Current, Legitimate Title Contenders?

[syfy9]

I'd put, in this order :


Miami Heat
Oklahoma City Thunder
New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Clippers


There are other teams that have an outside chance, Boston and LA probably being the highest, but from a realistic point of view, those are more or less the most likely to win it.

[lightspeed5]

[Edited.  Please review our posting rules regarding tone and personal attacks.]

[mr. dee]

I guess you can make a claim that Knicks are legitimate contenders.

1. They are a team composed of veterans that already won championship and made the finals.

2. Their record shows what they are capable of.

[chambers]

The Memphis Grizzlies are better than the Clippers.
Rudy Gay is playing very well and he has the size to effectively guard Durant and Lebron.
With Gasol and Zeebo Randolph in the paint they are going to be an absolute force come playoff time.
To bolster the playoff run they might need to strengthen their guard rotation with a few trades but they'll be right there and I would not be surprised if they go to the finals.
They are just nasty at home and their inside/outside game is just phenomenal. I can't see how the Spurs or Clippers can beat them in a 7 game series with Gay and Randolph both 100% healthy as opposed to the last 2 seasons.

[j804]

The Memphis Grizzlies are better than the Clippers.
Rudy Gay is playing very well and he has the size to effectively guard Durant and Lebron.
With Gasol and Zeebo Randolph in the paint they are going to be an absolute force come playoff time.
To bolster the playoff run they might need to strengthen their guard rotation with a few trades but they'll be right there and I would not be surprised if they go to the finals.
They are just nasty at home and their inside/outside game is just phenomenal. I can't see how the Spurs or Clippers can beat them in a 7 game series with Gay and Randolph both 100% healthy as opposed to the last 2 seasons.

Agreed

[jdz101]

Good thing were only 20 games in.

[mctyson]

Depends what how you define "title contender." Remember we are talking about contention and not necessarily winning. I would say that title contenders are teams that have a reasonably good shot to make to their conference finals.  I see it this way:

EC

Miami
Boston
Chicago
New York
Brooklyn
Philadelphia


WC

San Antonio
Grizzlies
Clippers
OKC
Dallas


This is list is only the teams I can see making their conference finals.  There are some teams in here that have almost no shot at winning those games or the NBA Finals.  But really, all you have to do is make the conference finals and you have chance.

[slamtheking]

based on current play, it looks like either Miami or NY out of the East and one of OKC, Memphis and Spurs out of the West.

Speculating that teams will gel during the season or get back missing injured (impact) players, I could see adding Boston, Chicago and Lakers and possibly Indiana (they should be playing a lot better than they are this year) to that list. 

I'm still not sold on the Clippers, Brooklyn or Philly yet-->need to see how they progress during the season.

[OhioGreen]

Sorry folks, but: no rebounding + no shot blocking = no titles of any kind (division,conference or NBA)

We're 3 days away from being able to make deals.  Then another month away from a second chance to trade.  Unless we fix those two problems #18 will just be a dream that ends all too soon!

If we're going for it(#18), then let's do whatever it takes to get the help we desperately need!  If not, I say hang on to our youth (Rondo, AB, Sully, JG, Melo, Joseph,??) and trade anyone else on the roster for picks and young talent! This stategy of trying to win by not going "all in" and rebuilding at the same time just isn't gettin' it!

[pearljammer10]

Heat
Thunder
San Antonio
Memphis
Knicks

Honorable mention:
Celtics
Lakers (Long shot but you cant count them out, especailly when Nash and Gasol come back. DAntoni was a terrible hire.

[Chris]

Heat
Thunder
San Antonio
Memphis
Knicks

Honorable mention:
Celtics
Lakers (Long shot but you cant count them out, especailly when Nash and Gasol come back. DAntoni was a terrible hire.

Yeah, this is where I would put it.  Although I think the Clippers might need to be in there too. 

[CelticG1]

Sorry folks, but: no rebounding + no shot blocking = no titles of any kind (division,conference or NBA)

We're 3 days away from being able to make deals.  Then another month away from a second chance to trade.  Unless we fix those two problems #18 will just be a dream that ends all too soon!

If we're going for it(#18), then let's do whatever it takes to get the help we desperately need!  If not, I say hang on to our youth (Rondo, AB, Sully, JG, Melo, Joseph,??) and trade anyone else on the roster for picks and young talent! This stategy of trying to win by not going "all in" and rebuilding at the same time just isn't gettin' it!

Pretty sure the Celts have dispelled the rebounding/blocks theory for at least the past few years

[Kane3387]

Heat
Thunder
Spurs

----------

Knicks
Clippers
Grizzlies
Nets
Lakers (when healthy)
Celtics
Sixers w/ Bynum

[SHAQATTACK]

Heat
Thunder
San Antonio
Memphis
Knicks

Honorable mention:
Celtics
Lakers (Long shot but you cant count them out, especailly when Nash and Gasol come back. DAntoni was a terrible hire.

Agree,  this pretty much sums up the picture as we see it today. , at least barring injuries.   As we saw with the ROSE injury,   a major star is out for the season and playoff picture changes.

I sorta like the Celtics postion.  Kinda outside looking in , waiting ...  like a tiger watching its prey hidden in the bushes.

[Moranis]

As I've said since the summer, I would be surprised if the Heat were not playing the Thunder or Lakers in the finals and my opinion has not changed.