1. Los Angeles Lakers (45-19): The seven straight wins are nice, but most impressive was the Lakers' win Sunday at the Spurs. It was the best game I've ever seen the Kobe Bryant/Pau Gasol Lakers play. With a stifling defense, their imposing length was on full display, and the shot selection offensively was perfect. Bryant facilitated and didn't hog the ball; that's when the Lakers are at their best. Andrew Bynum only scored 4 points, and usually when he doesn't get shots his whole game suffers. Yet in this game, Bynum snatched 17 rebounds, blocked shots, and played with tremendous energy. He was the key to the Lakers' win. If he can play like that in the playoffs, the Lakers are the odds-on favorite to win the championship.
2. San Antonio Spurs (51-12): They can’t play perfect ball every game, and against the Lakers the Spurs put on their worst performance of the year. Don’t read anything into that game from the Spurs end. The Lakers were supremely motivated to beat the Spurs, who had already defeated LA twice this year. What you can say is that Tim Duncan is no longer the superstar he once was and may struggle if he has to battle Gasol and Bynum in the playoffs. On the other hand, the Spurs looked dynamic earlier in the week, taking apart the Heat by thirty points.
3. Boston Celtics (46-15): Is it possible to have the second best record in the league, win five straight games, be the defending Eastern champs, and still be under the radar? It is when you share the spotlight with the Lakers, Heat, Spurs, Bulls, and Mavericks. There are simply a lot of really good teams and compelling story lines in this NBA season. Make no mistake, Boston has as good a shot as any team to win the championship this year.
4. Chicago Bulls (43-18): There was a time when ranking the Bulls this high was a projection of what could be or a case of being infatuated with a talented, young team. Now, this ranking simply reflects reality. The Bulls are a damn good team and are legitimate title contenders. Their defense is crushing and the Carlos Boozer/Joakim Noah tandem is potent. Any time you’re second in the league in rebounds per game and points allowed per game, you’re going to be very good. Having Derrick Rose doesn’t hurt either.
5. Dallas Mavericks (45-17): You could probably argue that this team should be first or second on this list. I typically would have no problem putting them that high, but I simply don’t believe they are as good as the teams in front of them. They’ve played great ball as of late, winning eighteen of their last twenty. The Lakers now trail the Mavs by just one game for the second seed out west; it will be interesting to see how that race plays out.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder (39-22): There is a considerable line of demarcation between the top-5 teams and the rest of this list. The Thunder are a very good team, but even with Kendrick Perkins, I don’t think they’re ready to win four straight playoff series. They had a nice week, winning three in a row against solid teams (Pacers, Hawks, Suns) with Kevin Durant banged up. This team defines the phrase “puncher’s chance.” Durant and Russell Westbrook always give them a shot in any single game, but I’m not sure that duo has enough help to beat an elite team over seven games.
7. Orlando Magic (40-24): This is not a great overall team, but they’re this high for one reason: Dwight Howard. I’ve been back and forth between Howard and Rose for who should be MVP, but I’m pretty settled on Howard now. He’s the best defensive player in the NBA, and he averages 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. His offensive repertoire is improving by the day, and we could be looking at the man who will take the mantle from Bryant as "King of the NBA." Given his lackluster supporting cast, having this team at forty wins is an amazing testament to Howard.
8. Miami Heat (43-20): There was a time when saying the Heat weren’t championship contenders was just the contrarian thing to say. Now it’s flat out reasonable. This team is not configured right to win in the playoffs. Erick Dampier is an embarrassment of a starting center. Chris Bosh is a small forward playing power forward. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are the same player, incapable of complementing each other. They have no bench and no point guard. Their 0-9 record against the top-4 teams in the NBA standings reveals that they can’t score against the best teams. Smart, veteran teams know how to shut this Heat group down, and that’s not going to change in the playoffs. You can see how the media pressure and their immense level of ego is crushing the soul of this Heat team.
9. Portland Trailblazers (36-27): How this team has sustained itself without their star guard (Brandon Roy) and their starting center (Greg Oden) is a mystery to me. They’ve not only competed; they’ve put together a very nice season. Roy is back now, though on a limited minutes regiment. LaMarcus Aldridge has proven himself to be a certifiable star in carrying this team all year long.
+1. Memphis Grizzlies: Could the lowly, downtrodden Grizzlies actually make the playoffs? Yes! They did it when they had Pau Gasol, and it looks like they could be back in the postseason party this year. They have one of the best starting fives in basketball. Point Guard Mike Conley is starting to tap his huge potential to the tune of 14 points and 7 assists per game. OJ Mayo has been coming off the bench recently, but his talent is undeniable. If he gets his head on straight, he can be an All Star. Swing-man Rudy Gay has become a star, a certifiable scorer, and is a terrific athlete. When are we going to notice that Zach Randolph has averaged 20 points and 13 rebounds for the last three years? He and Gay provide huge, reliable production every night. Marc Gasol is not his brother, but he is one of the better centers in the league. Strong, long, and talented for his size, he averages 12 points and 7 rebounds a game. Their bench is what holds them back. It’s a young and offensively limited second unit, but overall this is a team on the rise.
--from Adam
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