The season has reached it's halfway mark for most teams, and there is much to be decided still. This year it appears there will be yet another race for the western playoff spots. Can the Lakers make it to the playoffs without their bigman Bynum? Will the Jazz wake up in time to secure a spot? Can the underdogs such as Portland and Golden State continue to improve their teams and their standings? Will the favorites such as Phoenix and San Antonio realize that it takes winning regular season games to get to the playoffs? Has Dallas come and gone?

Teams such as the Warriors and Portland have my vote. These two teams have the drive and desire to give a good run this year. Neither team can be taken lightly and that has been shown up to this point. The question is can these two teams continue on that path for the second half of the season. The answer for Golden State is yes. They are a different team than last year. The series against Dallas and the Jazz was just a taste of their potential. Putting the hype and game excitement aside the Warriors have stepped it up this year. Better team play, comfort & trust with your team members, much improved free throw %, and a solid rotation are all keys to their success. The pieces are there and they know where they are. The first half of the season they put it all together and the second half will be fine tuning their game to give us all another thrilling Playoff experience!.