Can Anyone Catch the Cavs?

The NBA Season is quickly approaching the All-Star break, which signals the unofficial mid point. At this point in the season, there are some that have already booked their summer vacation plans (Nets, Wolves, Warriors), while there are others who have dreams of playoff glory, but are only fooling themselves. LayupDrill.com offers up it’s first Super Seven Power Rankings of 2010, which serves up the 7 teams that have a legit shot at hoisting the NBA Title in June.

7. Spurs – San Antonio has been trailing the Mavericks in the Southwest Division much of the season, but they are traditionally a second half team. The veteran core knows that as long as they keep themselves in the mix until mid-February, there will be a push to get into the top 2 seeds around March.

6. Magic – The defending East champs have underachieved thus far, and being off the radar could help Stan Van Gundy’s group. Dwight Howard needs to step up and be that dominant force we all think he can be in order for the Magic to rise to the top again. Does anyone think they miss Hedo?

5. Hawks – They may own the second best record in the East right now, and may be coming off a season sweep of the C’s. I still am not sold on Mike Woodson’s bunch. No hate here at all, but until they do it when it counts (the postseason), I don’t put too much stock into it. I hope they aren’t the 2010 version of the 1994 Seattle Supersonics.

4. Celtics – Maybe I will be the last to jump off the Big 3 bandwagon, but I think they have one last stand in them. The Celtics, like the Spurs, are a veteran group, who know when to kick it in. Realizing they may not catch the Cavs for the best record overall, the new goal is to secure the 2 seed and have homecourt until the East Finals. Through all the injuries, they still can capture that.

3. Nuggets – Denver is the best team no one really talks about. The Nuggets have almost all the tools needed to battle the Lakers, but unless they secure some additional front court help, Bynom and Gasol will eat them up in May.

2. Lakers – The defending champs not on top? Right now, with Kobe’s nagging injuries, they are content being the hunters and not hunted. They won’t win 70 games, and 65 is a reach. Standing currently at 36-11 is good enough to be on top of the West, and there are still hopes of overtaking the Cavs for the best record in the league, for homecourt in the Finals. It will be that race between Kobe and Lebron that will be Must-See-TV this spring in the NBA.

1. Cavaliers – Cleveland has won 7 in a row, and seem to be rolling even without the services of Mo Williams. Lebron is the unquestionable league MVP to date, and Shaq has done enough to not mess things up. The big question in Cleveland remains, “Can they finish the deal?” Top seed in the East and another MVP trophy would be nice for King James, but unless this team, this year, wins it all, the season will not be a success.
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