7. Los Angeles Clippers (16-12)
Last Week: 8
The Clippers went 2-2 over their past four games, but lost two in a row, playing the Rockets and Spurs on the road in back-to-back nights. It doesn’t get any easier for the Clippers, as they host the Thunder Monday night at the Staples Center. That will be our must-watch game of the night, for those who have NBA TV, as the Clippers could make a statement with a win over Durant and Westbrook, to try and prove that they belong in the conversation of teams with a chance to make a run in the West.
LAC currently holds the fourth-seed in the conference.
8. Miami Heat (16-10)
Last Week: 10
Miami went 3-1 last week, working their way back up to being tied for the second-seed in the Eastern Conference, with the Pacers. They were able to beat the Hawks and Nets on the road, and then split a pair of games falling to Toronto at home, but beating the Trail Blazers.
Miami has had up and down stretches where they go from looking like one of the Eastern Conference contenders to looking like a slightly above-average team. Three of their next four games are at home, as they take on the Pistons, Pelicans, Magic (Christmas Day on the road,) and Nets. This week should give us a feel for whether or not the Heat are the type of team that can take care of business, as they are clearly better than all four of those teams, and anything worse than 3-1 would be considered a disappointment.
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