With most teams having played 30 or more of their 82 game schedule, the NBA landscape is becoming clearer. The good teams are separating themselves from the average and poor teams, and despite some interesting surprises, the outlook for the NBA Finals in June looks pretty much like what we predicted prior to the season. The San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat are still the clear favourites to win it all.

The Detroit Pistons are dominating the league and have many people not only talking about a Finals appearance, but also a regular season MVP award for their floor leader, Chauncey Billups. Some even see the Pistons challenging the record for most wins in a season. That record is currently held by the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls who won 72 games that year.

Miami is the only other legitimate contender in the East. They are still struggling with the transition from former coach Stan Van Gundy to new coach Pat Riley (who is also the team President and likely the reason for Van Gundy?s departure) and also with team chemistry after making significant roster moves in the off-season. Did Pat Riley tinker too much? After all, they would have beat Detroit in last year?s Eastern finals if it hadn?t been for key injuries to their star players, namely Shaquille O?Neal. Even if the moves were a good idea, will Riley be able to turn this club of self-centered players into a championship team? The regular season record doesn?t matter much for the Heat; as with most good teams, it?s all about preparing for the playoffs (in Miami?s case, preparing for the Pistons).

The Indiana Pacers have underachieved so far and are facing yet another media circus surrounding their troubled star wingman Ron Artest, who has publicly asked for a trade. Management has decided not to play Artest and have asked him to stay home until a trade can be arranged.

The Cleveland Cavaliers and New Jersey Nets have been positive surprises with their early season play and may be capable of a playoff upset.

The New York Knicks have been a huge disappointment this season after numerous questionable off-season moves to both their coaching staff and player roster. The Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards have also struggled much more than expected.

In the Western Conference the San Antonio Spurs continue to quietly and professionally go about their business of dominating the conference. Perennial MVP candidate Tim Duncan leads one of the deepest and best coached teams in the league. It is difficult to see anyone stopping a healthy Spurs team from reaching the Finals.

The Phoenix Suns have been a big surprise in the Western conference. The Suns have been without Amare Stoudemire the entire season and lost two key starters this summer. Reigning MVP Steve Nash is proving that award was well deserved by leading an entirely new club to third best record in the West. Yet surprisingly Nash has garnered no MVP buzz this year?

The second best record belongs to the Dallas Mavericks who are showing an astounding commitment to defense, along with their traditional high powered offense. Underachievers in the West include the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Seattle Supersonics, and Sacramento Kings who would all miss the playoffs if the season ended today.

Overall, it has been a very interesting NBA season to date? and we?re not even at the all-star break. The playoffs should prove to be worth the price of admission.






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