Well we are approximately 1/4 of the way through the NBA Season and I was going through the standings and wanted to complile a list of various teams and where they are now as compared to where we thought they would be.....just a discussion.

Will go in order of NBA Record as of tonight:

Eastern Conference

I start here becuase well, there is not much to like and this will be easy.

1.  Detriot - Well they are 15-8 and one could argue they are better than many thought they would be.  I mean come on they lead the conference, they are only giving up 93.9 points per game.  They are allowing 3-4 more points per game than last year or prior years, but their offense is slighlty better and quite frankly their 10-3 conference record (against arguably one of the worst conferences in recent memory) does the trick.
2.  Orlando - They are 16-10 (however, only 4-6 in their last 10).  This is the surprise team of the year in the East.  EVeryone expected them to be very good and to make it to the playoffs, but the 2nd best conference record.  I think one thing to look at with this team is that they are 7-3 against the WEST, granted they have only beaten one "elite" West team in Utah..they have beaten up on Seattle, Portland, Clippers, et al.
3.  Cleveland - They are 14-9 and have the third best record but they have been up and down all year.  Maybe right where they were expected (behind Detriot and Chicago, at least many thought).
4.  Boston - There is nothing to say here...they are 10-13 and lead their division.  YUCK.
5.  Chicago - They are 14-10, BUT are 9-1 in their last 10.  It took them longer than expected and their was much infighting (Skiles vs Wallace) but winning cures all.  They truly have beaten up on their conference with a 12-3 record.  
6.  Heat - ONly 10-13, but have played many games without Shaq, have the championship experience and will get Shaq back and as weak as the East is they can win the East again.  
7.  Everyone else.  HOnestly, the rest of the East stinks.  I know I am missing The Wizards, but they are .500 and no chance at challenging the top 5 teams (I don't count Boston either).  

1.  SA - 19-6.  WEll, As some things change, some things stay the same.  The same, SA on top of the Conference and the League.  They have methodically made their way to the top, even with missing Manu for stretches.  They have a bench that is older than dirt  but with Duncan and Parker and Bowen on Defense...well they are where they always seem to be.
2.  Utah - 18-6.  Well, one of the Surprise teams this year.  Their forwards (Kirilenko, Boozer, and Okur) have been carrying this team and they are doing fantastic.  Is this team for real..well let us get through the rest of the year but as of now (thank you Melo and gang) to say they won't win their division is not being realistic.  Will they keep up this pace and be the #2 seed....well I don't think so...too many teams such as Dallas and PHX will beat them to it but they will put up a fight and be a tough out in the playoffs.  To win 50 all they have to go is 32-24...I think that is very doable.
3.  Phoenix - 17-6...well AMARE is back and that should scare everyone.  At one point this team was 3-6 and has reeled off 14 straight.  Amare is playing closer to his old self (not completely there) and that is the scary part.  Nash is playing better than his last 2 MVP years.  NOt mcuh to say here, other than they have 60 games to get this mix right and to really scare some people.
4.  Dallas - 17-7.  You want to talk about a team that has played like they are coasting through the season at times at yet have the 4 best record int he West and not far off from the best record.  They started 0-4, won 12 straight, then went 2-3, and then won 3 straight....my assessment.  A team that has tasted the big prize without getting it and it is tough for them to motivate themselves through the season. They know they are better than 90% of the teams in the league and just want to get to the playoffs healthly.  
5.  Lakers - 16-7.  A Team that has surprised many.  I know many pegged them to get better but this much better.  Until Odom went down you could say that this was one of the more balanced teams in the league at least offensively.  With Jackson and KObe, you know the defense would be there.  The Odom injury will be huge....he will miss one month and it will be interesting to see how this teams morphs when he is gone and when he comes back...will they go back to what they did so successfully or will Kobe take over.  I think Kobe has learned and this team will be scary come playoff time.
6.  Houston - 15-9.  A team that relies on McGrady might always be doomed.  He just cannot stay healthy.  With that said, a team that relies on Yao Ming might just be okay in the end.  This guy has stepped up big time this year and has to be talked about in the MVP discussion.  He has literally carried this team all year...is practically unguaradable and even without McGrady is playing out of this league.  However, they don't have enough firepower (w/o McGrady)...they might not be able to get higher than a 6 seed....a ton depends on McGrady's back and that is not a great position to be in if you are Houston fan.
7.  Denver : 13-9...well I was going to write that this team is just staying below the radar, is getting some players back from injury and should still challenge Utah for the division crown and one of the top seeds.  With Melo's great play this year another team that could put a scare in someone...BUT Melo and Gang put on a Broadway Production last night of Thugs on the Court (with a huge assist from the Knicks and Isiah Thomas) and depending on length of suspensions the impact is to be determined...I forsee no higher than a 7 or 8 seed this year.
8.  GS - 12-13.  WEll, well, well, our old friend Nellie has restored something in Golden State.  A perinneal franchise that misses the playoffs, Nellie ball has resulted in increased interest, up-tempo style (106 PPG) and a chance at a playoff spot.  He has discovered some talent (Biedrans) and has taken some veterns (BAron) and made a very entertaining team.
9.  MInnesota - 10-11.  Not much to say.  Quite Frankly, this team is uninspiring.  KG is great but they lack so much that it does not matter.
10.  Sac & NO/OK - 10-12.  TEams that have talent but cannot crack the top 8.  Different reason. Sacramento have been inconsisten....NO/OK has dealt with many injuries.  The next 25 games will be a big test for each team and their direction for this year.
12.  Portland 11-14.  A team that has discoverd they have tons of potential and has cleaned up some of the image and mess of prior years.  With RAndolph (seems to be commited to this team), Jarret Jack, Przybilla, Aldridge..they have players in place...too bad they reside in the West.
13.  Clippers : 10-13.  I think this might be the MOST DISAPPOINTING team in the NBA this season.  Such promise last year coming off a 47 win season, playing in the 1st round with a chance at the upset and now this.  The cast of characters has not changed much if at all.  IN fact, one would think with another year to gel and mature they would advance.  You can't fault ownership, finally they stepped up and paid up.  This team has been killed by its conference record of 7-13.  Furthermore, this team was 5-1 at one point.  So they are 5-12 since.  Something happened and I wish I could tell you...I can't becuase I don't watch them...anyone that can, please share...because this is a mystery.
14.  Seattle 10-15....right about where you expect....nothing much here to get excited about...Allen and Lewis are being wasted.
15.  Memphis:5-19.  I did not realize that the injury to Gasol would be so devasting.  IT has hurt but I think there is more to it...so much unrest in the ownership and front office and then the injury...just nothing is right here.  They have dug such a whole that this year (in terms of playoffs) is a lost cause, they need to play together, play young guys and see what they can put together for next year...one upside...they are in line for a great draft pick. To think, they have the worst record in the NBA...wow.