Lakers, Heat, Celtics: The NBA's Top Team and Other First Week Observations

I wonder how many people outside of New Orleans and Atlanta felt the Hornets and Hawks would join the Los Angeles Lakers as the NBA's only remaining undefeated teams after the first week of regular season play?

The Lakers, Hawks, and Hornets join Boston, Chicago and Portland as division leaders in a season that has gotten off to a spectacular, if not totally unpredictable start.

Championship contenders such as Miami, Boston, and Orlando have all suffered early losses, but neither team has did anything to suggest that their status is undeserved.

The Heat's sole loss came at the hands of the Celtics in the season opener, and since then they have defeated each of their opponents by at least 20 points, which includes a 26 point annihilation of the Magic on Miami's home court.

Miami has proved that most doubts about the team's chemistry was premature, as the Heat have have struggled some on offense, but have unquestionably been the NBA's top defensive team thus far.

The Heat have held the opposition to a paltry sum of 84 points per game, while allowing less than 40 percent shooting from the field.

Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh have led the way averaging a combined 58 points per game, 18.6 rebounds, and 10.2 assists.

James' averages of 20.4 points, 7.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds are down from last season, as is his 47 percent shooting from the field, but James has shown the willingness to sacrifice his own statistics for the sake of the team.

In fact, all three players have numbers that are less than last season, but personal success matters very little when you field a team that has as much potential as Miami does.

One re-occurring concern for the Heat may be their lack of girth in the middle, especially since Bosh is averaging nearly four rebounds less than he did last season.

As a team, the Heat averages 42 rebounds per game which is less than any of the other contending teams in the East, and in order to go deep into the postseason, that will have to be addressed.

Boston appears to be the primary threat to the Heat in the East, and all of their core players have started the season focused and with a sense of purpose, especially Rajon Rondo.

Through four games Rondo is averaging an amazing 16.8 assists per game which includes one contest where he netted a mid-boggling 24 dimes.

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett all look healthy and involved, but there is little doubt remaining on who the best player of the "Big Four" truly is.

Rondo has solidified his status as an elite NBA point guard with his recent performances, but Chicago's Derrick Rose has been equally impressive, and arguably moreso.

Rose is averaging 27.7 points per game and eight assists for a Chicago team whose only loss was suffered on the road against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Bulls have the look of a solid playoff team, and their fortunes should rise even further when Carlos Boozer returns from injury to bolster Chicago's interior.

Orlando's image may have taken a hit with their 26 point blow-out loss to the Heat, but a little perspective is needed in the wake of that defeat.

The game was fairly even until Vince Carter was injured in the first half, and with his departure Orlando no longer had any player besides Dwight Howard who really warrants a double team.

Miami was able to freely double Howard in the post, and the perimeter players were able to offer assistance without the threat of Carter's penetration and long distance shooting.

Orlando will definitely cause Miami trouble with a dominant Howard in the post, but the Heat's large margin of victory is an example of what could happen if the Magic are unable to provide an alternative option who commands a double team.

As impressive as Miami has been on the defensive end of the floor in the East, the Los Angeles Lakers have matched them on the offensive end by averaging a league best 114.2 points per game en-route to an early 4-0 start.

Kobe Bryant's knee has yet to be an issue, and that injury has been somewhat over-shadowed by the play of Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol in the paint.

Gasol and Odom have combined to average 40.4 points per game, 23.2 rebounds, while shooting an impressive 62 percent from the floor.

Bryant's 23.8 points per game are not exactly pedestrian-like numbers, but the true strength of the Lakers' team is in the post, and even without Andrew Bynum they have played like it.

Newcomers Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff are perfect complementary players for the Lakers' system, and the reserve unit looks more stable and consistent than a season ago.

New Orleans holds a one game edge over Dallas and San Antonio in the Southwest division, but the talent of the Mavericks and the Spurs makes it an unlikely proposition that the Hornets will retain that edge throughout the season.

Chris Paul is a great talent but he doesn't have nearly enough supporting help to fend off the deeper, bigger, and more experienced Mavericks and Spurs.

The most exciting race in the west could be between Portland, Oklahoma City, and Denver who all appear to be viable candidates to win their division.

Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge have been exceptional in the absence of center Greg Oden, and may hold a slight early edge over the Thunder and the Nuggets.

The Thunder are improved from a season ago, but their post players are still inconsistent, and it's yet to be determined if forward Serge Ibaka has taken the necessary leap forward in his development.

In order for the Thunder to be serious contenders they will have to get sustained performances from Ibaka, Nenad Kristic, and rookie Cole Aldrich or it will be extremely difficult to beat teams with superior interior players.

Denver's case may be the strangest because any hopes of a championship, and maybe NBA relevance depends on what happens with star forward Carmelo Anthony.

With Anthony on board Denver is certainly one of the top five teams in the West, but if the Nuggets trade him they will likely struggle to secure one of the conference's eight playoff berths.

Although it's extremely early, if I were conducting a first week power poll, the Lakers would have to stand at the top for the simple reason they are undefeated, and as defending champions they are also one of this year's top contenders.

Atlanta and New Orleans are both capable of reaching the postseason, but it's not likely that either team will finish the regular season in the top three, so they should enjoy their stay at the top, however brief that time may be.