EAST
7-1
The Bulls haven't made a ton of moves but the biggest trade of the season in terms of impact was the acquisition of Pau Gasol. Noah/Gasol/Gibson are the best frontcourt rotation in the league and I really like the low usage wings to compliment them. Rose (22/5/5) has been very efficient and (48/31/86) and the pieces in totality fit really well. The Bulls are looking to add to their ring count and the league is on notice.
5-2
The Heat got younger with the acquisition of Deron Williams (28) and though he's really underperformed (16/4/5 on 35/21/79) I'm going to blame 2 things on that.
1) sample size
2) Lebron at SG, Kirilenko at SF
There isn't enough shooting to space the floor and the paint is congested with Oden down low. Bosh helps in that regard (16/8/1 w/ 1.7 blks on 48/33/79) but I really think adding a 3&D SG and moving Bosh to C, AK to PF would really open up the floor for Deron/Lebron. The team has the talent to win the title, Deron/Lebron/Bosh are one of the best "big 3" combinations in the league but shooting and scheme work will decide whether this team is a playoff team or a title team. I'd still put them in the contender category, Lebron is in his prime and having a great season in spite of all the issues stated above (33/8/5 w/ 1blk on 49/24/84).
4-2
IND hasn't made any trades and they haven't needed to. David West has been spectacular so far (15/7/2 w/1.2 blks on 57/_/89) and can defend his man as well. Hibbert/Bynum at center are tough to score on and the balance on the perimeter is fantastic. Turner at SF (10/6/6 w/ 1 stl on poor %) is the perfect fit on this team because Hill isn't a pure point. Turner isn't shooting well from deep (36/31/82) but his ability to move the ball and play point forward along with George are the engine that runs the team. Hill is a deadly shooter from deep (56 3P% on 4.2 3PA) and George is ascending to super-stardom (26/6/2 w/ 1.7 stls on 42/33/90) and can lock down the other teams best wing player.
As the GM of an Eastern conference team I want no parts of the Pacers.
WEST
5-2
Durant/Love are the most lethal forward combination since Bird/McHale perhaps and it's tough to guard them with Rubio running the show and finding them in their sweet spots. The issue for this team is the role players, particularly at center. Perkins hasn't been great and I'm not talking about offensively (3.3 RPG). If Adams can become a Bogut "lite" type player then this team will be hard to beat with Durant/Love are averaging over 20 RPG combined. Still the only 2 losses for the team so far they got outrebounded by 10 and 12 respectively to UTA and IND.
Rubio hasn't been "Rubio" quite yet but once he gets going this team will be very tough to beat and defensively Rubio/Thabo/Durant is suffocating. If I had to put money down right now on the 2014 CSL Champions I'd put it on OKC.
I might move Thabo to backup SF/SG and increase Jacksons minutes at SG.
Minutes-per-Game
1. Kevin Durant 42.3
4-3Another team that hasn't made any deals yet but there's no real need to right now. Robin Lopez has been a revelation (12/10 on 35/_/82) and LMA (23/11 on 42/_/87) is making a case for one of the best bigs in the league right now. Batum is a player that every contender could use and is proving to be the perfect sniper to space the floor (44 3P% on 5.9 3PA) and is a tenacious defender to boot. I would start Wesley Mathews and try and find a playmaking 6th man but once POR finds the right offensive scheme to boost the % of their main weapons I expect them to move into the upper echelon in terms of record. This one is more of a projection as of now.
Maybe increase Robinson minutes to keep LMA fresh, he's been really good on the boards in limited minutes (6/7 on 42 FG% in 21 minutes).
Minutes-per-Game
8. LaMarcus Aldridge 38.6
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I couldn't decide between these two teams (with LAC in the mix as well) so I combined them. Kobe/Griffin is going to give opposing defenses nightmares and the role players around DEN are nice fits but aren't nearly as potent as the guys surrounding Curry/Klay/Lee.
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The Case for the Warriors:
Man is this team deep. JO isn't a big name anymore but he can anchor the second unit defensively and make an impact on the boards in the odd "flashback" game. How do you zone a team with Curry (21/5/7 on 44 3P% / 8.3 3PA) and Klay (20/6 on 50 3P% / 5.5 3PA)? Iggy is having a decent season outside of scoring and if you needed someone to throw on say a "Kobe" I'll take Iggy over almost anyone in the league.
The Case against the Warriors:
Lee has been terrible (11/6 on 38/_/64), and although the sample size is small (that has to be taken account for all of these teams) with the spacing on the team he should be thriving. This team needs a 1st option post presence in order to take the next step.
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The Case for the Nuggets:
Kobe Bryant (29/5/5 w/ 1 stl on 42/38/84) is a warrior, not a Golden State warrior, but a warrior nonetheless. He will instill a measure of "kick ass and take names" that hasn't been a part of the team culture for a long time. Carmelo Anthony and, before that Alex English (AI wasn't quite in his prime in DEN anymore), were the last player capable of putting up 30 on a regular basis for this team and it's been a while since he played. I expect his FG% to rise playing with the best low post scorer he's had since Gasol in 09'...maybe even Shaq if we are just talking scoring. He can defend at a high level and he's a closer.
Blake is having a very well rounded season so far (26/9/4 w/ 1.6 stls on 54/33/73) and at only 24 he is the present and future of this franchise (a decade younger then Kobe). His passing ability for a big is probably the best in the league and that's important when old man Miller and Nate Robinson are your point guards.
The Case against the Nuggets:
Kobe isn't getting any younger and the supporting cast around the most interesting duo in the league isn't very good. There will be a lot of pressure on Kobe on the perimeter to carry the scoring load and Blake might be the second best playmaker on the team. Chandler is a solid role player and Mcgee/Hickson ain't bad at center but the team lacks depth and is leaning heavily on the shoulder of the two stars to carry them to the promised land.
Given Kobe's age/durability I'd try hard to find a 3rd wing to can spell him at times so he doesn't have to play such heavy minutes.
Minutes-per-Game
10. Kobe Bryant 38.3
I'll update this at the allstar break, hope you enjoyed it.
.. But a promise. We will sneak into the playoffs as eight seat as soon as team is retooled. We will give you a hard fight. You just came away with a 3 point win due to a 15-30 4th quarter in your favour last time we met 
2028
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