Point guard has quickly become the most talented position in the NBA. There are so many good point guards (sometimes at the expense of the shooting guard position) that having a good player in that position is more essential now than ever.

There are not many game changers in the 2014 crop of free agent shooting guards. There are a couple of good role players, but most intriguing are the specialists that can provide three-point shooting or defense.

The most talent in the free agent class of 2014 belongs to the small forwards. LeBron James, who is inarguably the best basketball player in all of the land, leads this group which also includes his would be rival, Carmelo Anthony, and the talented yet aging Paul Pierce and the enigmatic talent of Rudy Gay who still hasn’t quite found his footing as a franchise piece.

This year’s yield of free agent power forwards could provide a big boost if their suitors are able to land them. Some of the names available are future hall of famers, that most likely than not, will stay with their current franchise. 

The upcoming class of both restricted and unrestricted free agents is quite an impressive crop at first glance.  Don’t expect this to be like the free agent class of 2010, with many of the NBA’s top players now settled.

When did there become so much parity in the NBA? Most knew that the East was top heavy and the West was deep, but not many predicted or expected the close series and even closer games in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Despite putting up career numbers in points per game, LaMarcus Aldridge is shooting a career low 46% from the field. He is taking 17% more shots than he did a year ago (which was his previous high).  Despite this, I would not advocate him taking fewer shots, but rather easier shots.

Recently, the Portland Trail Blazers, among other teams, received two nods for all-stars with Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge. After their 34-13 start to the season, pundits have believed that making it to the second round was a realistic expectation.  Having two all-stars should signify that your team is having great success.

His lack of finishing inside, which has plagued him all season, is most worrisome, as his biggest jump has actually been his three-point shooting (but has been free-falling lately). Assists are down, and so is his usage rate, but I’d like to think that the final pass is going through Nicholas Batum much more as he has become the playmaker. And lately, when coaches are in the process of picking out the reserves, Lillard just hasn’t played well.

We’re at the halfway point in the NBA and several teams have risen to the top. I’ve identified what I consider the eight best teams. With how the Eastern Conference is shaping up I could only choose two, while the west has six teams that are vying for finals splendor.

Watching the Portland Trail Blazers dismantle the Dallas Mavericks in the first three quarters this weekend, followed by the Mavericks’ bench dominating the Blazers’ in the fourth, I postulated, is bench depth that important?

Until the recent nine game win streak, the Warriors had been inconsistent. Many pundits picked the Warriors as a dark horse Western Conference Finals team, but they hadn’t met those expectations until the return of Andre Iguodala from injury.

As of the end of December, and of the twelve games the Blazers have played, they have given up less than 100 points, two times. While their offensive rating continues to rank at the top of the league (currently first), their defensive rating, which was at best, 17th early in the season, has now dropped to 23rd.

Western Conference Preview for the 2013 NBA Season. Projected records, starting lineups, key players for each team. Click to read the entire preview, starting with the Pacific Division and the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers just plain got better as a "team" during the offseason. They didn't need flash, they needed tools, and they got two useful ones (Jared Dudley and JJ Reddick) and one great one (coach Doc Rivers). Many pundits are saying that Rivers was the best "get" of the offseason, and while I don't agree with that, I do think it was a tremendous acquisition. This team is expected to make it to the playoffs and Doc has been there twice in recent memory.

Eastern Conference Preview for the 2013 NBA Season. Projected records, starting lineups, key players for each team. Click to read the entire preview, starting with the Atlantic Division and the Brooklyn Nets.

There wasn't a more built to win now transformation for a team in than for the Brooklyn Nets. Without giving up any significant pieces (Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks) the nets added Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry. That's even a pretty good group of starters by itself and that lineup doesn't include the current starters.