Derrick Rose is back in the lineup, and even without Luol Deng the Bulls are just as dangerous thanks to increased production from Rip Hamilton.  The Bulls may drop a few more games over the next couple weeks because of Deng’s absence, particularly in the 9-game road trip beginning in Miami Jan. 29.  But as long as Rose is back in the lineup, they are still one of the best teams in the East.

After deeming the Thunder the best team in basketball, they proceed to give the Washington Wizards their second win of the season.  But OKC has shown heightened effort on the defensive end since that loss, and they are still one of the best teams in the West.

Even when the Heat are slow to get started and LeBron seems off, Chris Bosh has been able to rise to the occasion with Dwyane Wade sidelined by injury.  The Mario Chalmers/Norris Cole point guard rotation seems to be working, even when they share the floor for a smaller lineup.  The Heat may seem disinterested at times, relying on the “turn it on when they need to” mentality, but it’s worked well enough to keep them at the top of the conference.

Head coach Doug Collins clearly believes in a process, and you can see Philadelphia getting more comfortable on the floor together every game.  Friday night’s win against the Hawks was a huge step forward for the 76ers, proving their record was not just a result of a soft schedule.  They play team defense as well as anyone in the East, and are 5th in the league in assists (22.2 apg).  Philly is for real.

Some may dismiss the Nuggets’ high assist numbers (24.5, 1st in NBA) due to their fast-pace style, but they also rank 2nd in field goal percentage (47.9%) and fall in the Top 5 for points per possession.  The dual-point guard attack of Ty Lawson and Andre Miller has been working out perfectly for Denver, currently holding the second-best record in the Western Conference.

With Chris Paul returning to the lineup, the Clippers are closer to the best version of themselves.  That may not be the best in the Western Conference, but right now it’s good enough for best in the inconsistent Pacific Division.  Now if Mo Williams can continue to be as effective (25.7 ppg in last three games) with less of a workload, they will have a much better chance to hold on to that stop.

Utah Jazz (10-5)

Utah is 9-2 in the month of January, only falling to the Lakers and Mavericks – each by three points.  Ty Corbin is gathering early Coach of the Year consideration for bringing Utah right back into mix so quickly after Jerry Sloan’s sudden retirement.  The Jazz have a unique blend of veterans and potential rising stars that are slowly learning how to play, and win, together.

After starting the week with one of the worst offensive performances in franchise history, the Magic will get another shot at Boston on Thursday.  Orlando’s experience has helped them close out tough games, but the team has been inconsistent across 48 minutes.  Definitely a good team, just waiting to see if they become great.

With wins against Sacramento and Phoenix, the Trail Blazers will have a chance to sweep their first back-to-back-to-back on Wednesday at Golden State.  Head coach Nate McMillan has been watching everyone’s minutes, and the Blazers’ depth will be tested against a high-energy Warriors squad.  Watching minutes will be crucial to keep this team healthy, because without vets like Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby the ceiling for Portland is much lower.

Gotta love when Tim Duncan gets in the zone and goes for 25+ and hits a game-winner like he did in a 104-102 victory at New Orleans.  The running hook prevented a third-straight loss for the Spurs, who have looked shaky over the last week.  Popovich is also watching his players’ minutes in the crammed schedule, so some inconsistencies are to be expected in the middle of the season.

The Lakers look lost, and head coach Mike Brown knows it.  Luckily, when you have the best player in the game and two of the best bigs in the West you can stay afloat while you figure it out.  The current three game slide can be turned around this weekend, and they’ll want to with a six-game road trip in early February.

Shawn Marion is doing a good job of filling in as a primary offensive threat, a role he has needed to fill at different times this season.  His play has been a big part the Mavs turnaround, now with eight wins in their last ten games.  When healthy and engaged, the Mavericks can be Western Conference contenders.  But the chemistry needs to improve, and they need all their different weapons available.

