Implicitly, the coaches seem to recognize the power of this combination.  The highest ranked teams according to the recent GM survey are the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Orlando Magic, and of course, our own boys from El Segundo.  The Celtics should have a healthy Garnett again, and with Rondo bringing up the smallest of small, present an extreme punch.  The Cavs have a potential one-two punch in Shaq and LeBron James, although it should be noted that LeBron’s hard-driving style is more Shaq than Kobe, which leads one to wonder what exactly Shaq would bring to the table, unless LeBron can diversify his game and move outside a bit more.  The Magic are still very young, and have some serious timing issues; nevertheless, the sheer athleticism displayed by Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson bodes well for this underrated team, and their willingness to absorb the full brunt of watching the Lakers party their own court reveals a mental toughness that will help them against the anticipated leaders of an otherwise anemic Eastern Conference.  The Spurs are still a force to reckoned with, despite Tim Duncan’s age, and their acquisition of Richard Jefferson in the offseason is generally seen as a smart move.

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