1. Cavaliers W 38-21 (11-1)
The Cavaliers pulled out an easy win on Wednesday against the Bobcats even in the absence of Kevin Pendo, one of their best offensive players. Scoring was once again led by Philip Rech, who has been one of the most valuable freshmen in the league. The Cavs are house basketball’s strongest team this year, losing only one game and only by one point. They have been almost flawless heading into the last game of the season, and are shaping up to be the top contender for the title.
2. Pacers W 23-22 (8-4)
The Pacers barely edged out the Celtics in a game that was missing a lot of scoring. Connor Davey, Brad Magnusson, and Curry Bloom have led the team to an 8-1 streak following three losses to open the season. The Pacers are also the only team to have beaten the Cavs, which places them second in the power rankings tied for the second best record in the league. After a disappointing start, the Pace have proved their sheer talent and have secured a spot close to the top in both the standings and power rankings.
3. Wizards W 41-40 (8-4)
The shot. He scored over 20 points, three of which came on a shot to beat the overtime buzzer and take a one point lead as the clock expired. Who else but George Reed? He had a stellar performance against the Knicks. The Wizards’ win earned them the third spot in the rankings and tied for second in the standings with the Pacers and the demoralized Knicks. Offense has been led by Reed throughout the season with Myles Ridder carrying the defense. Between the two, the Wizards are an outstanding all-around team.
4. Knicks L 40-41 (8-4)
Despite a loss to the Wizards, the Knicks cracked top 5 once again with the Skolds twins putting the team on their backs. They combine for more than 75% of the scoring and are always contesting shots down low on the defensive end of the court. The Knicks are not a very deep team, but have been very good nonetheless thanks to the Skolds’ heroics. Most teams can expect a loss when they match up against the Knicks, no matter how talented they may be. Look for the Knicks to make an impressive playoff run.
5. Nets L 36-46 (7-5)
The Nets suffered a tough loss against the Bulls. Chris Chiamulera was cold on offense, leaving Luke Mangan to do all the work. The load was too much, and the Nets could not earn a win. With only five players, the Nets put up a fight, even without a key player, who pulls down many rebounds. The Nets play the Celtics on Sunday to cap off the season and will probably finish victorious. The Nets are not a title contender, but definitely have the potential to win a few playoff games.
6. Raptors W 31-27 (7-5)
The Raptors barely squeezed out a win against the Bucks, but a win is a win. The Raptors have been a strong team this season, led by Dylan Carruthers’ versatility. This is a very deep team. It has plenty of players that know how to put the ball in the hoop efficiently. To be honest, it is surprising that they have five losses. They are a good team and could luck out in the playoffs to make it to the semifinals, or even the finals.
7. Bulls W 46-36 (6-6)
The Bulls maintained a .500 win percentage after a win against the Nets. The scoring was led by Nick Cohen, Blake Lange, and Jack Reis, who have consistently been great offensive contributors throughout the season. Height is not something the Bulls have in their repertoire, but do not struggle on defense. Small players like Trevor McGovern have stepped up to make up for the vertical challenge the Bulls have faced this season. They look to extend their winning streak against the Bobcats on Sunday.
8. 76ers W 49-39 (5-7)
The Sixers won Wednesday against the Heat easily, putting up one of their best offensive performances of the year. The 76ers are led by Harry Gillespie, who has a ton of talent on the court. One of this team’s strengths is height. Having all sophomores, they have no trouble putting defenders down low that can defend shots and get rebounds. The 76ers playoff prediction is an early round knockout, as they have not been able to compete with tougher teams in this league.
9. Heat L 36-49 (4-8)
Despite a loss on Wednesday, the Heat are a good team with a full squad. Many of their better players have not been at all of the games, giving them a clear disadvantage on the court. The Heat have a few talented players to be acknowledged, including Zach Basu, Jack Feeley, Jake Bowtell, and Brian Walsh. With all four healthy and active, this team may prove a few people wrong regarding their playoff hopes.
10. Celtics L 22-23 (4-8)
The Celtics were not able to convert on offense in the last seconds of the game to get a W against the Pacers. The foul trouble hasn’t seemed to haunt the Celtics recently as much as it did in the beginning of the season. Brendan Donohue and the Brannigans have all stuck out the entire game in each of their last few competitions. These three are the team’s largest contributors on both ends of the floor and will continue to be into the postseason.
11. Bobcats L 21-38 (2-10)
The Bobcats’ woeful season continued with a loss on Wednesday against the Cavs. The outcome of this game had already been decided before the tip-off. There was no way the ‘Cats could challenge the Cavaliers in this face-off. The Bobcats finish the season against the Bulls, and will certainly not make a huge difference in the postseason results. They probably won’t last past the first round, and definitely not past the second.
12. Bucks L 27-31 (2-10)
The Bucks lost once again, but this time not by as much. The team lacks a star, but still has some talent in the likes of Christian Cochran, as well as his little brother and Kyle Gifford. The Bucks have close to no potential for a postseason win. Unfortunately, their season will come to an end sooner than later unless Brian Davey makes his unlikely decision to rejoin the team for playoffs.
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