1. Los Angeles Lakers
We couldn't forget the team out west in the Sunshine State, could we? The Lakers have been rolling. Since acquiring Luka Dončić in that seismic, shocking trade that left all of us perplexed on February 1, they have had the sixth-best record in the league at 23-12. While they didn't get the big man they tried to pursue in Mark Williams, they still have been fine.
Having two offensive technicians in LeBron James and Doncic, the most cerebral minds in the league outside of Nikola Jokic, gives you the ultimate cheat code offensively.
The Lakers have won 17 of their last 20 games, including a 6-2 record with Doncic in the starting lineup. Speaking of Doncic, he recently returned to his former team in a ceremonial, emotional return to Dallas, where he seems to look back to his usual form, dropping 45 on the Mavericks.
Pair him with James, who's had the best age-40 season in NBA history and seems to be a cyborg out of Terminator that doesn't seem to age, and it makes for a scary duo. It doesn't stop there, as teams will have their hands full with Austin Reaves as well. Reaves has been playing some of the best basketball of his career, averaging 22.5/4.8/5.3 on 47% from the field and nearly 40% from three.
Reaves has fit seamlessly alongside Dončić, who, alongside James, has created numerous easy looks for Reaves and the role players such as Jaxson Hayes at the rim or Dorian Finney-Smith. It's seemingly unfair to have two 6'8 point forwards on the floor who know every defensive scheme you throw at them and can take over a game single-handedly.
The "Lake Show" is ready for broadway.