NBA Perfect Ten (Week of December 25th)
The NBA season pushes toward 2024 and teams are starting to separate from the pack. Let’s dive into this week’s Perfect Ten.
Perfect Ten (Week of December 25th)
#10. Miami Heat (18-12) (+1200/+3500) - The Heat have won three straight and are once again in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference. Strengths: The Heat keep finding gems at the bottom of the draft. This year Jaime Jaquez Jr. is the latest draft find. Weaknesses: The Heat will likely need to make a deal to get a third legitimate scorer to go along with Adebayo and Butler. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#9. Orlando Magic (18-11) (+5000/+20,000) - The Magic are still near the top of the Eastern Conference standings despite their youth. Strengths: The Magic are young and almost don’t know any better as they continue to pick up wins. Weaknesses: The Magic need rebounding and wing shooters. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#8. Dallas Mavs (18-12) (+1200/+3000) - The Mavs picked up a big win over Phoenix on Christmas Day. Strengths: Luka Doncic is certainly one of the top MVP candidates this season and keeping this team relevant. Weaknesses: So now it is 8-straight games Irving has missed. I’m not questioning his injury, but can this guy be counted on? Last Week’s Rank: 8th
#7. LA Clippers (18-12) (+600/+1200) - The Clippers have hit their stride recently, going 8-2 in the last ten games. Strengths: The veterans on this Clippers’ team seem to have found their roles. Weaknesses: No sooner did we mention the health of George and Leonard would be key to this team did Leonard go down with a hip injury and the Clippers lost both games when he was out. Last Week’s Rank: Unranked
#6. OKC Thunder (19-9) (+1600/+4000) - OKC is 3-1 in the last four including a dominant win over the T-Wolves. Strengths: OKC has tons of weapons and has the ability to control the pace of the game with its team speed. Weaknesses: OKC is still very young and the long season will have ups and downs. Last Week’s Rank: 6th
#5. Philadelphia 76ers (20-9) (+500/+1000) - The Sixers fell at Miami on Christmas Day as Embiid sat out due to injury. Strengths: The Sixers can defend on the wing and can shoot the ball from the perimeter at a better rate than last year’s team. Weaknesses: Is in a coincidence that Embiid had to sit out after being leaned on heavily over the past week? Last Week’s Rank: 5th
#4. Denver Nuggets (22-10) (+210/+425) - Denver took down the Warriors on Christmas Day and remains near the top of the Western Conference standings. Strengths: The Nuggets’ offense is built to win in the playoffs with its inside/out attack. Weaknesses: The Nuggets will have to look at the trade market closely in order to find some defensive help on the wing. Last Week’s Rank: 4th
#3. Minnesota Timberwolves (22-7) (+900/+2000) - The Wolves are still pacing the Western Conference but still not getting the respect of the oddsmakers. Strengths: The Wolves’ defense keeps them in nearly every game. Weaknesses: The Thunder showed some glaring weaknesses of the Wolves by playing fast. Last Week’s Rank: 2nd
#2. Milwaukee Bucks (22-8) (+180/+380) - The Bucks' 7-game win streak was snapped by the Knicks on Christmas Day. Strengths: Milwaukee’s offense remains one of the best in the game. Weaknesses: The Bucks are still a defensive stopper away from being truly elite. Last Week’s Rank: 3rd
#1. Boston Celtics (22-6) (+155/+350) - The Celtics blasted both LA teams over the Holiday Weekend and stand alone with the league’s best record. Strengths: Lost in the team’s great overall play is the great individual play of Derrick White this season. Weaknesses: The starting five typically carries the load and, on occasion, has to build the lead back up. Bench help needs to be on the way. Last Week’s Rank: 1st
Top-Five MVP Candidates:
At the start of January, I will begin to rank the Top Five MVP candidates every week including their up-to-date odds to win the award. Last year, the odds and rankings shifted several times on the way to Joel Embiid claiming his first MVP award. There will likely be several shifts as well this year and I will be there to update you every step of the way while offering compelling arguments as to why you should jump in with a future bet if the odds are right.
Game of the Week, Season Record 4-5: A tough Christmas Day of betting for the Perfect Ten. Golden State barely covered against the Nuggets while the Heat delivered coal to the Sixers’ Christmas stocking.