After ignoring the NBA in favor of college and pro football, we have gotten plugged back into the roundball the past three weeks. And what do we think? Well, never has the West looked so stacked...and never has the East look so meek. In the spirit of worst is first, we will start with the right coast.
Two Teams and Only Two!
The Eastern Conference teams should just end the season now and start scouting the college kids for June's draft. Well, all the teams except for the Celtics and Pistons, of course. Seriously...who else is out there that has even a remote chance to win even a single game in the NBA Finals? LeBron James ain't getting the Cavaliers a return trip to the finals. And Cleveland's recent trade (giving up Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden for Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, Delonte West and Joe Smith) won't improve their chances much either. Wally Zee has now been on, like, 12 teams and routinely gets injured during pre game introductions. Big Ben still looks Tarzan but now goes through droughts where he plays like Jane. West and Smith are a dime a dozen around The League. It says here that the trade was made so management can go to King James and say, "Look -- we made a move to try to help you. Now, please (puh-lease!) don't opt out after next season and leave us for the Knicks or Lakers."
No, the Cavs are not even on the radar. Only these two teams are:
1. Detroit Pistons -- A week ago, we were ready to anoint the East to the Celtics. But then Boston actually played some real teams and got pistol whipped 
three straight times. All the Pistons did was go into Phoenix and shred the Suns by about 60 points. What do they have the Boston doesn't? Playoff experience and Chauncey Billups.
three straight times. All the Pistons did was go into Phoenix and shred the Suns by about 60 points. What do they have the Boston doesn't? Playoff experience and Chauncey Billups.2. Boston Celtics -- Honestly, we would be able to cheer for them if they only got rid of our Old Friend Paul Pierce. Alas, we digress. As good as their record is, several things bother us about them. Their bench is a bench of one -- James Posey. Fat-Short-Guy, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, Big Baby Davis (all 6-foot-6-and-one-half of him) is not helping them come April. Eddie House? All he does is take minutes away from Rajon Rondo, who we freely admit to being wrong on. Tony Allen? Offensive foul waiting to happen. So who does that leave? Oh yes, can't forget about Scal...Brian Scalabrine. As such, Doc Rivers has been playing his first five some major minutes. Will Ray Allen still be standing in the spring? And if so, will he have the legs for his jump shots? It seems inevitable that Sam (I am) Cassell will join the team in 10 days...and yes that will help. But does anyone really think that a tag team of Rondo and Cassell will be able to check Chauncey Billups for a seven game series? The answer to that question begins with N and ends with O. Finally, when did Kevin Garnett abandon the post and become a jump shooter? It seems like he spends more and more time on the perimeter and less time on the blocks.
2Pac was Right: The West is the Best!
Want some perspective? If the playoffs started today, the Denver Nuggets would not be playing. This, despite the fact they are 11 games over .500 at 33-22. That 33-22 record would make them the THIRD SEED IN THE LEAST, errrrr, EAST! It's hard to rank who is the best, but here goes:
1. Los Angeles Lakers -- With one move, the Lakers went from being a team likely to lose in the first round to a team that is now favored to win it all in June. Kobe went from being a disgruntled employee to a motivated and focused player who could well win the league's MVP award. Pau Gasol for the expiring contract of the immortal Kwame Brown? Jerry West is sitting in West Virginia laughing while Red Auerbach is in heaven (or perhaps hell?) cursing. Gasol changes everything for the Lakers. Kobe can actually focus (albeit for short periods of time) on passing and defending. Lamar Odom becomes perhaps the best third option in the history of the game. Luke Walton and Andrew Bynam slide down the food chain to complimentary players. Does any other team have two "comp players" the ilk of Walton and Bynam? Plus, Phil Jackson is now dialed in on breaking Auerbach's record for most titles won. As long as Kobe's injured finger doesn't fall off, LA is primed to return to its glory days.
2. San Antonio Spurs -- They don't have a lot of trendy players. They don't make a lot of headlines. Yet, is anyone counting out the Spurs? As long as Tim Duncan is breathing, they are a team to fear. A healthy Tony Parker gets them a date with Kobe.
3. Phoenix Suns -- Last week, they lost a close one to the Lakers and then got their heads kicked in by the Lakers. On paper, they should almost be unbeatable. 
But outside of Steve Nash, they have BIG question marks. Is Amare Stoudamire mature enough to be the go-to guy? Will Shaq bring anything to the table offensively? Can Grant Hill be a defensive stopper? Can Raja Bell give them points from the perimeter? Finally, there are close to 400 players in the NBA. We would have to say that over 300 of them are better than Boris Diaw. In fact, you are probably better than Monsieur Diaw.
But outside of Steve Nash, they have BIG question marks. Is Amare Stoudamire mature enough to be the go-to guy? Will Shaq bring anything to the table offensively? Can Grant Hill be a defensive stopper? Can Raja Bell give them points from the perimeter? Finally, there are close to 400 players in the NBA. We would have to say that over 300 of them are better than Boris Diaw. In fact, you are probably better than Monsieur Diaw. 4 - 8 The Rest (i.e. New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors) -- They all have sparkling records. And if you put them in the East, they would all make things at least interesting for Detroit and Boston. One of them may be able to knock off the Suns, but none of them are equipped to topple the Lakers or Spurs.
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