The most surprising of these teams has been the New Orleans Hornets. Ahh, I can still see the ocean of Charlotte starter jackets from the early 90s...they are making a comeback! Playing in arguably the most difficult division in the league, the Hornets hold a lead over both the Mavericks and the Spurs. With 2005-06 rookie of the year and current all-star and MVP candidate Chris Paul at the helm, the Hornets are near unstoppable.
The Lakers also have to be thrown into this discussion. The name is no stranger to dominance, but some of the young players are. With an average age of just over 25 and a record of 34-17, it seems Kobe's veteran leadership continues to keep his team in contention, especially with Lamar Odom and my boy Trevor Ariza at his side.
Finally, after they lost their number one draft pick to a season ending injury, it looked as if the Portland Trail Blazers would repeat the debacle they experienced last year. But Brandon Roy has helped this team to rally an impressive 28-23 record (which has only neared .500 due to recent poor play). Additionally, their acquisition of Channing Frye from the New York Knicks has helped fill a noticeable void. (Hint for future GMs, the Knicks trade future hopefuls and all they want in return is a washed up has-been). Look for the Blazers to bounce back from this mini-slump and finish the season strong.
Keep an eye on these three teams. Despite their youth and inexperience, they are playing like the champions they may just become.
Rebecca is a New York based entertainment and intellectual property attorney, an agressive fantasy player and an avid Knicks and Jets fan. Got a question for Answer Gal? E-mail her at: answergal@fantasysportsupdate.com
