If you claim that you predicted Indiana would win the Paul George trade, you're lying. nERD still gives the edge to the Thunder, but the way things are headed, that won't be the case for long.
| Ranking | Team | Record | nERD | Last Ranking | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 16-11 | 54.0 | T-14 | +4 |
| 9 | Washington Wizards | 14-12 | 54.8 | 8 | -1 |
| 8 | Utah Jazz | 13-14 | 55.3 | 11 | +3 |
| 7 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 19-8 | 55.8 | T-9 | +2 |
| 6 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 12-13 | 56.4 | 7 | +1 |
| 5 | San Antonio Spurs | 19-8 | 59.3 | 5 | Even |
| 4 | Boston Celtics | 23-5 | 68.2 | 4 | Even |
| 3 | Toronto Raptors | 17-7 | 70.9 | 3 | Even |
| 2 | Houston Rockets | 20-4 | 78.2 | 2 | Even |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | 21-6 | 81.9 | 1 | Even |
The Expected
No movement in the top five, but that's little surprise, as over their last 10 games, Golden State, Houston, Toronto, Boston, and San Antonio are a combined 40-10. Friday's nationally-televised Rockets/Spurs Texas hold 'em is shaping up to be must-see TV.
The Unexpected
If you're keeping score -- and we are -- the Pacers and former Thunder wingman Victor Oladipo are 16-11, while the Thunder and former Pacers wingman Paul George are 12-13. Right now, thanks primarily to the Thunder's scary-good second-ranked 100.2 defensive rating, nERD has Oklahoma City five spots ahead of Indy, but we'll find out which squad is actually better when they two teams meet on Wednesday in another nationally-televised clash that should be considered appointment viewing.
And finally, the Utah Jazz are another sub-.500 team that for reasons only nERD understands, finds itself among the elite nERDmeisters. This generosity might have something to do with the fact that their last two losses came at the hands of the mighty Bucks and the mightier Rockets. However, things could get real ugly, real fast -- after a Wednesday outing against the Bulls, the Jazz are looking at games against Boston, Cleveland, and Houston, so enjoy it while you can, Utah. Enjoy it while you can.