Indiana Pacers
At 21-12, the Pacers have surprised the league with their strong defense and excellent rebounding. Roy Hibbert has blossomed into an All-Star, while David West has influenced the team's play with his leadership. Provided they keep this play at a high level, they may afford themselves of home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
The 20-11 Clippers have so far supplanted the legendary Lakers as the darlings of L.A. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have forged a successful on-court partnership with Paul's brilliant passing and Griffin's electrifying dunks drawing oohs and ahhs all over America. The Clippers hope to nail their first division title in team history if they continue their strong, magnificent play.
Los Angeles Lakers
They may be at 20-14, but the road hasn't been kind for the Lakers, chalking up a 6-12 mark away. Not even Kobe Bryant's 40-point games will help, and neither will Andrew Bynum's breakout season. It is clear the Lakers were utterly distracted by Pau Gasol trade rumors, and if it continues, it may be the end of the road for the purple and gold.
Memphis Grizzlies
They sit at 19-15 during the break, a similar pace from last season. Again a key injury (Zach Randolph's knee) brought the team together, and they have responded to the challenge. Marc Gasol is having an All-Star year, while Rudy Gay has bounced back well from a shoulder injury. Still, anything can happen, so hope the Grizzlies continue their strong play towards the end of the season.
Miami Heat
The way the trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh have played seem to infect the entire Heat roster. And it did, resulting in a 27-7 mark at the break. Trust a rookie like Norris Cole, play hard like Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Shane Battier, and find a way to shoot like Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and James Jones, and you find a Heat team that seems to get even hotter with every game. The second half will be a big test on how far they've come as a team.
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