Actually, maybe this will give an interesting snap shot in comparison to where we thought we were in the NBA in mid-January. Yea, let's turn it around and talk it up that way. Now, I don't feel pathetic anymore. I'm officially hyped. Let's do this!
1. Miami Heat (41-14, PR=3)...Being a 3 time repeat Finals participant, B-Court All-Star kind of gives Miami the benefit of the doubt most weeks over the past few seasons. Even if they appear to be on cruise control and muck things up for a few weeks in a row, you always kind of get the sense that that championship fire is burning right there beneath the surface. Well, they've turned up the heat (pun totally intended) the past couple of weeks, and they appear to be gearing up for playoff form after completing a 5-1 West coast road trip. They've also now officially won 9 of 10 and 12 of their last 14 overall, LeBron just completed one of the most efficiently dominant months in the last 50 years, and D-Wade is actually in the lineup (and effective) more than every other game.
And that's probably the most bada** protective mask I've ever seen.
2. Indiana Pacers (44-13, PR=2)...Miami is hot on their heals for the league's best record, but they are still just hot on their heels...they haven't caught up to their heels or whatever the expression would be. Point is, Indy just keeps trucking along winning 9 of their last 12. Should be interesting how Turner and Bynum get integrated into their rotation as well.
3. San Antonio Spurs (41-16, PR=1)...Always the forgotten team in a bevy of Western Conference heavyweights, I'm not convinced that there is a better team out West than San Antone. While the Clippers, Blazers, Rockets, and Warriors all are trying to make that leap from very good team to legit title contender, at this point I still have the Spurs in a series in 5 or 6 games over any of them.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (40-20, PR=5)...They're currently 4th in the West right now, but only a game behind Portland for that 3rd spot, and with Blake Griffin continuing to show his expanded game and CP3 back, they are as dangerous as anyone. Moving parts are a concern with injuries to Reddick and Crawford and new pieces in Big Baby and Granger, but this is a team that stacks up well with most of the other top teams out West (other than the Spurs). An early round matchup with the Warriors or Grizz should be avoided at all costs though.
5. Oklahoma City Thunder (43-15, PR=5)...Putting the better conference's current #1 seed 5th might be troublesome to some, but I don't like the look of this Thunder team right now. KD's having a MVP-caliber season, but I'm starting to worry about Russell Westbrook on a couple levels. Are his knees going to be a chronic issue now? How long is it going to take for him to feel his way back into his usual role on the team? Also, maybe it is just rust, but you get a weird vibe watching OKC right now, like despite keeping up appearances the KD-Westbrook power struggle is going to come to a head at some point. Also, Perkins being out oddly hurts this team from a minutes standpoint, thinning out the team's bigs, and causing them to use small lineups more often.
OKC's lost 3 straight home games since Westrbook's return.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (40-18, PR=4)...Oh, how expectations change with an unexpected hot start. Rip City has cooled off slightly over the past couple weeks, and now everyone wants to know what's wrong with the Blazers. Well, legit title contenders I don't believe they are, but they need to get LA back in the lineup soon regardless.
7. Houston Rockets (39-19, PR=none)...As hot as they've been, I still don't know if I trust them in a 2nd round playoff series. They can beat anybody on a given night, but they still depend on a lot of 3's going in and Dwight Howard.
Harden may have officially taken over the title of best 2-guard in the game though.
8. Golden State Warriors (35-23, PR=none)...Honestly, I would have guessed the Warriors would have moved up higher on this list at this point in the season. They seem to have the right blend of offensive firepower and solid team defense, but consistency remains a problem.
9. Chicago Bulls (31-26, PR=none)...Maaaaaan, don't ask me how the Bulls have done this the last 2 years. Would love to see a Pacers-Bulls 2nd round playoff matchup though.
10. Phoenix Suns (33-24, PR=none)...Was actually tempted to put my red-hot Wizards here, but couldn't bring myself to do it since they would only be in 10th place in the West right now. The Suns are probably the shocker of the NBA season so far. Let's hope Dragic and Eric Bledsoe get back on the court soon.
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