18-21
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Head coach Jeff Hornacek was spot-on when he mentioned his team hasn’t been playing good enough defence of late to win. The Knicks are 1-7 in their last eight and in that span their giving up 110.8 points per 100 possessions. Ouch. (SL)
2016–17 record: 17-20
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Anthony Davis continues to put up MVP-calibre numbers (28.8 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 2.5 blocks per game) but the Pels are still searching for reliable players to put around him. Worst part is that with Davis they’re slightly too good to bottom out and nab a top draft pick. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 14-24
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They swept their recent trip to Florida but more importantly their 2nd overall pick, Brandon Ingram, is showing flashes of his potential and Julius Randle is suddenly a triple double threat every night. Still not out of playoff contention, it will be interesting to see what they do at the deadline. (DB)
2016–17 record: 15-26
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Mixed messages seem to be coming out of Denver. On one hand there are rumours floating that the Nuggets are interested in making a run at Paul Millsap, suggesting they’ll be buyers at the deadline. And then a rumour comes out that they’re shopping Jusuf Nurkic, something that would make them sellers. (SL)
2016–17 record: 14-23
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Losers of three straight, the Magic are in need of a roster overhaul— a glut of frontcourt players who can’t play together and shooting threes at the third-worst rate in the NBA means Orlando will have trouble turning things around. (DZ)
2015–16 record: 16-23
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They’ve started the New Year 2-2 which is a vast improvement on 2016. They looked most impressive pushing the Cavs for yet another close loss. (DB)
2016–17 record: 12-26
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Dirk Nowitzki has returned to the Mavs after an achilles, but is struggling from the floor (30.8 per cent from deep) on a team playing for the lottery. Not exactly a happy ending to one of the league’s most storied careers. (DZ)
2016–17 record: 11-26
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With the win Sunday the Sixers matched their total wins from last season (10). This sparked Joel Embiid to start thinking playoffs. This might be the fun-loving Embiid’s best joke yet. (SL)
2016–17 record: 10-25
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The young Wolves still have much to learn. On Sunday they dropped their fourth straight, a game that saw them blow a double-digit lead and lose for the 12th time this season. (SL)
2016–17 record: 11-26
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The recent news that Justise Winslow is done for the season is another blow to a team in stage one of a rebuilding process looking to deal veterans like Goran Dragic. (CB)
2016–17 record: 11-28
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The Nets are the worst team in the NBA. Unfortunately they aren’t even the fun kind of “worst team in the league.” Their eight wins have them too far ahead of pace to even make a run at any of the NBA’s futility records. (SL)
2016–17 record: 8-28
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