The Pacers have been to get by mostly with their rock solid defense in their 11-5 start, but the inability to run a fluid offense and shoot at a high clip could hurt their standing in the Eastern Conference over the next couple weeks.  Nine of the Pacers next 12 opponents are above .500,  and nine also are above the league average in points per game.  This is a critical stretch for Frank Vogel’s young team to determine their contender status in the East.

You had to imagine that it might happen, Kevin McHale would get Daryl Morey’s roster and turn them into a dangerous Western Conference threat.  The current seven game winning streak has included wins over Portland and San Antonio, and the Rockets have made the Southwest Division very interesting all of the sudden.

Rajon Rondo’s injury has opened the door for point guard Avery Bradley to inject some energy into the Celtics’ lineup.  Bradley’s defense and hustle fueled Pierce and Garnett in a gritty beatdown of Orlando on Monday, and could help pull Boston out of their funk.

Memphis Grizzlies (10-7)

You figured the seven-game streak would end at some point, and it is not a huge shock – or concern – that the Grizzlies finally lost to Portland in the Rose Garden.  However, it has shown Memphis’ ability to maintain a high level of play without Zach Randolph.  If Mareese Speights can continue to be serviceable down low the Grizz have moved into that competitive middle of the Western Conference.

The Knicks have quickly gone from the NBA’s darling to three losses from combustion.  The team is slumping and the grand experiment is currently battling many of the predicted side effects, most notably team chemistry.  Maybe Baron Davis’ return to practice – and possibly the court eventually – will jump start the locker room and help turn things around before it is too late.

Losses to Utah and Houston have brought the Timberwolves back to earth, but don’t ignore how well and close they played both games.  Depth is an issue right now.  Michael Beasley, Wesley Johnson, and J.J. Berea are all nursing injuries, leaving head coach Rick Adelman with only an 8 or 9 man rotation for most games.

Bookending the weekend with wins over the Knicks and Heat on the road have put a sense of confidence in the Bucks.  Brandon Jennings has been playing at a high level for the last several games, and the team as a whole looks much better when more players are sharing minutes.

With nine straight double-doubles, it is time to acknowledge Marcin Gortat as one of the premiere big men in the league.  However, there has been very little consistency outside of Gortat and Steve Nash.  Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick and Shannon Brown seem to be taking turns as complimentary contributors, but head coach Alvin Gentry is still struggling with the rotation.

Four losses in one week has been rough on the young Cavs, but no one promised a smooth ride for this group in 2012.  Tuesday’s loss to Miami showed the Cavs’ struggles to close out a game down the stretch.  That weakness is expected to come with inexperience, but it will keep them down in the Eastern Conference pecking order.

Chuck Hayes’ return should add some experience and depth to an ailing Kings’ squad, losers in five of their last seven games.  Marcus Thornton is expected to miss some more time with his re-injured thigh, which puts even more pressure on Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins to carry the load offensively.

Golden State Warriors (5-11)

“Mama there goes that second half lead,” I imagine Mark Jackson telling the Warriors as they give away an 18-point fourth quarter lead to Memphis on Wednesday night.  The Warriors are a young team, struggling to close out opponents in the fourth quarter.  Not surprising, but still not the best start for the first-year head coach.

More on-court examples of the Nets rising and falling along with the performance of Deron Williams.  Unfortunately it has been paired with off-court reports that D-Will is eyeing the door of New Jersey doesn’t bring in another superstar in the near future.

Andrea Bargnani has been the team’s primary offensive threat for most of the season, so it does not surprise anyone that it required a 36 point outburst to end the Raptors’ eight-game losing streak.  Bargnani’s ability to stretch a defense when he’s hitting from deep allows James Johnson, Amir Johnson, and the rest of the front line to get in and crash the offensive boards.  All that said, Toronto is still a five-win team.

