NBA Stock Report: The Top Eight Teams and Where They Stand

This past week was a great one for the members in the NBA Stock Report, unless you are a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, who find themselves mired in a three game losing streak.

For the first time in the Kobe Bryant-Pau Gasol era the Lakers have lost three consecutive games with each of the losses coming on the road to Eastern Conference teams.

Excluding Los Angeles, the rest of the top teams in the league went a combined 23-4, in the best showing of combined strength since this list was started.

Dallas, Boston, and Orlando were the beneficiaries of perfect weeks while no one else suffered more than one loss.

Which makes the Lakers' case puzzling because this is traditionally the time of the year when the top teams in the league began to distinguish themselves from the rest of the field.

Instead, the struggles of the Lakers have left them vulnerable to teams like the Mavericks, current owners of an 11 game winning streak, which is one of the best in the team's history.

The next few weeks will provide even more clarity as the top teams either solidify their rankings, or are surpassed by the various teams within arm's length.

All positions are based on the current NBA standings, and even though these are firm, there is no definitive way to tell if they will remain that way.

So I welcome all opinions as to the future direction of each team, and any guesses on which teams will stand fast in their resolve, or fall victim to another surging franchise. Please enjoy.

8- Atlanta Hawks: Fourth East, Up

It may not be possible for the Atlanta Hawks to catch the Orlando Magic in their division, but the young team is trying to strengthen their standing as a top four seed.

The Hawks finished the week at 3-1 with wins against Chicago, Philadelphia, Golden State, and a loss on the road to Miami.

There is no question that Atlanta is a legitimate playoff team, but are they capable of increasing their seeding in the up-coming weeks?

With Joe Johnson at the helm the Hawks' leadership is firm, and they have the talent to make a decent run in the postseason, but Atlanta's inexperience could be a deciding factor in the future.

7- Utah Jazz: Fourth West, Steady

The Utah Jazz have drifted back to the shadows after a recent nine game winning streak, but have managed to stay in the thick of the hunt for a first round playoff series at home.

Utah finished the week 2-1 with a win at home to the Los Angeles Clippers, a win on the road against Phoenix, and a road loss to the same Clippers' team.

Utah is usually a poor team on the road and in order to stay in the fourth position in the West, they will have to continue winning games like the one in Phoenix.

With teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder nipping at their heels, the performance of stars Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer will be paramount to Utah's postseason hopes.

6- Boston Celtics: Third East, Up

It may not be a wise decision to count the Boston Celtics out just yet, because as the past week shows, there is still plenty of fight left in the champions of 2008.

The Celtics finished a perfect week at 4-0 with wins on the road against Detroit and Philadelphia, and wins at home against Charlotte and Washington.

Boston seems to finally be healthy and the late season editions of Nate Robinson and Michael Finley may provide some relief for the Celtics' weary core.

The Celtics are finding their groove at just the right time, and with the talent and experience on the roster, discounting them could be a dangerous proposition in the postseason.

5- Denver Nuggets: Third West, Up

The Denver Nuggets have spent most of the NBA season as the second seed in the West, but has recently been eclipsed by the Dallas Mavericks for that position.

It's not like the Nuggets have been playing poor basketball, it's just the Mavericks may be the hottest team in the entire league right now.

Denver finished the week 3-1, with wins against Oklahoma City, Indiana, and Portland, and a loss on the road to the Phoenix Suns.

A knee injury to Kenyon Martin will test the already thin front line of the Nuggets, and players like Chris Andersen and NeNe will have to elevate their games.

More attention must be payed on the defensive end, and stars Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony must continue to perform at a high level if Denver is to avoid slipping any further.

4- Dallas Mavericks: Second West, Up

The Dallas Mavericks are the hottest team in the NBA, and their 11 game winning streak is silencing any critics who questioned their viability as serious contenders.

Dallas ended the week at 4-0 with wins against Charlotte, Minnesota, Sacramento, and Chicago, and ascended to the second seed in the West in the process.

The Mavericks are only three games behind the slumping Los Angeles Lakers, and have found their rhythm at just the right time.

A recent injury to Jason Terry could be important, but the addition of Caron Butler makes any time Terry may miss easier to accept due to his ability to create his own shots.

Dallas seems poised to make a deep run in the postseason, but due to past playoff failures, ultimate judgment is reserved until the second season begins.

3- Orlando Magic: Second East, Up

With all the talk about LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's easy to forget the Orlando Magic are the defending Eastern Conference champions.

We would all do well to remember, and after a period of adjustment for new-comer, Vince Carter, the Magic are beginning to find the form that led them to the NBA Finals in 2009.

Orlando finished the week 4-0 with wins against Philadelphia, Golden State, New Jersey, and Los Angeles, which was a measure of revenge for an earlier loss to the Lakers.

The Magic have made a concerted effort to involve Dwight Howard earlier in the offense, and that move is paying dividends as the perimeter game is opening up for Orlando.

They will always be a perimeter-oriented team, but allowing Howard to create double-teams in the post eases pressure for Orlando's stable of jump-shooters.

Their formula is a proven one, and the Magic seem more than ready to defend their conference championship of 2009.

2- Los Angeles Lakers: First West, Down

The Los Angeles Lakers are reeling, and after losing three consecutive games are in serious danger of being surpassed as the top seeded team in the West.

The Lakers finished the week at 1-3 with a win over Indiana, and losses to Miami, Charlotte, and Orlando, the first such streak since Pau Gasol joined the team.

The Lakers have been victims to lapses on defense, and uninspired play in the post from their big man tandem of Gasol and Andrew Bynum.

Their main issue though seems to be an inability to maintain focus, and while this is not a new coincidence, it is a troubling one for the defending champions.

The next few weeks will go a long way in determining the character of this team, as much of their final schedule is comprised of road games.

The Lakers were the only team on this week's list to have a losing record, which is not a good sign this late in the season.

1- Cleveland Cavaliers: First East, Up

The Cleveland Cavaliers are hurtling toward the NBA's number one overall seed, and even a recent loss to the Milwaukee Bucks did little to dampen their spirits.

Mostly because they played the Bucks withut the services of LeBron James, who was getting a much needed rest as the postseason draws nearer.

The Cavaliers finished the week 3-1 with wins against New York, New Jersey, Detroit, and the one loss on the road to the Bucks.

Cleveland's schedule is favorable for the stretch run and they could probably rest James a little more and still maintain their solid advantage in the East.

The Cavaliers may decide to go a different route because they desperately want to have home court throughout the playoffs, and their three game lead over the Lakers leaves little room for error.