NBA Playoffs: Why Each Contender Can and Can't Win a Championship

With the regular season winding down, we are starting to get a pretty good picture of who is going to be in the postseason and who isn't. We may see a bit of shuffling in the seedings, and the eighth spots in both conference seem to be up for grabs, but for the most part, we know what to expect.

So, you're wondering whether or not your team can win an NBA title? Well, I am going to give a reason for each contending team as to why they can win a championship, and then a reason as to why they cannot.

ATLANTA HAWKS

Why they can win: They are a very athletic team that can pose some matchup problems for other ballclubs. It also helps that Josh Smith is playing out of his mind.

Why they can't win: Al Horford is hurt. You have to wonder how dangerous Atlanta could have been with a healthy Horford, but without the former University of Florida star in the lineup, the Hawks become that much thinner and that much less likely to make any sort of noise in the playoffs. It looks like deja vu all over again for Atlanta.

BOSTON CELTICS

Why they can win: Experience. No one is more experienced than the Celtics, and Boston has quietly been playing great basketball, posting a 14-5 record since the All-Star break. Keep in mind that this could also be the last hurrah for the Big Three, so the sentimentality factor could serve as more motivation for the C's to get it done. Believe me: this is not a team that the Miami Heat or Chicago Bulls want to play in the postseason.

Why they can't win: Far too many injuries. This season, the Celtics have lost two players to heart surgery (Jeff Green and Chris Wilcox), Jermaine O'Neal to wrist surgery, and the timetable for Mickael Pietrus (who suffered a concussion last week) is unknown. Plus, Ray Allen is nursing an ankle injury. Had Boston been healthy, it would be a much, much bigger threat than it currently is.

CHICAGO BULLS

Why they can win: Derrick Rose. Plain and simple.

Why they can't win: Not enough help for Rose. Yes, the Bulls are 14-5 with Rose out of the lineup this season, but can the supporting cast carry that over into the playoffs? They certainly didn't last year, as Carlos Boozer in particular left Rose out to dry. In order to win a championship, Boozer and the rest of Rose' teammates will need to play much better than they did in 2011.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Why they can win: Well, they won it last year. Albeit, last year's roster was entirely different, but core pieces like Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, Jason Terry, and Jason Kidd are still around. The Mavericks may not be a huge threat, but no one looks forward to facing this team.

Why they can't win: The lack of a defender down low. Ian Mahinmi is doing all he can to fill the void of Tyson Chandler, but as one would expect, he does not even come close to having the same effect that Chandler did last season.

DENVER NUGGETS

Why they can win: They can run teams ragged. Like usual, the Nuggets play a very uptempo style of game that can really cause some issues for slower, less athletic ballclubs. Just about every player on this team can run the floor very well.

Why they can't win: Defense. Denver ranks 29th in the league in points allowed per game. That isn't going to get you very far in the playoffs.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

Why they can win: Depth. The Rockets are deep at multiple positions, particularly in the frontcourt since they acquired Marcus Camby. Having a good bench to provide your starters with rest pays so many dividends in the postseason.

Why they can't win: Plain and simple, they don't have enough talent. Houston is like the Western Conference version of the Philadelphia 76ers. It has a lot of good players, but no stars to put the team over the top. You need a consistent go-to guy to give the ball to late in games, and the Rockets don't really have that.

INDIANA PACERS

Why they can win: Depth, depth, depth. Notice I wrote that word three times. The Pacers are an incredibly deep team, especially now with the newly acquired Leandro Barbosa in tow. I feel I should also add that they can also pose matchup problems, particularly with the 6'9" (some even say he is 6'10") Paul George playing shooting guard.

Why they can't win: Lack of experience. Yes, Indiana really gave the Bulls all they could handle in the playoffs last year, but there is still not enough experience here for me to believe that the Pacers can really do much in the 2012 postseason. In the future though, look out.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Why they can win: Balance. With their trade for Nick Young, the Clippers now have very solid talent at every position. You also really have to like a starting lineup that includes Blake Griffin and Chris Paul.

Why they can't win: Lack of consistent low-post scoring. As impressive as Griffin is, he still needs to work on his back-to-the-basket game, and we know that DeAndre Jordan doesn't have an inkling of an idea of what to do in the post, either. Los Angeles can run teams out of the building, but late in the game when it needs to find a high-percentage shot, it won't be able to pound the rock inside to get one.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

Why they can win: Experience. As with Boston, count this team out at your own peril. The Lakers still have Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum, and Pau Gasol, and Ramon Sessions has proved to be a valuable addition to the roster and a rather sizeable upgrade over Derek Fisher. You can't dismiss a Bryant-led team, either. You just can't.