We are nearing a full month of play in the lockout-shortened NBA season, and Detroit still has not scored 100 points.  They play at the slowest pace in the league (87.6 possessions per 48 minutes), but do not have the efficiency or defensive prowess to capitalize in a low-scoring game.

The Hornets have lost 14 of 15, including eight straight.  The last three losses have been by a combined six points  against teams over .500.  The Hornets inability to close out these wins is painful to watch, as this superstar-less squad is becoming this season’s version of the 2010-2011 Cavs.

The same issues that burn the Bobcats in four annual meetings with Orlando returned with the New York Knicks’ sizable front line in town on Tuesday.  Charlotte was out-rebounded 53-33 in the loss, with no answer for Tyson Chandler’s 20 point, 17 rebound performance.  The Bobcats have no true center, and until they do will be weak against teams with dominating post men.

With Flip Saunders now fired, there is no one left for the fans to blame other than the players.  If the Wizards want to stop hearing boos, they need to turn around their on-court execution and start winning a few games for the home crowd.

Seven straight wins, including a sweep of their first back-to-back-to-back (Houston, Houston, San Antonio) and the Thunder have given plenty of reason to believe they are poised to hang with the league’s elite.  The schedule will lighten in the coming weeks, making “health” and “focus” OKC’s greatest enemies.

Derrick Rose’s toe injury should absolutely be a concern for Bulls’ fans, particularly with how injuries like that can nag over a busy season.  But as long as Boozer can continue to raise his production when needed, the Bulls can keep their position at the top of the Eastern Conference.

Miami’s stumble without Dwayne Wade nearly hit four games before LeBron exploded in the second half against the Spurs, helping the heat outscore San Antonio 71-35 after halftime.  Dropping three games in four nights on the road (particularly twice in overtime) is not a huge red flag, but will lead to a slight drop in the power rankings

While everyone tries to tie Dwight to another franchise, the Magic are surging forward with one of the best starts in the Eastern Conference.  Orlando has rolled off five wins in a row, including four straight in a Western Conference road swing.  Ryan Anderson continues to shine as an offensive threat, (NBA-best 45 3PM) and Dwight Howard is strong as ever on the glass (NBA-best 194 rebounds).

Four straight 40+ point games from Kobe, and then he dishes to Derek Fisher for the game-winner against Dallas.  The Lakers have answered their critics with solid play inside from Bynum, and continued offensive explosion from the league’s leading scorer.  I wouldn’t look too far into the eight point loss to the Clippers.  That was their biggest game of the early season, and the Lakers have a much different goal in mind.

After a rough start, Ty Corbin has the Jazz rolling.  Utah has bought in to a team basketball concept, and won eight of their last nine contests to ascend to second place in the Western Conference standings.  Corbin claims his team is still learning, suggesting the Jazz have even better basketball in their future.  As long as the defense stays sound and the bench continues to give quality minutes Utah can get even better.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers were expected to stumble as the schedule grew more difficult, but instead Indiana has risen to the challenge by winning five of their last six.  This current streak includes two impressive wins over Boston and a Danny Granger-fueled win over Atlanta.  The Pacers are allowing just 88.9 points per game, good for fourth in the league.

At 10-4 with a three-game winning streak, people are beginning to wonder if this is the season the Hawks get over the hump and compete for an Eastern Conference title.  Unfortunately, early judgments suggest Atlanta has some work to do.  Despite one of the best records in the East, the team is just 2-4 against teams above .500.  Undefeated against weaker teams is great, but to be elite you need to win those big games.

The wide-open attack is perfect for Denver’s personnel, bench included.  With Corey Brewer and Andre Miller coming off the bench, George Karl loses very little when he rests his starters.  The Nuggets ability to maintain momentum and tempo wears teams down, particularly this season when fatigue has been an issue for many.

By getting good shots in the paint and open looks on the perimeter, the Spurs have been able to jump out to a strong start with one of the most efficient offenses in the league (108.9 points per 100 possessions, T-1st in NBA).  Unfortunately the defense is clearly not LeBron proof after getting lit up for 71 second half points against the Heat on Tuesday.

