1) Cleveland

Weekly Recap – The Cavaliers put together another perfect week, going 3-0 in their three games. LeBron James sat out Monday’s game versus San Antonio (97-95) but returned against Philadelphia (100-95) on Friday. Sunday’s win at home over Boston (104-93) showed you once again more how the guard has changed in the Eastern Conference. The ‘over’ went 2-1 in the three affairs.

Weekly Outlook – Cleveland has four battles this week and all of them should be wins barring a terrible performance. They catch the Pistons twice, the Pacers and a Chicago team that is struggling very badly.

2) Orlando

Weekly Recap – Stan Van Gundy’s club started the week with three double-digit victories against the Clippers (113-87), Bulls (111-82) and Wizards (109-95). Unfortunately, the team saw its eight-game winning streak snapped on Sunday at home to Charlotte (89-96). The team went 3-1 ATS and the total was 2-2.

Weekly Outlook – Orlando catches a little break this week with just two games on tap, but it will be played in a back-to-back set. San Antonio visits the Magic Kingdom on Wednesday and then the team faces Miami in a TNT showdown from South Beach on Thursday.

3) Atlanta

Weekly Recap – It seems like Atlanta is going through the motions lately, which isn’t a good thing for gamblers backing them. The Hawks went 2-1 last week, but were just 1-2 ATS. A loss at New York (98-99) was humbling, but victories over the Wizards (105-99) and Pistons (112-99) quickly erased any bad memories. Atlanta is 1-5 ATS in its last six and 3-7 ATS over its last 10.

Weekly Outlook – Atlanta starts the week on Tuesday with two road games in two nights against the Nets and Raptors. The last two games both come at home, versus Charlotte and San Antonio. The game against the Spurs will be televised nationally on Sunday and be aware that the Hawks have gone 19-9 against the Western Conference this year.

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4) Boston

Weekly Recap – The Celtics struggled late in a loss at Milwaukee (84-86) on Tuesday and then really tanked it the next night. The team was booed off their homecourt in a 20-point (91-111) setback to Memphis. Boston did bounce back on Friday albeit against Indiana (122-103) but lost at Cleveland (93-104) on Sunday. The ‘over’ cashed in three of the four.

Weekly Outlook – Boston faces Detroit on Monday at home on zero days rest and then welcomes New York on Wednesday. After a day off, the Celtics play two games in two nights from the Lone Star State starting Friday. Doc Rivers’ team plays Houston on Friday before Dallas on Saturday.

5) Milwaukee

Weekly Recap – Will the Bucks ever cool off? Milwaukee went 3-0 last week, and is now 12-2 since the All-Star Break. Even more impressive, the club has gone 12-2 ATS. Victories over the Celtics (86-84) and Jazz (95-87) certainly helped Scott Skiles and company silence any critics. Total players should make a note that ‘under’ has cashed in six straight games and is 10-4 over this span.

Weekly Outlook – The Bucks will embark on their final road trip to the Western Conference this week, which starts against the L.A. Clippers on Wednesday. A battle at ARCO Arena against Sacramento follows Friday and then a back-to-back against Denver on Saturday will be a true test for this red-hot club.

6) Charlotte

Weekly Recap – The Bobcats are starting to heat up at the right time. Larry Brown’s team extended their winning streak to six games last week with a perfect 4-0 performance. Two of the wins were expected against the hapless 76ers (102-87) and Clippers (106-98). However, the other pair of victories against the Heat (83-78) and Magic (96-89) gave the team even more confidence. The ‘Cats are 5-1 ATS during their winning streak and the ‘under’ has gone 4-2.

Weekly Outlook – Charlotte has four games on tap this week and they’re split into a pair of back-to-back sets. The club visits the Pacers on Tuesday, and then hosts the Thunder on Wednesday. After this pair, the Bobcats face two Southeast Division rivals, Atlanta and Miami, in two nights and both are on the road as well.

7) Miami

Weekly Recap – Miami started the week with a rough loss at Charlotte (78-83) but rallied for three straight wins. All three victories came by double digits, which helped the team cover the number in all three as well. The offense averaged 106.7 PPG in the wins, but only put up 78 in the loss. The ‘over’ went 3-0 in the wins and is on a 6-1 run overall.

Weekly Outlook – The Heat will have confidence this week and they’ll need it. Three games are at home, but all of the opponents will be tough outs. San Antonio heads to South Beach on Tuesday and then Orlando comes to town on Thursday. Charlotte concludes the week with a Saturday Night battle from American Airlines Arena.

