As the NBA resumes play post All-Star break, a few teams have distanced themselves from the pack. Each of the elite teams possesses the key cogs that make them poised to make a run to the Finals. With the replacement of all-star Jameer Nelson in favor of veteran Rafer Alston due to injury, the Orlando Magic have fallen a few steps back from the leading contenders to win the 2008-2009 NBA championship.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been the class of the NBA thus far. Despite a few losses that left everybody scratching their heads (at home to the Charlotte Bobcats and at the lifeless Sacramento Kings), the Lakers still play well when it matters the most, sweeping the two game season series with the Boston Celtics and ending Cleveland’s perfect home record. Shooting guard Kobe Bryant is having yet another MVP caliber season, and with help from swingman Lamar Odom and power forward Pau Gasol, the Lakers seem poised to make another run at the crown. Although Center Andrew Bynum is out right now with an injury, he is expected to return in time for the playoffs and will make a strong team even stronger.
The reigning champion Boston Celtics have kept the latest version of the Big 3 clicking on all cylinders and have benefitted from the superb point guard play of Rajon Rondo. Many worried about the lack of drive of all stars Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett now that they had brought a championship home to Boston. However,an early season winning streak of 19 games silenced many critics and the recent winning streak of 12 games cemented the Celtics’ elite status. However, with leading reserve TonyAllen now resigned to the bench for the remainder of the season courtesy of a broken thumb, the Celtics may need to supplement their roster with a late season veteran signing, a la PJ Brown a year ago.
The Cavaliers have been led by do it all forward LeBron James, currently the league’s leading scorer. With all star guard Mo Williams as a wingman alongside James,Cleveland boasts one of the most dynamic backcourts in the league. The Cavaliers are invincible at home, as evidenced by their 24-1 record at Quicken Loans Arena before the all star break. The Cavaliers seem to be one big-time player away from competing with the Lakers and Celtics, but withLeBron James on their side, they can’t be counted out.
The San Antonio Spurs started the season off slowly (9-8 after their first 17), but then gained their stride posting a 35-16 record heading into the all star break. Point guard Tony Parker and forward Tim Duncan provide a dynamic inside-outside combination, and with the help of the NBA’s best reserve Manu Ginobli, the San Antonio Spurs are sure to be a tough outcome June.
The Denver Nuggets received a generous donation from the Detroit Pistons in the first few weeks of the 2008-2009 season. Denver and Detroit essentially swapped point guards as Denver sent Detroit ‘team cancer’ Allen Iverson and Denver received guard Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess (later waived), and Cheick Samb (has since been assigned to the Development League’s Colorado 14ers andisn’t even the top search result of “Cheick” on Google). Detroit has flailed to a 24-25 record with Iverson while the Nuggets have soared to a 35-14 record with Billups at the helm of the offense. Coupled with star Carmelo Anthony, and role players JR Smith and Kenyon Martin, Billups has thrived as a glue guy, leading Denver to NBA elite team status.
Each of the aforementioned teams has a legitimate shot at making a post season run because they possess the experience and necessary chemistry between stars and role players to make the deep run into June and contend for the coveted NBA championship. In the end, it will be the team whose main star(s) shines the brightest through the tough playoff road that brings home the coveted championship.