Momentum around the Blazers has slowed significantly after three straight losses in the last week.  But even with the slide in the standings, the Blazers are still a Top 10 team on offense and defense, and has the athleticism to run with the best in the Western Conference.

The hard-fought effort at Los Angeles was a good sign for the defending champs.  With a shaky rotation that continues to change, the Mavericks will need to find gritty ways to win games and stay competitive until they get everything moving in the right direction.  The pieces are there, but they haven’t quite gotten them assembled yet.

As the Clippers have begun to get bitten by the injury bug (Chris Paul, Mo Williams) their weaknesses are beginning to show.  There is not much depth on this team, and without Paul to spread the floor teams can pack in the defense on Jordan and Griffin.  Just another hump LA would encounter eventually, now the challenge is overcoming

.

The Grizzlies have climbed out of their hole [INSERT BEAR/HIBERNATION JOKE HERE] with some help from the schedule.  Now with an improved energy and focus, Memphis appears to be back in peak form even without Zach Randolph (knee) in the lineup.

The streaky Knicks have taken a three-game slide heading into a busy portion of the schedule, and things aren’t looking great.  Anthony was only held back one game with a sprained ankle, but even a healthy Melo can help the whole team shoot better from the field.

Houston Rockets

Samuel Dalembert has been huge for the Rockets inside, helping lead the way in the current four game winning streak.  The veteran’s leadership has been essential for Houston, as first-year head coach Kevin McHale continues to work with this young team.  Now back at .500, the Rockets can begin focusing on climbing into the top half of the conference.

The Celtics welcome Toronto to Boston in the Battle of Teams on Five-Game Losing Streaks.  Boston’s slide has included a pair of losses to the Pacers, Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Dallas.  It’s far from panic time for the C’s, but they’ll need a strong showing on the back half of January to avoid slipping too far in the standings.

Golden State’s first East Coast swing has gotten back on track, with back-to-back wins over Detroit and Cleveland after a disappointing loss to Charlotte.  A win over New Jersey will feel great for the Curry-less (ankle) Warriors as they prepare for a six-game home stand to close out the month.

Kyrie Irving’s play early in the season has led to Chris Paul comparison’s, for the way he patiently navigates through the offense and gets to the rim.  The early favorite for ROY has gotten some help on the boards from Varejao (11.4 rpg), and the Cavs are far from the Eastern Conference basement at 6-7.

When this Minnesota team is entirely healthy they can be competitive against almost anyone in the NBA.  But with so many new pieces to the puzzle, there have been enough lapses to cost the Timberwolves several winnable games.  Kevin Love recently became the first player since Hakeem Olajuwon to start the season with 13 double-doubles. So, um, I think it’s time to pay the man.

The current five-game losing streak has the Suns scratching their heads, with losses to the Cavaliers and Nets in the slide.  Phoenix has been inconsistent throughout the early season, and need a big win to get back on track before it is too late.

The Bucks are winless on the road, something that has become an issue with their schedule.  Milwaukee plays 12 of their first 18 games away from home, and those road struggles are a big reason for their 4-9 start.  Brandon Jennings looks visibly frustrated with the Bucks’ play, but it will take a full team effort to stop the current slide.

Toronto Raptors

Head coach Dwayne Casey is trying to get his team committed on the defensive end of the floor, but the Raptors need to find a way to get more people involved in the scoring than just Andrea Bargnani.  He is having an All-Star caliber season, but Toronto needs one more man to share all that pasta.

The young Kings are still a work in progress, a fact that is no secret to head coach Keith Smart.  But as this team learns to play team basketball they will slowly improve.  Sacramento has the league’s worst field goal percentage (39.7%) and ranks last in points allowed (101.8 ppg).  Not great ingredients for success.

