9. Philadelphia 76ers (Down 2)

(23-13) Last week: 0-3

The Sixers gave us a preview of what they can do come playoff time on Christmas Day, dispatching the league leading Bucks with impunity. They followed that up tight losses to Orlando (their 2nd loss to the Magic this season) and Miami before getting blown out in Indiana.

The best and worst of this team is just so far apart that it's maddening. Equally as frustrating is the teams reliance on home cooking: The Sixers are 16-2 at home against 7-11 away. Are those discrepancies on Coach Brett Brown? Is it the relatively immature roster?

Whatever it is, it's a problem that the Sixers will have to remedy if they're to make playoff noise. Either that, or try to somehow take home court from Milwaukee.

 

8. Toronto Raptors (Up 1)

(23-11) Last week: 2-1

Toronto deserve a lot of credit for not only surviving, but thriving in the injury enforced absence of half of their rotation. They avenged their Christmas Day loss to Boston by going to the Garden and overwhelming the Celtics with 'household' name like Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Oshae Brissett.

The combination of General Manager Masai Ujiri's eye for talent and Coach Nick Nurse's ability to mould his players is perhaps unrivalled in today's NBA.

The Raptors now have a chance to set themselves up, even without their stars. Of their next 9 games, 7 are against teams at or below .500 for the season.

 

7. Houston Rockets (Up 1)

(23-11) Last week: 2-1

The return of Eric Gordon from a 6 week injury layoff is possibly as big of an addition as any team will make at the trade deadline.

EG's ability to shoot from beyond 25 feet, create for others, or straight out attack the rim mean that defences cannot resort to the sort of traps they've been throwing at James Harden of late.

Gordon will also allow the team to rest Harden more often in the hope of avoiding some of the post season flame-outs that have haunted The Beard in the past. With the team relying on Westbrook alone, teams could shut off the lane and dare Russ to shoot – you can't do that with Eric Gordon.

 

6. Boston Celtics (Down 1)

(23-8) Last week: 2-1

The Celtics centre rotation of Daniel Theis, Enes Kanter and Robert Williams isn't scaring anybody. So why not play a lineup that absolutely scares the daylights out of opponents: Marcus Smart at the 5.

The 6'3”....let's call him a point guard, is actually perfectly built to guard most modern bigs. He's of course extremely fast and has lightning quick hands. He's also remarkably strong and leverages his low centre of gravity to get under bigs and take away their space. He can guard absolutely any stretch big, and being a guard he's of course totally switchable.

Sure, he can't guard an old fashioned low post scorer like a Ewing or an O'Neal, but the Sixers aside, what contender has one of those anyway?