2009-10 NBA Rankings: The Drive for Five

Five seems to be a good number for this season. Shaq, Kobe, and Duncan (and D.Fish) are all tied up at 4 rings a piece. If one of them were to find themselves in the most fortunate position of winning it all this year, its going to equal more than bragging rights. These guys have it all, money, cars, egos. While all three of them are undoubtedly going to be hall-of-famers, a fifth ring gives them something they have all strived for from day one, Legendary Status.

On to the rankings: While the entire NBA seems to have finally pulled itself out of the wretched 1999-2004 era, only 5 of the 30 teams seem to be contenders this year. Some might find that as an insult, I find it as a compliment to this season. Sure 5 seems like a low number, but when have we had this many legit contenders before?

Sure we all have teams we root for, and we all aspire for them to wear the crown. Sometimes we get a bit over zealous and oversell ourselves on the true strength of each team. We all do it, and that’s fine. But deep down inside, we all know there are only one or two real contenders. However this year is different. 5 different teams can legitimately claim that they are part of the NBA elite. All are a little bit different from last year, all a bit stronger, and most certainly all the hungrier. Each team’s make up is of a different consistency.

Their specialties are all different. Their downfalls and upswings will relay on different factors. Yet they are all striving for the same goal. Each team seems to represent a different non-basketball objects and I’ll try to illustrate that in my list. Here are my top 5 teams for the 2009-10 seasons:


1. Lakers – Atomic Bomb

Some serious hardware. Scientific precision. One of mankind’s greatest inventions. But if it goes awry just the slightest bit, catastrophic!

This Lakers squad might be the greatest roster ever assembled. Sure some of it was pure luck; some of it was crafty engineering. But most all of it has been hard work and dedication by one, Kobe Bryant. Call him the Robert Oppenheimer of the Los Angeles Project. He’s been the GM, the Coach, the player, the whole f**king franchise. He has even dabbled in some mad scientist.

Call him what you will, just give him his dues. I am no Kobe fan, by any stretch, but this team is down right scary. Not just because they seem to have the personnel to shatter the 72-10 Bulls record. But they also seem to have the personnel explode with the chaotic uncertainty of an atomic bomb taking down both their title shot and a chance at history. (I’m looking at you Lamar Kardashian!)

2. Boston Celtics – The Porter House

You like it wouldn’t mind it a little raw. In fact some of us prefer it that way. A delicious meal that is only further enhanced with the perfect side portions. Yet can fulfill any appetite by itself. A work of art in the culinary world, even in it’s barest of forms.

The main ingredients to this dish consist of veteran savvy and relentless defense. This team knows how to win and, better then that, they know how to defend. We all know that defense wins championships. They don’t try to be anything they aren’t. It is all there for you to see in plain sight. If they pull it off this season, we can truly herald them as a great team. While many things can go wrong in a season, the make up of the Celtics is simple; Play defense, get to the free throw line, win games.

So why do I compare them to a steak? While many are out looking for the next best thing, the Celtics do it with what is proven to work time and time again, Defense. They also compare to a steak because of their age. If the flesh of Garnett or his older teammates doesn't hold up through the rigors of the season, their chances at a ring are ruined, much like a rotten piece of steak can ruin a delicious meal.


3. Orlando Magic – The Phoenix

What was looking like a masterful season last year ended in tragedy. Orlando only had to sign one free agent to return their full starting five, yet they chose to shed their skin in the fiery death they suffered in the finals. The Magic are reborn a creature of a different feather this year hoping to lay claim to the skies above the rest of the NBA’s elite.

Orlando was right there last year. Soaring so high before sent to their death by the resilient Lakers. But Otis Smith and SVG saw something most casual spectators would overlook. Turkoglu was regressing and what they had now wouldn’t hold a candle to the Cavs or Celtics (Let alone the Lakers) of 2009-10. So, like the mythical Phoenix, they changed their look and spent the money needed to try and better their efforts of last season.


4. San Antonio Spurs – Old Faithful

With the accuracy and reliance of a good watch old Faithful erupts every hour to 2 hours. Not even the migration of the rumbling of our tectonic plates or liquefaction of the polar ice caps happens with such persistence and measurable accuracy. Sure we know “The Big” one is bound to happen, but when? Maybe Never? The Earth is heating up and the caps are melting, but when will they be gone? Will they ever return? Old Faithful doesn’t miss a beat. Erupts with magnificent beauty. Then reaches back deep into mother natures soil to build the arsenal required to deliver once again.

The Spurs aren’t so different. They have become more of a trend then back-to-back champions. We measure their success in terms of their regression and their inevitable explosion back onto the championship scene. Every year we think was their last hurrah, R.C. Buford and Coach Pop find treasure where other GMs only see trash. They reach deep down into what is left for them and pull out a gem of a signing. This year is no different. The Spurs are locked and loaded to deliver Duncan his 5th career ring.

5. Cleveland Cavilers – The Salad Bowl

They are a salad not a fine meal. A fine meal is made up of many parts, but all cooked and spiced to complement each other. Planned out carefully and perfected over generations. A salad is just tossed together as a quick fix to hold over a hunger that is obviously much larger than the salad can fully satisfy. The Cavs are a salad; mixed greens and a few veggies. Topped with some special Lebron sauce.

Sure, a salad is good for you and sure it can make a decent meal, but its no porter house with a side of baked potato. The vivid colors might fool some, but there is no true satisfaction at the end of a salad. Shaq, Parker, Powe? Great ingredients to a championship meal, but one must be wise not to let their hand slip.

The Cavs are going to face a lot of issues this year many of which are a carry over from last year. How do you defense Rashard? Will all these “spices” mesh together well? Is Lebron staying or going? And how crazy is Delontdo West? Some have the Cavs as the sure fire champions, some have them as the top dog in the East. Im not even sure they make the Eastern Conference Finals this year. Hence their #5 ranking.