By T. Williams
A few months ago, I wrote a piece about the NBA having only three legitimate title contenders: Boston, Cleveland and Los Angeles. This was written around the quarter point of the season. Now with only a fraction of the season left, a couple of teams have stepped their game up and have shown some promise. Meanwhile a couple of teams have taken some big steps back. So I, in turn, decided to make a list of the NBA’s Top 5 Title contenders, to kind of gauge where the best teams truly lie. Houston, Utah, Detroit and even the Sixers were teams at the start of the season I believed could have been on this short list at this point of the season. But when it comes to reaching the ultimate goal of winning an NBA Title, only 5 teams, in my opinion, belong in the discussion.
#5 Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic (the team of the bunch who’s least likely to win it all) were actually in a race for first in the East, until Jameer Nelson tore his labrum (Is it me or is this happening a lot lately, Philadelphia?). Then again, how can you ever count out ANY team in the NBA that has the best big man in the league on their roster, like Superman 2.0 aka Dwight Howard? To me, it seems fairly evident to say that he is next, in the long line of truly great centers in the NBA. The problem with this is, typically centers are no good with free throws, and Howard is no different. To make matters worse, the Magic follow suit with their leader, ranking last in the NBA for free throw % (.723). You can’t win championships when you’re not able to collect on the free points that the other team gives you! Why do you think home court advantage is so important? Sure, being able to play in your home, with your fans, staying in your bed last night is a part of it, too. But, we all know, the home teams expect to get the calls. And sure, Rafer Alston was a nice addition in an attempt to replace Nelson, but he’s not enough to win them a championship this year. It does, however, when you take into consideration the development of their stud guard Courtney Lee, set them up nicely for a title run next year.
#4 Boston Celtics
I really didn’t want to put the defending World Champions this far down my list but realistically, I had to. To start the season off, the Celtics looked nearly unstoppable, and I know New York and Boston fans are going to kill me for this, but the Celtics this season remind me a lot of the New York Giants of this past NFL season. They came into the year as the defending champs, riding a wave of pure confidence, and for whatever reason fell apart in the end. They both started the season absolutely ON FIRE! And, in the case of the Celtics, they got off to the best start in the history of the Boston Celtics franchise with an absurd 27-2 record. I want you to think about that for a second, the best start in the history of the storied Boston Celtics! I’m talking Russell, Cousey, Auerbach, Bird, McHale, Johnson and the list goes on. The Celtics looked to be in prime position to challenge Michael Jordan and the ’95-’96 Bulls record 72 win season. Then much like our economy, the bottom fell out with the Celts going into a relative tailspin, losing seven of their next nine games, beginning with the first rematch game from last years NBA Finals against the Lakers. Not many people were too concerned, attributing the Celtics slide mostly due to mental fatigue. And, it didn’t seem like there was much to worry about, after Boston won twelve in a row after that skid, until being stopped by L.A., again, this time in Boston. Then, in what was a bad week for the Celtics, K.G. ends up getting hurt against the Utah Jazz, and the Celtics have been playing .500 basketball ever since. With mounting injuries to key role players like Rajon Rondo, and Big Baby Davis, in addition to the Big Ticket still being a Big Question Mark, the Celtics have basically lost home court advantage to Cleveland, which I think is paramount, and are in an eternal struggle with the Magic for 3rd in the Conference. Plus, they also acquired Stephon Maurbury this season, and I don’t think any team with him will ever win an NBA Championship. The bottom line is this: Boston has yet to prove to me they can get past the Lakers when they’re healthy, how can I possibly think they can win as banged up as they currently are?
Part II coming soon...
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