Why they can't win: They have a terrible bench. While Los Angeles has one of the league's most lethal starting fives, its bench is absolutely atrocious. Steve Blake hasn't had the kind of impact the Lakers expected when they signed him before last season, and outside of Matt Barnes, L.A. does not have a player outside the starting lineup that it can rely on.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Why they can win: Size. The Grizzlies are an extremely dangerous team with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol up front. I think of all the teams in the NBA, Memphis presents the biggest matchup problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Also, the Grizz made noise in the playoffs last year without Rudy Gay. Well, Gay is here this year. Watch out for this team. They are a legitimate threat in the West.

Why they can't win: Inconsistency. With as much talent as this team has, it hasn't really hit its stride this year. Now obviously, that has a lot to do with the fact that there have been some injuries, particularly to Randolph who missed a good portion of the season, but the lack of continuity due to not playing with one another enough could end up being the Grizzlies' biggest downfall.

MIAMI HEAT

Why they can win: I think this one is pretty self-explanatory, but it is because they have two top five players in the league in Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Having Chris Bosh as the third option doesn't hurt, either.

Why they can't win: Same reason as last year: lack of a consistent halfcourt offense, and that has a lot to do with the fact that the Heat get absolutely nothing out of the center position offensively. We saw it prevent them from winning a title in 2011, and it may very well be the big sticking point for Miami this time around, as well.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

Why they can win: Honestly, I can't think of any good reason, but since I'm doing this, I might as well just say the Bucks' explosive backcourt of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis could give an opposing team some problems.

Why they can't win: They just aren't good enough. Period.

NEW YORK KNICKS

Why they can win: They are explosive offensively. When healthy, the Knicks can put the ball in the basket as well as anybody, and I don't think anyone is going to argue that.

Why they can't win: Chemistry. Too much has been going on with this team this year with Linsanity, the issues with Carmelo Anthony, Mike D'Antoni resigning, Mike Woodson taking over, and now Amare Stoudemire's back injury. New York just hasn't had enough time to gel.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Why they can win: The trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. That is arguably the most explosive group of scorers in the league, as any of them can go off for 30+ on any given night. And to think Harden is only getting better. Scary.

Why they can't win: No offense down low. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka are defensive stalwarts, but they provide next-to-nothing in the way of low-post offense. Ibaka has certainly improved his offensive game, but he cannot be depended upon to get you baskets in the post when you need them. A good perimeter defensive team (like Memphis) can give the Thunder problems for this reason.

ORLANDO MAGIC

Why they can win: I'll forgo the obvious answer (Dwight Howard) and instead say it's because they have great outside shooting. The Magic can absolutely bury you from the perimeter, as even their power forward (Ryan Anderson) can hurt you from beyond the arc. If they get hot, opposing teams could be in for a long night.

Why they can't win: Inconsistency. Orlando has been the type of team that can beat the best of the best, like Miami, and then get held to 56 points in a game. The Magic are certainly a good team, but they are anything but dependable. That could (and more than likely will) cost them in a seven-game series.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Why they can win: Depth. The 76ers are one of the deeper teams in the league, as they use almost their entire bench. Nearly every one of their players can come into a game and hurt you.

Why they can't win: No go-to scorer. Philadelphia may be deep, but it lacks firepower and a reliable player in crunch time, and that explains why the 76ers have been so poor in close games this season. I'm not sure a team whose primary late-game scorer is Lou Williams poses much of a threat.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Why they can win: See the Celtics and Lakers. The Spurs are loaded with experience, as the Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili that won them three titles is still intact. It's also worth noting that Parker is having one of the best seasons of his career.

Why they can't win: Old age. Sometimes, too much experience isn't such a good thing. This was seen last year when San Antonio finished with the best record in the West but fell in the first round to the Grizzlies as Ginobili was nursing an injured elbow. Who is to say the Spurs won't suffer another injury this season?

UTAH JAZZ

Why they can win: Well, they really can't, but the Jazz do have incredible frontcourt depth, probably the best in the entire NBA.

Why they can't win: Far too young. While Utah is certainly talented, it just doesn't have the experience do accomplish much this season. I think there is a very good chance the Jazz slip into the playoffs (they are currently just outside the playoff picture), but don't expect them to do much of anything in them. Also, what in the living heck has happened to Devin Harris?