Left for dead earlier in the season, the Boston Celtics are 13-10 and riding high.
Who knew they just needed Rajon Rondo to get healthy.
Rondo is perhaps the only player in the league that can impact a game without scoring a point. His tenacious defense and court vision make him one of a kind.
Even if the Philadelphia 76ers (17-7) go on to win the Atlantic Division, no one wants to see the Celtics in the first round.
Especially not the Orlando Magic, who were blown out once by the Celtics and lost a 27-point lead in another loss to the same Boston team.
Ironically, Dwight Howard does not want a trade to Boston.
That’s good news for New Jersey Nets fans.
Here’s how the teams stack up:
1. Chicago Bulls (20-6) The Bulls and Thunder mark the NBA’s most talented teams. They don’t have the stars that the Heat or Lakers have, but the stars they do have are surrounded by talent. Derrick Rose has the pieces inside, which will be important come playoff time than the Thunder’s talent outside. The Heat are a perimeter-oriented team as well. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are big come playoff-time.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-5) The Thunder went 2-2 in a brutal week schedule-wise. In a 66-game packed schedule, good teams are going to lose to other good teams. The Thunder just can’t lose to the Washington Wizards...
3. Miami Heat (18-6) Losses like the one the Heat had against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday reminds everyone that the Heat can be beat. It doesn’t happen often, though.
4. Los Angeles Clippers (14-7) Come the playoffs the Clippers should be the NBA’s best. They have the weapons inside and outside to dominate a game. They’re playing pretty well to date, too.
5. Philadelphia 76ers (17-7) The NBA’s biggest surprise, Doug Collins is putting all the pieces in the right place. Andre Iguodala is filling up the stat sheet in every category, earning him the recognition he deserves.
6. Denver Nuggets (15-9) George Karl has my vote for Coach of the Year. And does anyone think Carmelo Anthony is better than Danilo Gallinari right now?
7. Indiana Pacers (16-7) The Pacers have won 4-of-5 and emerging guard Paul George summed the lockout-shortened season best after a loss to the Magic: "It was one of those nights. We're going to have those nights. We have to regroup, get ourselves together and move on."
8. Atlanta Hawks (16-8) The Hawks have lost two straight but starting 16-6 is nothing to sneeze at. Al Horford will return at some point, too.
9. Portland Trail Blazers (14-10) Nicolas Batum survived what could have been a very serious knee injury. He responded with nine three-pointers in a win over the Nuggets. The Blazers are only missing consistency.
10. San Antonio Spurs (16-9) The Spurs have won four straight and are experiencing success without Manu Ginobili. Kawhi Leonard paying dividends after that draft-day trade.
11. Boston Celtics (13-10) Rajon Rondo made all the difference. He’s the Celtics’ MVP.
12. Utah Jazz (13-9) The Jazz won games last week against the Blazers and Lakers. Could the Jazz be better without Deron Williams?
13. Dallas Mavericks (14-11) The Mavs came crashing down to earth with three straight losses this week. A loss to the Cavs leaves one wondering if these’s enough youth to last through June.
14. Los Angeles Lakers (14-10) This team isn’t young enough or talented enough to ride Kobe Bryant by his lonesome to the NBA championship. Right now winning games is a task.
15. Minnesota Timberwolves (12-12) Nikola Pekovic emerged as a playmaking center in a road win over the Nets. He went for a career-high 27 points, 11 higher than his previous best. With Pekovic, the T’Wolves have two scoring options down low. West beware.
16. Orlando Magic (15-9) A wretched losing streak was answered with three straight wins. The schedule gets tougher, and Dwight Howard’s supporting cast will face its ultimate test.
17. Houston Rockets (13-11) This week’s best quote comes from Rockets’ forward Luis Scola, whose team managed just one win last week. We have to find a way to play 48 minutes, the same way, the right way,” Scola said. “For some reason right now, we're not.”
18. Memphis Grizzlies (12-12) An 18-point loss in Boston came after a 19-point win in Atlanta. Win one, lose one. Hence they’re .500.
19. Milwaukee Bucks (10-13) If the Bucks don’t lose Andrew Bogut, they’re a much higher team on this board. They’re a legitimate contender in the East as well. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts...
20. Phoenix Suns (9-14) Michael Redd has made for a nice comeback story with the Suns. It doesn’t hurt playing next to Steve Nash either.
21. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-13) Kyrie Irving has Rookie of the Year honors pretty much in the bag after his game-winner against the defending champions Mavericks. Good news for a franchise that could desperately use it.
22. Golden State Warriors (8-13) David Lee is averaging 18 and 10 for the Warriors, but his great season is overshadowed by the team’s inability to gather wins.
23. New York Knicks (9-15) Who would have thought that wins over the Pistons and banged-up Nets marked progress? Crickets... The Knicks have a long way to go, but they at least have a point guard of the future in Jeremy Lin...
24. New Jersey Nets (8-17) Let’s face it, until this team gets Brook Lopez and MarShon Brooks back, we’ll never know their true potential. Avery Johnson’s crew is at least competitive in games they probably should not be.
25. Sacramento Kings (8-15) Keith Smart with a quote that the bottom 10 coaches are all thinking: “Sometimes I feel we're so close to becoming a good team.”
26. Toronto Raptors (8-17) The Raptors only lost by six to the Miami Heat on Super Bowl Sunday. That’s probably as impressive as any win they’ve had this season.
27. Washington Wizards (4-20) The Wizards actually have talent, they just don’t have discipline.
28. Detroit Pistons (6-20) A home-and-home with the Nets this week. File that away under “Must See TV.”
29. New Orleans Hornets (4-20) When a team is “going through the motions” as its head coach alluded, best believe they are a poor team. What’s harder to believe. There’s someone worse.
30. Charlotte Bobcats (3-21) Paul Silas shouldn’t worry about his job security. A real punishment to him would be to force him to keep coaching the Bobcats. The good news is Gerald Wallace holds no grudge against Charlotte for trading him... "I felt like I was betrayed. I felt like I was stabbed in the back. It was my first opportunity to really play against them."
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