7 Biggest Sleeper Teams in the NBA

It's way too early to write off most teams as playoff contenders, and the compacted 2011-12 NBA regular season has been unpredictable on a nightly basis.

There are some teams making some noise early on that some think will fade as time goes on, while there are other clubs off to sluggish starts, and many feel their time may have already come and gone to compete.

Sleeper teams can be defined broadly, but these seven teams are poised to make a little more noise than most are predicting.

It'll be interesting to see how they fare as we continue to move toward the halfway point in the campaign.

Note: Records accurate through 1/25/12

7. Houston Rockets

Record: 10-8

The Rockets are getting some serious production from the starting backcourt of Kyle Lowry and Kevin Martin, and the rise of Samuel Dalembert down low has some starting to buy into this group.

Houston always seems to be on the outside looking in at the postseason, but some consistent play from Luis Scola as well as increased contributions from the second unit could set this team up for a backdoor playoff berth.

Chandler Parsons has given this team a nice boost as the starting small forward, but the club will have to get more out of its guys off the bench in order to fulfill the sleeper prophecy.

6. New York Knicks

Record: 7-11

There are a lot of things wrong with the Knicks right now, but there is just too much talent on this team for New York to play this way all year long.

Ironically, a Mike D'Antoni team is having trouble producing offensively, and that is a direct result of not having a real point guard in the starting lineup through the first 18 games of the year.

Baron Davis is not the savior, nor should Knicks fans expect him to be, but if he's healthy (which is a big if), his presence on the floor will open up opportunities for Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire that haven't been there all season long.

5. Boston Celtics

Record: 7-9

After an 0-3 start to the season, almost everybody said it was time to blow up the "big three" and that the Celtics window was closed.

Paul Pierce is finally healthy after a nagging heel issue that was problematic early in the year, and Rajon Rondo has really taken this club by the reins and asserted himself as the floor general.

As currently constructed, it's tough to make an argument for this roster to win a title, but to say that this Celtics team is going to result in a lottery draft pick is an exaggerated statement.

4. Atlanta Hawks

Record: 13-6

Atlanta is really impressing with the way it's played since Al Horford went down, and this team is a lot better than many have given it credit for being to date.

Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Jeff Teague have been carrying the group and the additions made to the second unit during the offseason have really paid dividends.

The Hawks also just got Kirk Hinrich back in the fold following offseason shoulder surgery, and if Horford can return in time for the playoffs, this team might not be stuck in the middle for very much longer.

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 10-7

Another team that many thought would struggle without a key player, the Grizzlies have been playing well in the absence of Zach Randolph.

O.J. Mayo has found his confidence and rediscovered his scoring touch, and there is no question that Rudy Gay, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol are currently playing their best basketball of the season.

The club should get Z-Bo back long before the postseason, and this is still the same team that surprised many with its deep run in the playoffs just last year.

2. San Antonio Spurs

Record: 12-7

Throughout the summer days of the lockout and even the month before the season started, there was one common theme running through the league: the Spurs are too old.

Guess what? They heard all that chatter, too.

The team is going through arguably its toughest stretch of the year in January and handling it well without Manu Ginobili (broken hand), and Tony Parker is playing with a fire we haven't seen from him in recent seasons.

With the rest San Antonio is providing to Tim Duncan and the production Gregg Popovich is getting from his second unit, this is a talented, experienced group that can turn heads quickly when it matters most.

1. Indiana Pacers

Record: 12-5

It's baffling that some people still aren't taking the Indiana Pacers for real.

Larry Bird did a phenomenal job during the offseason to bring in both David West and George Hill, and there is no doubt that both additions have made this team a much deeper and more balanced ball club.

Roy Hibbert's development has been crucial to the Pacers climbing up the standings, and he's really asserting himself as a dominant center in a league that doesn't have many.

The more and more we see from the Pacers, it's getting increasingly obvious that all of the members on the roster are on the same page.

That's the type of stuff that builds team chemistry and can be a decisive force in finding success as the year moves forward.