Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs and Others Show LA Lakers West Still a Race
During the offseason, it was easy to get caught up in the notion that the only thing keeping the Los Angeles Lakers from another NBA Championship was whomever the Eastern Conference Champion was to be.
What we forgot, however, is the fact that every playoff team in the Western Conference won at least 50 games a season ago.
The Lakers were bound for glory we all thought, they would be dancing under the spotlight at the end of June as long as they get past the Miami Heat or the Orlando Magic or Boston Celtics yet again.
Not so fast my friend. The Western Conference is far from a one-horse race this season, and there is little chance that the Lakers will go through the playoffs with ease.
Talks at the beginning of the season were like we were going to see Secretariat racing against Orlando Pace, DeSagana Diop and Abe Vigoda, but we've got a full-fledged down to the wire thriller on our hands, with Secretariat going strong against Seattle Slew, Man O' War and Affirmed.
So with just about a month of games under our belt in the NBA, let's take a look at the teams which pose the biggest threat to getting back to the NBA Finals for a chance at a three-peat.
6. Denver Nuggets
1 of 6
This team bringing down the Lakers obviously depends on one man and whether or not the Nuggets decide to trade him at the deadline or not.
If the Nuggets decide getting anything out of Carmelo is better than nothing, then the odds are they will not be able to dethrone the reigning champions.
However, if they give it their all this season, and convince 'Melo to do more than just go through the motions in games then they could be a serious threat to the boys in gold.
They brought down the Lakers on November 11th, giving them their first loss of the season in an offensive shootout, stopping an eight-game win streak in its tracks, along with talks of a 72-win season.
The Nuggets best shot of taking down the Lakers in a seven game series would be to force Los Angeles into their pace, making the game an offensive battle, as their defense is nothing to write home about.
5. New Orleans Hornets
2 of 6
The LA Lakers have the highest scoring offense in the NBA right now; the New Orleans Hornets have the fewest points allowed per game in the NBA right now.
Needless to say, this would be an interesting series and would be hard-fought with two of the hardest working teams in the NBA facing off.
New Orleans has given up over 100 points only three times this season, and teams are mustering a measly 92.4 points per game against the team.
The Lakers three-point shooting squad, which is making 41.6 percent of downtowners would face a team allowing only 33 percent of three-pointers to fall.
They are two smart playing basketball teams, and in a seven-game series it would be difficult to say that the Lakers would win handily.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
3 of 6
The one team that everyone looked to be the biggest challenge to the Lakers has gotten off to a slower than expected start, but have righted the ship as of late, winning seven of their last nine.
The Thunder have shown the ability to win in blowouts, win in offensive shootouts, win in defensive grind-em-out games, win in overtime and win in just about any other way that you could suggest.
They have the usual suspect in Kevin Durant, who is getting back on track and has his field goal percentage back up to 42, up from around 36 from a few weeks ago.
They also have one of the most rapidly improving point guards in the league in Russell Westbrook, who would match up well against Derek Fisher, who is a good defensive point guard, but easily burned by quick ball handlers, which Westbrook definitely is.
They also have the height to compete with the Lakers as Durant starts at small forward at a big 6'9" and a small heel away from 6-10.
Oklahoma City would be one of the best teams to match up with Los Angeles, but they have to start to mesh more as a team if they wish to take down the defending champs.
3. Utah Jazz
4 of 6
Utah is another team that has beat the Lakers this season, holding the vaunted LA offense under 100 points once out of only five times throughout the season.
The Jazz are a surprising team to be leading their division at 14-5 as they lost their second best player over the offseason, as Carlos Boozer departed to Chicago.
They are a good and balanced team, with a Top 10 offense and a Top 10 defense which is just the thing needed to stop the Los Angeles Lakers.
They would have troubles, however, running their pick-and-roll with Deron Williams and Paul Millsap with the numerous big men tha LA has down low.
They have more than that in their offense, however, and can attack from any angle, which could possibly open up the pick-and-roll just like a running game opens up a passing game in football.
2. Dallas Mavericks
5 of 6
Dallas has shown how good they can be when they are clicking over the past six games, as four of their wins have come over Miami (although a win against a team only two games over .500 may not be that impressive (Zing!!)), San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Atlanta.
They have also beat Denver, Boston and New Orleans earlier in the season, giving them a great 7-3 record against "good" teams this season.
They have shown their ability to beat great teams all season long and have their usual superstar Dirk Nowitski doing as good as usual, and Jason Terry stepping up tremendously, along with a large number of role players doing an excellent job adding to the team.
They allow the second fewest points in the game, are able to score well enough to win games and are one of teh best rebounding and assisting teams in the game.
Look out if Dallas is coming at you in April Los Angeles, they could just be the team to keep you from the finals.
1. San Antonio Spurs
6 of 6
The Spurs were one of the most oft-criticized teams in the previous offseason. They're too old, they have to have a down year some time, they can't win if Tim Duncan isn't on the top of his game.
All were words lobbed at San Antonio, and all are things they have already disproved this season.
San Antonio has been a good team for the past 234 years it seems, and this year is no different.
They have the best record in the NBA this season with a 14-2 record and are on pace to win around 72 games this season (although I'm not going to even suggest that they are going to approach that record).
San Antonio is another extremely balanced team who have five players who are easily capable of scoring 20 points on any given night.
They are in the top of the NBA in each statistical category, scoring over 107 points per game and allowing less than 98 per game.
They have every possibility of taking down the reigning NBA Champs and winning their fifth championship since 1999.
