Top 10 NBA Teams for the 2008-2009 Season
The Los Angeles Lakers, led by MVP finalist Kobe Bryant, won the 2009 NBA Championship, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. They finished the regular season with a 65-17 record, securing the top seed in the Western Conference. Check it out, the Lakers are the best around. Kobe is magnificent. In my opinion, he's better than LeBron. I hate when people try to compare him to Kobe - Kobe has way more experience!
Better than the Celtics in every way and has the best player ever, Kobe Bryant.
They are the best, and there is nothing anybody can say about it.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, anchored by league MVP LeBron James, achieved a franchise-best 66-16 record during the regular season, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals where they fell to the Orlando Magic. The Cavaliers led the NBA in defensive efficiency and held the best home record at 39-2. They could be one of the best if the Cavs got someone to support LeBron. He's too good not to have won a title game yet.
This team is the number one best team in the NBA.
Best team, especially with LeBron!
The Boston Celtics, defending champions from 2008, ended the regular season with a 62-20 record, led by Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo, but were hindered by an injury to Kevin Garnett in the playoffs. They reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they lost in seven games to the Orlando Magic. I am a true Celtics fan, and I love Rajon Rondo and the other four of the starting five: Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Kendrick Perkins.
The trio is amazing, but since they got their rings, I don't think they'll have as much passion.
The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008.
Led by Dwyane Wade, who captured the scoring title with an average of 30.2 points per game, the Miami Heat finished with a 43-39 record. Miami reached the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks. If there's a center as strong as Shaq on the Heat, they can be champions again. Wade has all the responsibilities.
D-Wade was hurt last year, but you saw a preview of him in the Olympics. They also got Michael Beasley.
This is a very accurate team.
The Houston Rockets, featuring stars Yao Ming and Ron Artest, went 53-29 and advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals for the first time in over a decade, eventually losing to the Los Angeles Lakers. Injuries plagued the team during the postseason, most notably with Yao suffering a season-ending foot injury. With Yao back, and if McGrady and the rest play with the same heart they had during their previous run, they could surprise some of us.
Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, and Shaq.
The Detroit Pistons concluded the season with a 39-43 record, entering the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. They were swept in the first round by the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking the end of a six-year streak of reaching the Conference Finals. They're good every year, so it's hard to rank them. I can't wait to watch them play against the Cavs. Those are always great games.
The Chicago Bulls, led by rookie Derrick Rose, finished the season 41-41, securing the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. In an intense first-round series, they pushed the Boston Celtics to seven games before ultimately being eliminated. The Bulls got D-Rose.
The Utah Jazz completed the season with a 48-34 record, landing them the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. They should be good again this year, but not great.
They were really good last year, so watch out for them to make a run for the title. They also have the 2nd best player in the NBA, Chris Paul (behind Kobe).
The Washington Wizards ended the season with a 19-63 record, struggling without star Gilbert Arenas for much of the year due to injury. This poor record led them to secure the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. This spot was between Orlando and them, but I went with my gut and picked Agent 0 over Dwight Howard.
The Orlando Magic, led by Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard, finished with a 59-23 record and went on to win the Eastern Conference Championship. They ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, losing the series 4-1.
The New York Knicks, coached by Mike D'Antoni, finished the season with a 32-50 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year. The team's performance was highlighted by forward David Lee, who led the league in double-doubles.
The Indiana Pacers ended their season with a 36-46 record, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The team was led by forward Danny Granger, who won the NBA's Most Improved Player award. Killing it this year.
The team, then known as the New Jersey Nets, finished with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The roster was highlighted by rising star Devin Harris, who led the team in scoring.
The Golden State Warriors finished with a 29-53 record, missing the playoffs in a challenging Western Conference. Despite their struggles, Stephen Jackson and Jamal Crawford were offensive standouts for the team.