NBA 2012: 10 Games in and 10 Teams That Are Impressing Already

After the lengthy lockout, we were all just desperate for the National Basketball Association to get back into full swing, and what a Christmas present it turned out to be.

And now, ten games into the regular season, teams are starting to show what they have the potential to do throughout the season and into the playoffs.

For some teams, the 2012 season has been brilliant to date as individual players impress and as teams outclass and out-muscle their opponents to victory.

Here are the ten teams that have started the 2012 season with the biggest bang and ten teams that, if they can continue their form, will give other sides nightmares for the rest of the year.

10. Dallas Mavericks

The start to the 2011/12 season wasn't exactly brilliant for the defending champions, who lost their first five games to start the year. They've recorded up losses already against Oklahoma City (three times), Denver, Miami, Minnesota and the Spurs.

Having said that, recent wins over Phoenix, New Orleans and then the Thunder show that maybe this Dallas side is getting their season back on the right track.

With great personnel still to choose from, the Mavericks will continue to impress throughout the year.

9. Denver Nuggets

After signing big names back in Nene, Andre Miller and Arron Afflalo, the Denver Nuggets have started the 2012 season with no sign of hesitance and worry about losing that guy to that team.

Denver has chalked up wins over Dallas, Utah and the Lakers, as well as taking down Phoenix twice, and look again to be a serious contender for the West. Losses to Portland, the Spurs and Lakers show they are not completely dominant yet.

We'll leave that for when they host the Heat in the next few days.

8. Los Angeles Clippers

After having the most talked-about preseason, the Clippers have turned all the hype into wins on the board. When your side boasts Paul, Jordon and Griffin, to name a few, they should be making wins.

After starting the season with consecutive wins over the Lakers, they've followed that with losses to the Bulls, the Spurs and the Trailblazers.

With Miami coming to town and the Lakers following them this week, the Clippers do have an opportunity to prove they are a genuine contender in 2012.

7. Indiana Pacers

The Pacers are a side that's definitely impressed in 2012 so far, and one of those sides that seems to still have plenty of potential to grow in to.

Behind Paul George and Roy Hibbert, as well as Danny Granger, the Pacers have started 2012 strongly. They have recorded losses to the Heat and the Bulls, but are also chalking up wins in games that, in years gone by, they would have struggled to win.

Without the schedule looking too daunting for the moment, the Pacers are well on track to still be around and be a threat come playoff time.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

I guess the first question is what are the 9-2, leading the Western conference Oklahoma City Thunder doing at number six on this list?

When your side boasts likely MVP Kevin Durant, the explosive Russel Westbrook and the powerhouse of Serge Ibaka, how to you sit at number six?

And for me, the Thunder are still untried in a big game.

They've taken down Dallas, who aren't as good as they were last year. They've taken down Portland, a team still on the up and hitting their strides. They've taken down the Spurs with their aging side, and they've taken down the Suns, meaning they shut down Steve Nash.

Let me see them against Miami, Chicago and either of LA's sides; then we'll know just how good this Thunder side really is.

5. Portland Trailblazers

It's the big men that are impressing me most about the Portland Trailblazers this year, with LaMarcus Alridge and Gerard Wallace finding great form to start the season.

Throw in the dynamic Raymond Felton, and it's little wonder Portland have started the season with wins over strong sides in the Clippers, Lakers, Nuggets, Sixers and Jazz.

The one hiccup was a 25-point drubbing to the Phoenix Suns, and if they can pull out wins in their next two against Orlando and San Antonio, Portland will prove to the league that they are a genuine contender in 2012.

4. Atlanta Hawks

This is the one that I might have put too high.

The Atlanta Hawks have started the year 7-3, and behind Josh Smith and Joe Johnson, have chalked up some great wins against Miami and the Bulls. Having said that, they've also chalked up some losses against the Rockets and the Bobcats.

If the temperamental Hawks can get it together and play consistent basketball, they will continue to be a handful for sides to deal with this year. If not, they will make good practice for the Miami Heat.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers at No.3? Really?

Firstly, you mean the 7-4 Lakers. And secondly, you mean the Lakers that started the season with losses to the Bulls, the Clippers twice and the Sacramento Kings.

The Sacramento Kings?

They've followed that up with wins against Denver, Portland and those types of sides, but nothing truly substantial. They're lucky to be as high as they are on this list, but they are simply because they have impressed many this year.

Maybe that's just when Kobe drops 48. Not quite sure yet.

Give them time to prove they are either a genuine championship contender or another side that will losein the  first round of the playoffs.

Don't give me potential; give me wins.

2. Philadelphia 76ers

I'll take you back to the title of this list, particularly in reference to the sides that have been the most impressive. Not the most wins, not the biggest spectacle, but the most impressive.

And the Sixers have been just that.

Behind the best defense in the league, they've notched up wins over Washington, Phoenix and Indiana, and sit at the top of the Atlantic Eastern at 7-2.

As with many sides, they are still truly unproven against the top sides, but with the consistent play of Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala and a monster defense, they will continue to impress this year.

I fully expect the Sixers to win the first round of the playoffs at the very least.

1. Miami Heat

No prizes for guessing here, guys.

Seriously though, find me a side that's been more impressive or more dominant to start the season.

Other than last night's overtime loss on the road to the Golden State Warriors, the Heat have only dropped two games this year, to Orlando and Atlanta.

They've had one of the hardest schedules to begin the season, and it's not over yet with the Clippers, Nuggets, Spurs, Lakers and Sixers all to come in the next week or so.

Still, they'll win four of those five games, if not all five, and truly be the most impressive side to have begun the season, even if they are simply living up to what we expect from them.

Individually, LeBron James has led them offensively and has dominated defenses this year. I've also been mightily impressed with Haslem, who led the team in rebounds, which is no mean feat when Chris Bosh is on the side.

They have been the most impressive side from the first ten games of the season, and they look to be the side to beat this year.

Again.

Read more articles by Dan Talintyre here or follow him on Twitter @dantalintyre.