The Hornets can’t catch a break.  With Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza out of the lineup, Jarrett Jack is forced to both create and produce from the point guard position.  Jack has been serviceable thus far this season, but the team can’t succeed without that go-to scorer.

Can’t win any games unless you score more than the opponent, and Detroit ranks dead last in scoring at 85.0 points per game.  The Pistons are suffering from a combination of of inexperience and lack of depth, but the promising young core of Brandon Knight, Jonas Jerebko, and Greg Monroe could be dangerous if they start playing together.

With few “go-to” options offensively, the Bobcats are struggling to execute late in games, resulting in single digit deficits for their last three losses.  Games that could – and arguably should – have been won are lost during inefficient fourth quarter offensive possessions.

The breakout of rookie Marshon Brooks has been one positive in the struggling start for New Jersey.  The hope for Nets fans is that Brooks will take some of the load off Williams’ shoulders.  In the Nets’ three wins Williams is averaging 27.3 ppg compared to 15.2 ppg in losses.

The Washington Wizards are trying to throw back to the Bullets with their uniform scheme, but their 1-12 start has them looking more like the Washington Generals.

Rose’s sprained big left toe is a huge concern for Tom Thibodeu and the Bulls, as is the slow start from Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.  But the product on the court so far has been the best in the league, even picking up a win without the reigning MVP.

The Thunder currently hold the league’s longest winning streak at 5.  Even more impressive?  They’ve done it over a six day span.  OKC is young and athletic enough to win these gritty games that other teams will lose because of fatigue.

LeBron’s fourth quarter critics are back on their soapbox, but don’t count me as one of the concerned because of the Heat’s two-game slide.  Miami will not be indestructible during this crowded lockout-shortened schedule, but I struggle to find a team that that can consistently beat this roster.

As we saw in the Blazer’s loss to Orlando, that athletic front line will show some weakness against a true big man threat.  But we also how potent they can be in their comeback from a 23-point deficit.

Kobe has put the team on his back, and the league’s leading scorer is back to putting up big numbers like it’s 2007 all over again.  One of the game’s best players of all time is cementing his status at the top of Mount Rushmore by putting up back-to-back 40-point games in this, his 16th season in the league.

The thing that has made the Nuggets particularly scary is how well they have shared the ball.  George Karl has a team that is “making great basketball plays” at a rapid speed, proving that the ball moves faster than any player.  They play at the fastest pace in the league, and are one of the five most efficient teams offensively.

San Antonio Spurs

Ginobli’s wrist injury is a crushing blow to the next four weeks, but this new brand of Spurs basketball seems to be working thanks to Richard Jefferson’s lights-out shooting.  Depth is a concern, especially with T.J. Ford also injured for a couple weeks.  But for now the Spurs are rolling.

A loss to the Pacers is not a huge cause for concern, especially considering the Hawks surprising lack of production on the boards in that contest.  With two games against both the Bulls and Heat under their belt, Atlanta should appreciate the competition in the weeks ahead.

The first home loss at the hands of Black Mamba stung for a hot Utah team, but I don’t expect the set back to last for long.  Jefferson has been phenomenal leading the front line, and this newfound hunger can carry Utah back to ranks of Western Conference elite.

The upset win over Miami felt like a playoff atmosphere, but the Clippers will need to limit the turnovers if they want to create a playoff atmosphere this Spring.  Too much talent and explosion to ever count them out, but the “Lob City” honeymoon is over, and hopefully so is the nickname.

Holding off Portland in the Rose Garden will be a huge confidence boost for the Magic, who have won 3 of their last 4 and improved to 7-3.  Bringing that same energy on Thursday night against the Warriors will be tough, but then they are rewarded with three nights off.

They’ve matched their best start (7-3) since the 2005-2006 season, and are 4-0 at home for the first time since 2002-2003.  But before we start jinxing the Pacers with history, we should appreciate the many ways they have been successful.  Six players are averaging double-digit scoring, and the defense has held opponents to just 41.5% shooting on the season.  Schedule has helped, but the Pacers are for real.