8) Toronto

Weekly Recap – The Raptors’ trip out West started with a buzzer-beater loss to the Lakers (107-109) on Tuesday, and that setback opened up the flood gates. Toronto lost its final three games on trips and all three came by double digits. The defense has given up 109 points or more in the last five games, which has resulted in a five-game losing skid. The recent skid has pushed Toronto down to the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, just one game ahead of Chicago.

Weekly Outlook – Toronto will look to stop the bleeding this week with three games, with two coming at Air Canada Centre. The Hawks and Thunder will be the opponents at home, where the Raptors have gone 22-10 this season. After the contest versus Oklahoma City, the Raptors travel to the Nets on zero days rest Saturday.

9) Chicago

Weekly Recap – The Bulls are in a serious funk on both ends of the court and it’s translated into seven straight losses (0-7 ATS), all coming by double digits too. Last week, the team was ripped by the Jazz (108-132) at home before losing back-to-back games in the Sunshine State to the Magic (82-111) and Heat (95-108). Point guard Derrick Rose sprained his wrist but he’s expected to return this week. If the playoffs started today, the team would be on the outside looking in.

Weekly Outlook – Chicago could have trouble snapping the skid this week when you look at the schedule. Starting Tuesday, the Bulls play at the Grizzlies and Mavericks in a tough back-to-back set. After that pair, the team plays another two games in two nights against the Cavaliers and 76ers.

10) Philadelphia

Weekly Recap – The 76ers have gone 3-11 SU and 5-9 ATS since the All-Star break and that includes a 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS effort last week. The defense has given up 100-plus in 11 of the 14 games and nine of the losses during this stretch came by double digits. I don’t know about you but I’m still surprised head coach Eddie Jordan has a job.

Weekly Outlook – Philadelphia has a chance to get back on track this week with a home-and-home set versus the Knicks and two other home games against the Nets and struggling Bulls. If you see the 76ers listed as favorites this week that should certainly tell you something. But we still urge you to be careful with Jordan and company.

11) New York

Weekly Recap – The Knicks showed a little toughness this week as the team posted a 2-2 SU and 3-1 ATS mark. Victories against the Hawks (99-98) and Mavericks (128-94) were unexpected and certainly helped gamblers taking the money-line. The total went 2-2.

Weekly Outlook – New York has another four games on the docket this week and the first two happen on the road against Atlantic Division rivals. After playing the 76ers on Monday, the team heads to Boston on Wednesday. The Knicks then host Philadelphia on Friday before Houston visits Madison Square Garden on Sunday.

12) Detroit

Weekly Recap – The Pistons posted a 1-2 record last week, both SU and ATS. The losses came by double digits to the Jazz (104-115) and Hawks (99-112). The lone victory occurred at home, against the struggling Wizards (101-87). The ‘over’ went 2-1.

Weekly Outlook – Detroit will play three of its four games this week on the road. Trips to Boston and Cleveland appear impossible but a Friday encounter at Indiana could be a look. The home contest happens Tuesday and that’s on zero days rest versus the Cavaliers. Make a note that Detroit has dropped five straight (2-3 ATS) games on the road.

13) Washington

Weekly Recap – The Wizards lost all four of their games last week and nobody should be surprised considering that three of the contests were played in consecutive days. The team went 1-3 ATS and is now 2-5 ATS during its current seven-game losing streak. The offense continues to be struggling, which has helped the ‘under’ go 5-2 during this stretch.

Weekly Outlook – It’s going to be hard to see Washington snap its losing skid this week, since the team heads to the West Coast. The Wizards face the Jazz on Monday and then Denver on Tuesday. After a couple days off, the trip resumes in Portland on Friday and finishes against the Lakers on Sunday.

14) Indiana

Weekly Recap – The Pacers went 1-2 SU and 2-1 ATS this past week. The lone victory came at home against Philadelphia (107-96), and the team did it without All-Star Danny Granger. The ‘under’ went 2-1.

Weekly Outlook – Indiana will play three of four at home this week, with Charlotte, Detroit and Oklahoma City visiting Conseco Fieldhouse. A road trip to Cleveland is nestled between those contests.

15) New Jersey

Weekly Recap – I guess we can say the Nets had a semi-productive week. New Jersey did go 0-4 in its four games but it helped gamblers with a 4-0 record against the spread. What’s more impressive is that all four tilts were on the road too. The ‘over’ cashed in three of the four.

Weekly Outlook – The Nets have three games on tap this week, two coming at home. The Hawks visit Tuesday and then the Raptors come to town on Saturday.

Chris David can be reached at cdavid@vegasinsider.com