the league having played more than half of its games since the end of October, it is getting easier to discern which teams are contenders and which ones are pretenders, or just flat out jokes (here's looking at you Cleveland). Teams are in descending order:
Eastern Conference
Boston 40-14: Can they stay healthy? If healthy they are the favorite to come out of the east. Thankfully the Big 3 + Rondo are mostly healthy (Pierce has been banged up). It's everyone else who seems to be finding a way to the infirmary. Shaq is out past the break, Delonte West has been out since Nov. 24 but is coming back on Tuesday, Marquis Daniels is out for at least a month and possibly more, Semih Erden has been hurt and will need surgery in the off season, and Jermaine O'Neal has been in hibernation. Also keep in mind that Kendrick Perkins is averaging 27mpg while still recovering from ACL surgery.
Miami 41-15: Can Wade and James both play effectively against the elite teams? It took a while but the Heat have recovered from their early season slump to become the legit contenders everyone predicted they would become. They have struggled against the teams considered contenders, and it is easy to see what ails them; lack of a good point guard and inside presence. On top of being forced to start Mario Chalmers at point and an over the hill Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center, it remains to be seen whether Wade can play well off of LeBron James. During the three games against Boston Wade has shot 12/45.
Chicago 38-16: Will their weakness at shooting guard hurt them in the end? With Noah and Boozer missing significant time, Derrick Rose has stepped up as the team's alpha dog and a legit MVP contender. On top of the team still having to gel (a lot of new pieces on the Bulls this season) Chicago has one pee stain on an otherwise impeccable sofa. I guess the front office believed one of the three (Korver, Brewer, Bogans) could become a starter, yet each has struggled with something different this season.
Orlando 36-21: Has the big trade made them that much better? A trade was certainly needed. Having Vince Carter loaf or Rashard Lewis play like he's 6 feet tall would keep them behind the top three for good. Yet it remains to be seen whether this team is really that much better. Turkoglu's play is maddening, Arenas is more concerned with his pet sharks than his dreadful performance, and Jason Richardson is the definition of a high volume streak shooter.
Atlanta 34-21: Have they peaked? Josh Smith is going to become a free agent for next season, and it is looking like the Hawks may be stuck in no man's land. They are clearly good, but they are also not going to beat any of the top teams in a seven game series. Joe Johnson needs to become more consistent.
New York 28-26: Which team will show up for the rest of the season? A team full of streaks (both good and bad) this year, the Knicks lack depth and another big man to complement Amare. Raymond Felton is having a career year, but his shooting has been too streaky.
Philadelphia 27-29: Will they trade Andre Iguodala? AI 2 is still owed a significant amount through the 2013-14 season. His numbers are down from the past few seasons, but from what everyone saw with Team USA, Iggy can lock down opposing guards on the defensive end. He is also a fantastic fast break player and would be a great fit for a team such as the Spurs or even Golden State. Philly is an underrated team to watch. They have a lot of young athletic players.
Indiana 24-30: What is their identity? In the West Indiana would be behind 12th place Houston. Thankfully for new coach Frank Vogel, the Pacers can sneak into the Eastern Conference playoffs. Danny Granger is merely a scorer (nothing else), Darren Collison has been average at point guard, and which Roy Hibbert is the real one? The one who averaged 15 and 9 in November, or the one who averaged 9 and 7 in January. After these three, only Brandon Rush and Paul George intrigue me.
Charlotte 24-32: How much more exciting would they be if MJ came back for them? Anything can help this offensively challenged team. Seriously, I think the Airness could come back and be very effective playing 15 minutes per game. At 47, you know MJ was still bringing his "A" game when he practiced with the Bobcats earlier in the season.
Milwaukee 21-34: What went wrong? Perhaps the most disappointing season so far, I had the Bucks slotted in at the four or five spot in the East. Scott Skiles' voice can tend to fall on deaf ears after some time, but one year? Their best player - Brandon Jennings - is an erratic shooter and porous defender, and John Salmons is inconsistent from one year to the next. I also should of seen this one coming. Corey Maggette (a career gunner and nothing else) and Drew Gooden (a career knucklehead who has played for nine teams since 2002) were their big acquisitions.
Detroit 21-36: Is Joe Dumars still alive? Joe Dumars is never blasted by anyone for his bone headed moves over the years, particularly with signing Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva to crippling deals. Both have underperformed, but the writing was already on the wall. Villanueva is an outside shooter, best suited coming off the bench. Guess what? So is Gordon. Meanwhile, Rip Hamilton was literally shipped to the dog house a few weeks ago, diminishing his trade value in the process. They have no inside scoring besides underrated rookie Greg Monroe, and are a squad full of 2's and 3's and nothing else.
New Jersey 17-40: Is it worth trading the house for Melo? I say yes. The roster is a mess already. Brook Lopez seems broken down already, Devin Harris is up and down, and Morrow, Outlaw, Vujacic, and Farmar are too similar. Derrick Favors plays like a 19 year old with raw talent. Why not go for it and pair Lopez with Anthony; maybe try and lure Chris Paul or Dwight Howard for next season.
Washington 15-39: How relieved are they to be done with Gilbert Arenas? The Wiz can thank Orlando GM Otis Smith for taking the headache off their hands. Although they still have to pay the man, getting Arenas away from talented rookie John Wall and away from a young team was priceless.
Toronto 15-41: Can this team play less defense? They are ranked eighth worst in points allowed but are the worst in opponents field goal percentage at 48.4. After relying on much travelled goon Reggie Evans to shore up their front court defense, Evans was lost to injury after 15 games. Star center Andrea Bargaini can score a lot, but does little else, and that includes defense. Three key players - Derozan, Barbosa, Calderon - play "O-Lay!" on the defensive side of the ball.
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