The Knicks have their swagger back, thanks to four straight wins against mostly inferior opponents.  But the test of this hot streak will come this weekend, facing Memphis and Oklahoma City on the road in the next three nights.

The Mavericks hard-fought win on the road against Boston should put some energy back in the locker room, as this new unit continues to gel with very little practice time.  Things are moving in the right direction, but this is still a work-in-progress for Dallas.

Still chalking the Suns’ early-season struggles up to a new rotation that is taking a while to gel.  Gortat, Warrick, and rookie Markieff Morris appear to share the front court well, and as long as Nash is on the floor offense is not an issue.  There are defensive concerns, but that will take time for the unit to figure out.

Boston Celtics

As expected, a light schedule to start 2012 put some faith back in the Boston fan base.  But the Celtics need to rediscover that uncanny ability to close teams out with Allen, Pierce, Garnett, and Rondo.  Losses to Indiana and Dallas could have been reversed with better fourth quarter execution.

Eric Gordon’s health is a huge concern, particularly if this knee injury nags over the next several weeks.  But if EG can get back to the lineup, I like the Hornets’ chances to cause some problems.  They’ve lost close games to good teams, and displayed potential in the upset of Denver on Monday.

Snapping a five-game losing streak with an overtime win against the Heat at home is a great way to build some confidence.  They should have another opportunity to catch an Eastern Conference foe off-guard on Thursday, hosting the Magic one night after a Orlando battled down the stretch with Portland.

The first road trip for this Cavs team has not been kind, but that should not come as a huge surprise considering the odd collection of youth and experience in the rotation.  Not surprisingly, Jamison has become an offensive crutch in tough spots, but he can’t handle the responsibility alone.

Don’t look now, but Ricky Rubio is starting to get comfortable in Minnesota.  Unfortunately the Timberwolves are still failing to close games out, but that is something they can figure out as the season progresses.  The issue becomes how far back are they once that happens.

After all that praise for Bargani and Toronto’s .500 start, the Raptors lose back-to-back games to Washington and at home against Sacramento.  Like what this team CAN be, just still not sure what this team IS.

A three-game slide doesn’t seem to be of rest concern to head coach Lionel Collins, who believes Memphis has been a few plays away from winning several times this season.  The next challenge is turning the corner and making those plays before the losses stack up.

Houston Rockets

An ugly win over the lowly Bobcats is the single bright spot in an otherwise tough week for Houston.  Facing both LA’s, OKC twice, and San Antonio is a tall order for a team-in-progress like the Rockets.

Stephen Jackson has slowly worked his way onto the court from a lower back injury, and now has apparently found his shot.  The Bogut-Jennings-Jackson-Delfino combo is dangerous, and the Bucks definitely can move up in the coming weeks.

Keith Smart’s promotion to head coach has led to a revitalization for DeMarcus Cousins and great news for the Kings.  Once Marcus Thornton returns from his hip injury, Sacramento will be a young team you do not want to face on the tail end of a back-to-back.

Losers of five straight, including a 92-68 beatdown at the hands of the Bulls, Detroit has run face first into a tough portion of their January schedule.  The coming weeks will present some Western Conference foes, which maybe could lead to a Pistons upset or two. But that is being optimistic.

The defense seems to have tightened up, but the Bobcats are still struggling offensively and currently on a four-game slide.  With Corey Maggette and Tyrus Thomas in and out of the lineup, Byron Mullens has taken the opportunity to to breakout and show some value.  That’s the only good news for Charlotte.

When the Nets return next Wednesday from their Western Conference swing, they’ll have two good chances to pick up their first win in front of the home fans.  Until then, it’s going to be hard to sell those tickets in the Prudential Center.

The Wizards won! Then they lost to a Rose-less Bulls.  The schedule ahead presents some interesting challenges, but at least Washington is win-less no longer.