By: Andrew Bohardt
Fantasy Sports 101 Basketball

As the NBA season approaches the All-Star break, the playoff picture is as blurry as it was at the beginning of the season. The closest thing to a sure bet is the Boston Celtics winning the Eastern Conference, and the are only four games up on Detroit. Out West, there is even more uncertainty. The top nine teams are within five games of one another, and the tenth, Portland, is holding on at five and a half games back in its division.
 
Recent trades by the Suns and Lakers have shaken things up even more. Dallas is also trying to add talent to its already superb roster. With all this parity and change, there’s only one logical thing to do: make predictions. New Orleans currently sits atop the Western Conference by percentage points, but there is a cluster of teams chasing them down. By the end of the season, several of these teams should overtake the upstart Hornets and order themselves like this:  

1. Phoenix Suns
With an aging Steve Nash and Grant Hill, Suns’ GM Steve Kerr knew his chances of winning a championship with this team were running out, so he made a move to acquire Shaquille O’Neal from the Heat for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. The trade has been met with mixed reviews, but a rejuvenated and motivated Shaq should help this team win the Western Conference, if not the NBA Championship.
 
2. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks still have an opportunity to move into the top spot, but it hinges on the Jason Kidd deal. Just like the Suns, it’s time the Mavericks incorporated some new blood into its lineup. Devin Harris and Jerry Stackhouse are both solid players, but the Mavs have not won a championship with them, and it appears that its time to move on. Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard would only benefit from playing with one of the premier point guards in the league.
 
3. Utah Jazz
Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer continue to be a formidable duo; Williams is one of the best, young point guards in the game and Boozer is averaging a double-double for the third time in his career. Throw in the do-it-all Andrei Kirilenko and the much-improved Ronnie Brewer, and Jerry Sloan finds himself with the best team he’s coached since John Stockton retired and Karl Malone went to the Lakers.
 
4. San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are in good shape to win the Southwest Division, but the only thing that matters to them is another championship. The Spurs, as usual, will coast into the playoffs, earn home-court advantage for at least one series and try to build on their legacy. Nagging injuries to Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been issues thus far, but the Spurs should get healthy and be in the mix for another title.
 
5. Los Angeles Lakers
The acquisition of Pau Gasol gives the Lakers a real chance to make some noise in the playoffs. His abilities will help guide the Lakers through an injury riddled February and into the playoff push. Add Kobe Bryant onto the list of walking wounded, as he elected against the recommended surgery to fix a torn ligament in his pinkie finger. If he can play effectively through the pain and Bynum comes back as scheduled, the Lakers are capable of making a run at the title.
 
6. New Orleans Hornets
Easily the biggest surprise of the season, the Hornets continue to lead the Southwest Division by a couple of games. Chris Paul is a MVP candidate, and the supporting cast of David West, Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic has been brilliant. However, holding off veteran groups in the Spurs and the Mavericks (particularly if they acquire Kidd) will be a monumental task.
 
7. Denver Nuggets
Carmelo Anthony is a star, and Allen Iverson and Marcus Camby continue to defy age. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, Iverson and Camby are the only players on the team with a desire to play defense. The Nuggets are surrendering 103.9 points a game, good enough for 25th in the league. Until their team defense improves, the Nuggets will be stuck near the bottom of the playoff seeds.
 
8. Golden State Warriors
After a dreadful 0-5 start, the Warriors have been among the league’s best, going 32-15 in its last 47 games. Typical of Don Nelson-coached teams, the Warriors rank first in the league in team offense (109.9 points per game) but also last in team defense (107.5 points per game). Stephen Jackson has emerged as a second-tier star in the league, and Monta Ellis is rapidly improving. Add in Baron Davis and Al Harrington, and no one wants to play the Warriors in the first round. 

Don’t count out the Houston Rockets, who have won eight straight games, but as competitive as the West is, they will have a difficult time sneaking past any of the top eight teams. Portland, the only other team with realistic playoff hopes, is still a year away.