Break!

Always the trendy time to evaluate the potential of a season. I know a lot could happen between now and the all-star break. I truly believe there are only five teams with potential to win it all though, no matter what happens in the trade market. So....here we go..

1. LAKERS:
PROS
-Kobe
-Size
-Coach

CONS
-Injuries

Defending champs, most talented and best coach. Have played well all year, and have continued that with Kobe on the shelf. In my mind, when healthy they should be favored in a 7-game series against any team in the league. Not much to criticize. If Kobe is sharing the ball, they are almost unstoppable on offense. They aren't a great three-point shooting team. Bottom line, if Kobe's ankle holds up they should at least win the West.

2. CAVS:
PROS
-Lebron
CONS
-Lebron

-I am sure Cavs fans want to talk about the rest of the team and how he has a great supporting cast, but that is bunk. It is all Lebron all the time. They will go as far as he takes them. In the same respect though, it is the gift and the curse scenario here. If they fall into that old trap of Lebron making moves and the rest of the team watching, they will disappoint again. I don't love their coach and I worry about their fight in a tough series, especially when they are down. If Lebron pushes these guys, to run with him and they are able to stay involved/hit shots, Cavs should win the East and set up a dream Kove vs Lebron Scenario.

3. MAGIC
PROS
-From 1-12 most talent in the league
-Best center in the league
-Great three-point shooting

CONS
-Chemistry
-Coach

-When you look at this roster, they can pretty much match up with any team in the league. They can go small, big, shooter, traditional, pretty much any type of line-up with effectiveness. My problem with them is a lack of a go-to guy in crunch-time. Turkolu used to be that guy and he is gone. Now they not only struggle with who will take the shot, but who will handle the ball. They had a lot of upheaval i the offseason for a conference champ. Plus, the coach has been grilled on numerous occasions for his playoff performance. They need to find a rotation for the playoffs. My expectation is that they will find their groove and peak for playoff time. If so, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

4. NUGGETS
PROS
-Most explosive team in the NBA
-Great 1-2 combo in Billups/Melo
-Homecourt advantage

CONS
-Meltdown potential

-I love watching this team play. On any given night they can blow any team in the league out by 30. At the same time, I am still waiting for the blow-up. So many guys have meltdown potential (Melo, Kenyon, JR, Anderson, even the coach). They consistently give the Lakers everything they can handle (2-0 this season) though, and Billups may be the stabilizing force needed to get them over the hump. They play in a loud building, and Denver is always tough to play in with that thin air (just look at home/away splits of all Denver teams over history).

5. CELTICS...Really..
PROS
-Championship pedigree

CONS
-Age
-Tumultuous season/environment

-The only real reason I am putting the Celts here is that they won it 2 years ago, and still have that same core group of guys. In reality, I don't give them much of a chance. Then need to trade Ray Allen, if not for this year, then for the health of the franchise going forward. If I had to make a case for them though, I would say that if Pierce and KG are healthy they will get some of that old magic back. They play well on the road, and have intense leadership. Have weapons all over the floor on offense and tough D. In reality though, as I hears Chuck Barkley say yesterday, "Old people don't get better, they die." This minirun of the past 3 years has died.

Predictions:

*Finals: Cavs vs Lakers
*If I had balls and what I want to pick: Cavs vs Nuggets
*Celtics will not make it past the 2nd round.
*Cavs will win a game 7 at home against Orlando in the East Conf Finals
*The Knicks will give up a top 10 pick to the Jazz.

Random, Non-NBA thought on my mind:
I work in finance, so a good chunk of my day is spent watching CNBC. Now, I feel that they do a good job for the most part. I view myself as a moderate, and can handle both sides of the political debate. What I find so ridiculous though is the whining and complaining of everyone on this network when it comes to Obama and taxes. I respect their point of view and agree on some of their points, but I find it the height of hypocrisy that you have 80% old, white, rich men bitching about how the rich should not get taxed more. Of course they don't want to get taxed more!! They want to stay rich. I just find it bizarre. Can we get some perspective please?? I know you aren't going to get the poor people on TV in that format, but I just can't deal with the ridiculousness.