NBA Team Rankings: Separating the Pretenders from the Contenders

With the basketball season already a fourth finished, it's time to check out how all the teams are ranking and pick out the pretenders from the contenders.

Playoff worthy:

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to impress with their 9 game winning streaks. Kobe's improbable 3 over Dwayne Wade sums up their success: unstoppable.

The Boston Celtics - What more need be say when you have a team that leads the league in field goal percentage (49.7%) and allows the lowest points per game (90.5)

The Orlando Magic - Vince Carter has been an amazing asset, leading the team in scoring while giving them cushion in first place in the Southeast.

The Denver Nuggets - Carmelo may be the leading scorer in the league (29.8), but without their backcourt, they'd be sitting in a deep hole right about now.

The Atlanta Hawks - I'm putting my vote for Jamal Crawford as the 6^th man.

The Phoenix Suns - Steve Nash is so selfless; he dishes out more assists than the dishes you eat on Thanksgiving.

The Dallas Mavericks - Mark Cuban got crushed pretty badly on WWE Raw the other night, while the Mavericks beat the Suns the night after.

The Cleveland Cavaliers - Shaq continues to praise Lebron, but he needs to start helping him as well. 11 pts per game will not bolster Cleveland's chances to getting into the playoffs.

The Portland Trailblazers - Even though Greg Oden is out, Portland makes a strong case of being in the hunt.

The Miami Heat - Good team chemistry for Wade and the heat.

The Contenders - These teams are right where they should be

Houston Rockets - Trevor Ariza has been the heart and soul of this team, Houston got the better end of the Ariza-Artest deal

Utah Jazz - This team has one of the best frontcourts in the league

Oklahoma City Thunder- Tough challenges against the Cavs and Nuggets are coming up; good chance for the Thunder to prove themselves

The Sleepers

Chicago Bulls - They're doing fairly well for the tough season they've had so far, but they'll soon break out of their slump make a strike for the playoffs.

Detroit Pistons - The starting 5 average 90 pts per game

The Washington Wizards - Jamison seems to be keeping his composure even though Arenas continues to struggle

New Orleans Hornets - they've done well in their last ten games, winning 7, but David West needs to step up to his playing level last year for the Hornets to show contention

San Antonio Spurs - They could be 13-6 right now, have 3 one-possession/overtime losses.

The Pretenders

Toronto Raptors - The Raptors have lost every game in which Chris Bosh scored 30 or more

Milwaukee Bucks - Brad Jennings is continuing to struggle; you can't expect a team to make the playoffs when led by a rookie.

Charlotte Bobcats - To lose to NJ by 6 and then beat Denver by 12? This team has no consistency.

Los Angeles Clippers - every team better than them is just crushing them

Sacramento Kings - Hopefully their 4 game losing streaks will come to an end when Minnesota comes to visit

Hoping for a new season

Memphis Grizzlies - The players have a A:TO ratio way too low (1.18)

Golden State Warriors - The Warriors give up an average of 112 points per game. It must rain pretty hard in Oakland.

Indiana Pacers - The Pacers need to start knocking down more of their shots; they're only making 43% from the field

The New York Knicks - Anybody have any ideas why they didn't sign AI?

Philadelphia 76ers - It's too late for AI to make a difference now

Minnesota Timberwolves - At least Minnesota fans have the VikingsNew Jersey Nets - Here's cheers at making history