Which Surprise NBA Teams Are True Contenders or Just Pretenders?

A handful of NBA teams have raised eyebrows with surprisingly hot starts to the 2012-13 season. Which of these surprise squads should be considered true contenders as the season progresses?

There are already a handful of clear-cut contenders. The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are obvious. The San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers are also playing at an elite level.

Further, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics could also soon join these other contenders, but this wouldn't come as a surprise since these teams are rich with playoff experience.

The teams listed in this slideshow are debatable contenders. Their hot starts are impressive, but will it last? Do they have what it takes to not only continue their quality play in the regular season, but also make a deep playoff push?

Here we analyze which surprise NBA teams are true contenders, while also revealing who falls under the "pretenders" category.

*Stats used in this slideshow were as of December 24, 2012.

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks have compiled a 16-9 record, which situates them as the third best record in the Eastern Conference.

Nobody saw this stellar start coming from Atlanta. In fact, there was reason to wonder if they would even be a playoff team after they traded sharpshooting shooting guard Joe Johnson in the offseason. 

But the new-look Hawks appear to be jelling exceptionally well. A healthy Al Horford and the always active Josh Smith pace them in the frontcourt, and newcomers Lou Williams and Kyle Korver give them varying weapons on the wing.

Further, Jeff Teague has continued to develop as their floor general, showing vast improvements over the past couple seasons.

These components give them reason for optimism as the season unfolds. But while these components hold promise, they don't have the firepower to carry them come playoff time. It's illogical to believe this team could compete with the Heat in a seven-game series, and there's even reason to doubt if they can oust a rising team like the New York Knicks or a veteran mainstay like the Boston Celtics.

Their main concern is the lack of a player who can create his shot down the stretch. Smith, while versatile, has always been more of a slasher, and Williams, while capable of creating, possesses just a 41.4 percent field-goal percentage.

The Hawks surely have what it takes to squeak out of the first round, but they need to prove more before they're lofted into the contender category.

CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS? PRETENDERS

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have been one of the main stories in the season's early stages. Carmelo Anthony is making his case as an MVP candidate, and veteran additions Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Rasheed Wallace have been wondrous fits.

Not many figured the Knicks to race to such a blistering start, but their chemistry has helped them keep pace with the Heat in the Eastern Conference. What's more, they've blown out the Heat in both of their meetings thus far.

A looming question is how the return of Amar'e Stoudemire will alter the chemistry they've established. Stoudemire has been practicing and should return to the lineup in due time, but what should his role look like? 

No matter what, it's unlikely that his presence will completely derail the momentum they've built. 

The bottom line is that the Knicks have played at a top-notch level since the season's outset, and that doesn't figure to change in the coming months. Their defensive intensity has been consistent under coach Mike Woodson, and they boast a bevy of offensive threats besides Anthony (Felton, J.R. Smith and Steve Novak).

Plus, their wins over quality opponents like Miami beckon attention. They don't figure to fade anytime soon, and you can count on them playing a featured role in the 2013 Playoffs.

CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS? CONTENDERS 

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies don't consistently garner attention from NBA fans and analysts, but it's about time that they should.

They currently possess an 18-7 record and rank second in the league in points allowed per game (90.5). Their defensive prowess coupled with their fearsome frontcourt make them one of the most formidable Western Conference ball clubs.

Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay give them high-powered forwards and Marc Gasol is savvy at the center position. It's difficult to think of a more skilled frontcourt than this trio.

Plus, their backcourt is sufficient.

Mike Conley is tallying a quality 13.8 points per game and 6.3 assists per game while also being one of the league's premier theives (2.46 steals per outing), and Tony Allen is one of the game's best perimeter defenders.

Their only potential weak point is the lack of a shooting guard with offensive potency. The loss of O.J. Mayo in the offseason created this void, but as long as their defense remains superb, this weakness shouldn't be distinctly exposed.

The Grizz have shown that they're capable of winning on a consistent basis, and their defensive grit is a constant. This bodes well as they seek to solidify themselves as true contenders.

Quite frankly, they should already be considered as such. They've proven that they're capable of making noise in the playoffs (ousted top-seeded San Antonio in the 2011 Playoffs), and they've only gained experience and confidence since then.

Don't be surprised if this team gives a team, like the Thunder, trouble come playoff-time.

CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS? CONTENDERS

Golden State Warriors

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2012-13 season has been the Golden State Warriors, who have burst out of the gate with an 18-10 record. Nobody, and I mean nobody, saw this coming.

Center Andrew Bogut has only appeared in four games, but his absence hasn't hampered them. Veteran David Lee and emerging guard Stephen Curry are playing at All-Star levels. Second-year wing Klay Thompson is pouring in 15.9 PPG. And newcomers Carl Landry and Jarrett Jack have provided this team with a couple veteran presences and depth.

Coach Marc Jackson has helped this team find a groove in his second year at the helm. They're averaging a lofty 101.8 points per game, and have netted some eye-opening victories at the L.A. Clippers and at Miami.

This team has definitely given Golden State fans reason to be excited. They have promising pieces on this roster and they are likely playoff-bound.

That should be the Warriors main focus at this point.

Making the playoffs would be a major step in the right direction, and that is by no means guaranteed. There is plenty of basketball still to be played, and teams like the Lakers and Dallas Mavericks (since Dirk Nowitzki has now returned) figure to make runs as the season progresses.

The reality is that the up-and-coming Warriors will struggle come playoff time against upper-class teams like the Thunder, Clippers, Spurs and Grizzlies. They are lacking in playoff experience, and their talent level isn't as prestigious as their premier Western Conference foes.

Therefore, their quick start is certainly respectable, but it's unquestionably premature to consider them a solidified contender. It wouldn't be shocking to see this team fade in the coming months, and it definitely wouldn't be shocking to see this team bow out of the playoffs in the opening round.

CONTENDERS OR PRETENDERS? PRETENDERS

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls haven't necessarily been a major surprise, but they're keeping their heads above water while Derrick Rose remains sidelined. Many figured that the Bulls would be irrelevant this season because of Rose's absence, but this doesn't appear like it's the case.

What's more, the Bulls are currently awaiting the return of Rose, whose rehab is apparently going great, according to ESPN Chicago.

His return date is still unknown, but Coach Tom Thibodeau has expressed that Rose will hopefully rejoin the team in the season's second half.

The main reasons why Chicago's head is above water without Rose stems from the play of Joakim Noah and Luol Deng. Both are having outstanding years, and one of them (at least) should represent Chicago in the All-Star game.

Further, additions Marco Belinelli, Kirk Hinrich and Nate Robinson have all made their contributions felt. Belinelli, in particular, has been on a roll as of late, averaging over 14 points per game in the month of December.

Their current nucleus is building healthy chemistry with one another and they'll then receive quite a jolt of life upon Rose's return. Once he's back in the mix, they instantly become a pivotal threat in the Eastern Conference.

But the key in all of this is when Rose returns and how healthy he'll be. If he returns to form, they'll find themselves in the thick of championship contention. But those hopes entirely rest on the status of their 24-year-old superstar. The Rose-less Bulls may play hard but that won't be enough to vault them past the league's elite come May and June.

CONTENDER OR PRETENDER? CONTENDERS*

*assuming Rose returns and regains his form