25. Toronto Raptors (26): What’s more depressing than Toronto’s 13-27 record? That if the Raps, who are only three games out of eighth place, continue to win at their current rate (.325) over their next 42 games, 26-27 wins might get them into the playoffs.
24. Detroit Pistons (24): Wait is it 2004 again? As of late, the Pistons most consistent player has been Tracy McGrady, who is averaging 11.6 points (on a career-high 48 percent shooting), 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds since the start of 2011.
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23. Milwaukee Bucks (22): Milwaukee’s stretch of three wins in their last 10 games really shows how valuable Brandon Jennings is to the Bucks ball club. With him they are a solid seventh/eighth seed – without, ‘Fear the Deer’ is nowhere to be found.
22. Charlotte Bobcats (23): They reeled off an impressive four-game winning streak, but were back to earth with losses to Boston and New Orleans. Hopefully, they don’t let their mini-streak detach them from reality, because eight of their next 10 games are on the road, where the Bobcats have come out victorious only 42.8 percent of the time.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (20): Despite coming off the bench, Lou Williams dropped a game-high 25 points during Philadelphia’s 95-94 win over Milwaukee on Friday night. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Williams is the first Sixer since Allen Iverson in 2002, to come off of the bench and outscore all 10 of the game’s starters.
Next: 20-16