RWB Power Rankings: Wizards Find Their Magic, Hawks Soar to Best Record In RWB Division

Nov 22, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) and small forward DeMarre Carroll (5) box out Detroit Pistons power forward Greg Monroe (10) in the third quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Interesting week. Wizards have the only winning record. Is it enough to get them out of last place? Let’s find out, together. Take my hand.

Los Angeles Clippers: 1 (1)

Week Record: 2-2 (I predicted 3-1)

RWB Record: 0-0

Clippers barely beat the Kings. They did beat the Timberwolves. However, their winning streak came to an end vs the Grizzlies. They also lost to the Thunder. Clippers can’t have too many weeks like this, especially with the way the second place team here has been playing recently.

Next up for the Clippers are the Bulls, Knicks, and Kings. Bulls just received some terrible news with the recent Derrick Rose injury. They have proven though that they can play well without them. Still, I have to go with the Clippers here. As for the struggling Knicks, they should win that at home. They barely beat the Kings at home. Now, they’ll be visiting. I think they pull off a perfect week. 3-0.

Atlanta Hawks: 2 (2)

Week Record: 2-2 (I predicted 2-2. Yay)

RWB Record: 3-0

Hawks have an undefeated record vs the other teams in the division. One win over the Sixers and two wins over the Pistons. Both of those wins over the Pistons came this past week. Just when I thought they couldn’t pull off back to back wins over a team, especially against a team that has their former franchise star, there they go. Kyle Korver extends his one three pointer per game to 87 straight games. Look out; he can shoot. Should’ve sent him in to find Bin Laden, all we had to do is tell Kyle Bin Laden was a net. Hawks did lose to the Heat and Celtics.

This week, they have a couple of back to backs, with both of the second games on the road. First, they face the Magic. Next are the Rockets, Mavericks, and Wizards. We’ll see if they can keep their undefeated record as the Wizards have been playing better this past week. Anyway, I say they lose to the Magic, lose to the Rockets, beat the Mavs, and Wizards. 2-2

Philadelphia 76ers 3 (3)

Week Record: 1-3 (I predicted 2-2)

RWB Record: 1-2

Sixers played like I figured. They lost to the Raptors, and, as I mentioned last week, it was very possible, even though I gave them the win. All in all, I feel like they had a better week than the Pistons, who also went 1-3 for the week, and that’s why Sixers stay in the 3 spot…for now. They lost to the Mavs, Raptors, and Pacers. They beat the Bucks in OT. The fact that the Sixers, with three of their top players out and playing the second game of a back to back vs the Pacers, held on with the them until the bitter end, was pretty impressive. Were we wrong about them being so bad?

This week is going to be a quiet one. They only have two games. It’s the Magic and the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday makes his return to the Wells Fargo Center. However, Sixers trailed by as much as 39 vs the Pelicans just a couple of weeks ago. Meanwhile, Magic are a tough young team as well. Man, I think the rest will do the Sixers some good and so they beat the Magic. But, they lose, in a closer game, to the Pelicans. I’m probably going to be at that game. So, 1-1 for the week.

Detroit Pistons: 4 (4)

Week Record: 1-3 (I predicted 2-2)

RWB Record: 1-2

Pistons were undefeated in the RWB division until the Hawks came by. They lost to them twice, as you know. They also lost to the Lakers by 15. They beat the struggling Knicks by a small margin. Always imagined this team better than they’re playing. Maybe I’m wrong. Heck, as a Sixers fan, nothing is making sense anymore.

Pistons will look to bounce back this week. They visit the struggling Nets (what in the heck is going on in the Atlantic division, though!?), then they are home for the next three games. They have the Bucks, Bulls, and Lakers. I’ll tell you know, if the Sixers follow through my prediction and the Pistons win two games, they’ll probably move up. I think Pistons beat the Bucks, lose to the Bulls, beat the Nets and beat the Lakers. Going bold with a 3-1 week.

Washington Wizards: 5 (5)

Week Record: 3-1

RWB Record: 1-2

Wizards fans might feel some kind of way. As I said in the first rankings, I take a lot more than just week records in consideration for the rankings. I take opponents, RWB record, and overall performance, or at leas the previous two weeks. Wizards made strides though and so the Sixers, Pistons, and Wizards all seem to have a serious shot at the number 3 spot. Wizards caught up in the race with wins over the T-Wolves, Cavs, and Knicks. They lost to the Raptors. John Wall has been doing some pretty good things this past week.

This week, if they want a shot at the third spot, they’ll have to face the Lakers, Bucks, Pacers, and division leading Hawks. They can beat the Lakers and Bucks. They lose to the Pacers and we already know about them losing to the Hawks. 2-2

Another week down. Stay tuned as we start to spice things up. I’ll doing award races for teams and players in this special division. MVP, Coach of the Year, and all of the other regular season awards. With a month of basketball in the books, we have an idea of where teams are and where they could be going.