NBA power rankings week 13: Halfway mark, OKC Thunder hold steady

Boston Celtics:

Offense: (111.5) 6th
Defense: (105.6) 5th
Net: (plus +6.0) 5th

Games Week 13 (1-3): Won vs. Bulls: 113-101, Lost vs. Pistons: 103-116, Bucks: 123-128, Suns: 119-123
Games Week 14 (4 games): Mon vs. Lakers | Weds vs. Grizzlies | Fri at Magic | Sun at Pelicans

Every team goes through ups and downs but as the Celtics hit the midseason point they do so having dropped three games in a row and six of their last eight games.

The two victories came against the Pelicans (who were playing on the second night of a road back to back set) and the Bulls who battled and cut the lead to three with 3:20 remaining.

Boston dropped in all three key stat categories and things won’t get any easier for the crew as they face the Lakers, and both the red hot Grizzlies and Pelicans clubs this week.

Also of note, the Celtics dropped down the East’s ladder to fourth as the Raptors overtook them for third. Right behind them in fifth and sixth are the Pacers (in a virtual tie with them) and the 76ers who are a half game back.

The East ladder could experience big shifts in one night as Martin Luther King Jr. Day features the Heat hosting the Kings, Raptors playing Hawks on the road, 76ers playing a desperate Nets team in Brooklyn, Pacers finishing back-to-back set in Utah and the Celtics hosting the Lakers.

I had the Celtics in the top 10 last week affording them a bit of leeway but several weeks of regression merits sliding them out of my top 10.