{"id":15923,"date":"2026-01-06T02:54:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T02:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=15923"},"modified":"2026-01-06T02:54:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T02:54:03","slug":"power-rankings-week-12-spurs-stay-in-lead-rockets-pistons-in-top-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jubi24.com\/?p=15923","title":{"rendered":"Power Rankings, Week 12: Spurs stay in lead; Rockets, Pistons in Top 5"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The Rockets and Pistons both rise into the Top 5 in this week\u2019s Power Rankings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

You are what your record says you are.<\/p>\n

But sometimes, a team\u2019s record doesn\u2019t tell the whole story. At this point of the season (43% of the way through), there can be a pretty big disparity in how tough schedules have been.<\/p>\n

Point differential also adds context and can help us determine if a team\u2019s record is sustainable.<\/p>\n

Here are the three teams with the biggest differentials between their actual wins and their \u201cexpected\u201d wins (based on point differential) \u2026<\/p>\n

Biggest difference, actual wins \u2013 \u201cexpected\u201d wins<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/span><\/th>\nW<\/span><\/th>\nL<\/span><\/th>\nPCT<\/span><\/th>\n+\/-<\/span><\/th>\nExp. W<\/span><\/th>\nDiff.<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Los Angeles Lakers<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n11<\/span><\/td>\n.667<\/span><\/td>\n0.0<\/span><\/td>\n17<\/span><\/td>\n5<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Chicago<\/span><\/td>\n17<\/span><\/td>\n18<\/span><\/td>\n.486<\/span><\/td>\n-3.5<\/span><\/td>\n13<\/span><\/td>\n4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Washington<\/span><\/td>\n9<\/span><\/td>\n25<\/span><\/td>\n.265<\/span><\/td>\n-11.0<\/span><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/td>\n3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Utah<\/span><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n.353<\/span><\/td>\n-7.1<\/span><\/td>\n10<\/span><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sacramento<\/span><\/td>\n8<\/span><\/td>\n28<\/span><\/td>\n.222<\/span><\/td>\n-12.0<\/span><\/td>\n6<\/span><\/td>\n2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Here\u2019s the opposite end of the list, the teams with more \u201cexpected\u201d wins than actual wins\u2026<\/p>\n

Biggest difference, \u201cexpected\u201d wins \u2013 actual wins<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Team<\/span><\/th>\nW<\/span><\/th>\nL<\/span><\/th>\nPCT<\/span><\/th>\n+\/-<\/span><\/th>\nExp. W<\/span><\/th>\nDiff.<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Houston<\/span><\/td>\n21<\/span><\/td>\n11<\/span><\/td>\n.656<\/span><\/td>\n+8.6<\/span><\/td>\n25<\/span><\/td>\n-4<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boston<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/td>\n.647<\/span><\/td>\n+7.1<\/span><\/td>\n25<\/span><\/td>\n-3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miami<\/span><\/td>\n20<\/span><\/td>\n16<\/span><\/td>\n.556<\/span><\/td>\n+3.6<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n-2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LA Clippers<\/span><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/td>\n22<\/span><\/td>\n.353<\/span><\/td>\n-2.2<\/span><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/td>\n-2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charlotte<\/span><\/td>\n12<\/span><\/td>\n23<\/span><\/td>\n.343<\/span><\/td>\n-2.6<\/span><\/td>\n14<\/span><\/td>\n-2<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

So in the \u201cexpected\u201d wins standings, the Rockets would be 8 1\/2 games ahead of the Lakers. In the actual standings<\/a>, the Lakers are a half-game ahead of the Rockets.<\/p>\n

In this week\u2019s Power Rankings, Houston has the edge.<\/p>\n

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Plus-Minus Players of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

Teams of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n