A Three Team Race

We may only be a quarter of the way through the NBA season, but I think we have a pretty good idea of who is going to play in The Finals. This young season has been dominated by three teams - Boston, Cleveland and Los Angeles - and if this were NASCAR, the rest of the pack would be getting lapped as I speak. These three have each won at least 84% of their games (meaning that they're all on pace to win 69 or more) and they're the only three in the league with an average scoring margin of ten or more. So far, the biggest storylines have been centered around these top-tier teams.

The Boston Celtics are on an unbelievable run right now. The other day they tied the all-time record for best start in league history and have won 24 of their first 26 - including 16 straight. The reason I love this team is because they never quit. In this day and age, how often does a defending champ play this hard to defend their title? To go 66-16 one season and then turn around to improve by ten percent is a testament to how hard these guys play. Boston's "Three Party" are a group of driven guys that will never become complacent. They set the tone for the Celtics and their leadership is inspiring.

If Boston doesn't end up playing Cleveland in the Conference Finals, I'll be shocked. The Cavs - led by LeBron James and his 27.3 ppg - may be the third best team in the league thus far, but they're 21-4, undefeated at home and they beat their opponents by an average of 13.1 ppg. The road to The Finals may run through Boston, but Cleveland is the only team with an unblemished home record. LeBron James is listed at 6'8" and I've heard he now weighs close to 280. I still wouldn't call him Michael, but find me a player his size that can fly like that. No one in the world can take over a game like King James and when his stroke is on he is literally unstoppable.


Speaking of unstoppable players, Kobe Bryant has the Lakers playing at a ridiculously high level right now. Last year's Western Conference race was very tight as the eighth-place team in the West, the Nuggets, trailed the first-place Lakers by only seven games heading into the playoffs. Today the top two teams, L.A. and New Orleans, are separated by five games. That's how dominant the Lakers have been this year. Kobe is averaging 25.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists through 24 games this season. Since MJ left Chicago, no player has been as good as Kobe is today. His shot selection is outstanding, he rarely turns the ball over and he always gets his strong supporting cast involved. Who in the West can challenge the Lakers?

You see, I have no horse in this race. My Sixers just fired their coach, Elton Brand is out a month and despite spending huge money on Andre Iguodala, he still doesn't have a set position. I'm not giving up on the 76ers, but how can they compete with these NBA heavyweights? The depth on those teams is greater, the coaches are better and each lineup plays with more cohesion. I'm excited to see how the season will play out. If the first quarter is any indication, I have a hunch as to which teams we're going to be watching in late May and early June. One thing is for sure: this race is going down to the last few series of the 2009 Playoffs and when that time comes, it'll be worth the wait.