If there was one thing that could make the NBA relevant in my life again, it was what happened over the last couple of weeks.  The wheeling and dealing between teams in the western conference upset me because I live in the Eastern Time zone.  I will only get to see some of these either on Friday or Saturday night.  I missed the game between the Suns and the Lakers this past Wednesday, and I am upset with myself because there was a relevant game in the NBA in February for the first time in a long time.

Now there are so many good teams in the western conference that if the teams were in the east, they would be a top four team.  The top ten teams in the western conference are above .500 while only the top five teams in the east are above .500.  Another reason why I'd prefer to live on the west coast because the sports are better, and more fun to watch.

Earlier this season I vacationed to Phoenix and got to see my first NBA game not in Toronto.  It was probably the most fun I have had at a basketball game in a long time.  The Suns, before they traded Marion, were the most interesting team to watch because they made the game fun to watch.  The style of basketball they played didn't work during the playoffs because you can only run for so long.  Now with Shaq taking Amare from a position he was unfamiliar with and putting him at his natural position, they have a way to win a championship come late June.

The Lakers made probably the best deal acquiring Pau Gasol.  Now they have a bona fide power forward /center which ever position he is more suited for, Bynum will play the other position and move their problem player Kwame Brown who never panned out as an NBA star.  The Lakers are a great team now with Kobe, Bynum and Gasol.  They are my number one seed in the west.  A definite championship favorite.

The Mavs upgraded their PG position, and did it with a great PG who is a production machine.  Jason Kidd is a triple -double machine who will make the Mavs interesting to watch.  Interesting to watch, not a championship contender.

Then there are the Spurs.  A championship dynasty for the past few years who may be boring to watch, but have the most experience playing together.  They know how to play playoff basketball and will be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA in the coming months.  They are my pick to go deep into the playoffs, but losing in either the west final or NBA final.

It is about freakin' time the NBA is relevant in February, but I am looking forward to the ext few months of great basketball.