Coming through February, most of the top NBA teams have played each other at some point this season. In the past few weeks we've seen some highly contentious duels between some of the premier teams in the league. Let's take a look at each team's record against the other top 5 teams in the NBA. The teams we will rank are the Spurs, Celtics, Heat, Mavericks, Bulls, and Lakers.
1. Boston Celtics (7-4, .636 Win %)
The Celtics hold the highest winning percentage against the top teams in the NBA. The Celtics have 3 wins against the Miami Heat, and hold a losing record against only the Mavericks, who they are 0-2 against. The Celtics are 5 GB of the Spurs for best record in the NBA, and one thing to watch after the All-Star break is how the Celtics' aging roster holds up down the stretch.
2. San Antonio Spurs (5-3, .625)
At the All-Star break, the Spurs are still red-hot at the All-Star break, and have only lost 10 games in the season, 3 of them against top teams. Their losses have come to Boston, Dallas, and most recently a tough loss against Chicago in which Derrick Rose scored 42 points. DeJuan Blair has asserted himself as a solid player for San Antonio, and Parker, Ginobli, and Duncan are all playing well. The Spurs also have an aging roster, so watch how their team finishes out the season.
T-3. Chicago Bulls (6-4, .600)
The Bulls come in tied for 3rd in the rankings with a 6-4 record. The Bulls have .500 or above records against each team except for the Celtics, who they have a 1-2 record against. The Bulls have an interesting roster, led by Derrick Rose, who is considered by many to be a serious MVP candidate. Rose could certainly use some help, but he's demonstrated this season that he's more than capable of putting this team on his back.
T-3. Dallas Mavericks (6-4, .600)
Dallas' roster that includes Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Shawn Marion, and Tyson Chandler, all players that have shown they have the ability to help a team to get to the playoffs. The Mavs have a 5-0 record against the Lakers, Celtics, and Heat, the 3 preseason favorites for the title. Dallas has always struggled to cap off their seasons on high notes, and perhaps this year they can finally close out a championship.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (2-6, .250)
The Lakers and the Heat, regarded as the favorites to compete in the NBA Finals in June, but these two teams have both struggled against the top teams in the NBA, who they will more than likely have to defeat in order to get to the Finals. The Lakers' 2 wins have come against the Celtics and Bulls, two quality teams, but they have struggled overall this season against good teams. More troubling are their losses to lower tier teams such as Milwaukee and Charlotte. The defending champs still have a strong team, but they're going to have to play a lot better to win it all again.
6. Miami Heat (1-6, .167)
The Heat, who came together this offseason to win a title, can't seem to beat the best teams the league has to offer. The Heat gained a strong win over the Lakers on Christmas day, but they've fallen in all 3 matchups against Boston, and lost both games to Dallas. The Heat are yet to play the Spurs this season, and have an 0-1 record against Chicago. The Heat have been shaky all season, and like the Lakers, they definitely have the talent to win it all, they just need to bring it all together to win.
