Five Contenders Remain?

Folks, it looks like there will be a new NBA Champion in 2007. The Miami Heat were too banged up and aged, despite Wade attempting to comeback from injury. Chicago Bulls finally had the Heat's number and knocked them out in a 4-0 sweep, meaning a new team will claim the NBA trophy this season. With the Heat knocked out of the running, and Dallas possibly about to be eliminated, it now looks wide open in determining the new champion. There seems to be about 5 teams who could conceivably win it all.

San Antonio Spurs - many consider the Spurs the favorites. They have a solid team of veterans with some great bench players and playoff performers. Experience is usually key in winning the title, and the Spurs would have to be one of the more experienced nucleuses remaining.

Phoenix Suns - people have said the Suns will never win a title with their style of "run and gun" basketball, but let's beg to differ. More points than the other team will always give you a win, whether your defense is good or not. The Suns have one of the most talented lineups in all the NBA, including 2 time NBA MVP, Steve Nash, who distributes the ball better than anyone in the league. The Suns also are one of the top scoring and three point shooting teams in the league, with a deep bench.

Detroit Pistons - would have to be the favorites in the East. They have the experience thing going for them just like San Antonio, despite not having Big Ben Wallace at Center. The Pistons are one of the top defensive squads around, capable of shutting down most squads and picking up key victories. Sharpshooters like Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups in the backcourt along with big men like Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber and Tayshaun Prince, form one of the best contenders around.

Chicago Bulls - adding Ben Wallace was huge, and he is givng an already skilled team that much more talent. The Bulls are still considered young upstarts, but each year is another year of experience. This year they seem to be showing the talent necessary to compete for it all. A balanced overall team (similar to the last Pistons' championship team), gives them a great shot to run the table. They have scorer/penetrators like Gordon, Hinrich and Noccioni, who can drive the lane or hit the 3. And if they miss, Big Ben is always lurking.

Cleveland Cavaliers - were my preseason pick to make the Finals, and I cant count them out. There's no reason not to believe Lebron can't or won't step up his game similar to how D-Wade did in last year's Finals. Lebron's that good, and you could compare his squad to the past Bulls teams who won titles (minus Pippen). Lebron has a better Center in Zydrunas as well as talented role players such as Donyell Marshall, Dwight Gooden and Larry Hughes. Lebron's complete all around game alongside a team of guys who can get the job done, make it hard to eliminate the Cavs from this discussion.

And even though the Mavs face elimination as of this writing, it would be ignorant to say a team of their caliber couldn't make the comeback to knock the Warriors out. All this said, the playoffs roll on, until a new champ is crowned...