The NBA is suffering from vertigo

Check the NBA standing and you just might get confused. As of Nov. 29, the Orlando Magic stands atop of the Eastern Conference division with a 11- 4 record. The Utah Jazz is the league’s best, with a 12-3 record, and teams like the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies (no surprise) are three of six playoff teams from last year who would be on the outside unable to play for the coveted ring if the playoffs begun today.

The San Antonio Spurs, one of the league’s premiere teams, is “doing what they do,” which is playing first place basketball, and Dallas Mavericks, last year’s Western Conference Champs, started slow, but have taken up resident and are tied for second place with the Houston Rockets, behind the Spurs with a 10-4 record. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who finished in second place last year behind the Detroit Pistons in the Central division, have supplanted the Pistons from their first place perch. But that should have been expected with Ben Wallace now playing in Chicago.

The Los Angeles Clippers, the best team playing at the Staples Center last season have reclaimed their familiar position in the standing – last place – and the Los Angeles Lakers, last year’s stepchild at Staples, reclaimed their familiar first place position with nine victories versus five defeats. But the purple and gold need not get comfortable because they will be evicted at some point during the season; probably sooner than later. While their record is among the league’s best, it’s safe to say it’s just a mirage. The Lakers played 10 of their first 14 games at Staples Center with six of their victories coming against teams with winning percentages south of respectability.

While the Western Conference remains the dominant conference winning 56 percent of their games, the Eastern Conference, winning 42 percent of their games, looks like a horrific train wreck. The Boston Celtics are in first place of the Atlantic division with a 5-8 record, and New Jersey Nets, last year’s division leaders are tied with them.

The Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls, all with 5-9 records, and playoff teams last year, have the New York Knicks and Charlotte Bobcats to thank for possessing records worse than theirs. But the Bulls, unlike the Lakers, have not had the benefit of playing at the crib. Waiting for the circus to leave town, the Bulls have played just four home games. But when they return home, I’m not quite certain that the circus will have vacated with Wallace and Coach Scott Skiles bickering over ‘to wear or not to wear’ a headband.

The losing bug has also infected last season’s World Champs. The Miami Heat, playing below .500 basketball, have a 6-8 record. But Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal] is recovering from knee surgery and Dwyane Wade, carrying the load while Shaq mends, may be a bit tired from having an abbreviated vacation.

The balance of the NBA may be teetering, but as the season moves forth there won’t be any confusion about who will be battling for basketball supremacy.