The Los Angeles Lakers, on paper, look like they are destined for the NBA Finals. In the Western Conference, it appears as if they are heads and shoulders above their competition. However, quietly a few teams in the West have started to peak at the right time.

The biggest challenger for the Lakers right now appears to the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets are playing great basketball, as evident by their 58-point destruction of the New Orleans in Game 4 of their first round battle.

The difference with Denver this year is Chauncey Billups. Acquired in a trade for Allen Iverson in the beginning of the season, Billups has brought his team together. He’s playing fantastic basketball and his intensity on both ends of the court has rubbed off on his teammates. Carmelo Anthony, specifically, is playing like a smart veteran player.

The Dallas Mavericks are another team that could challenge the Lakers. In their first round matchup with the San Antonio Spurs, the Mavs beat the Spurs in only five games. They have a team of seven or eight players performing at a high level. If Dirk Nowitzki can get hot, they are a team that can win any given night.

The Houston Rockets and the Portland Trail Blazers are playing for the right to play the Lakers in the second round. The Rockets currently lead the series 3-2 and they appear to be the better team. They have Yao Ming in the middle and a bunch of tough and hungry players surrounding him. They could put up a good fight against L.A.

Coming into the playoffs, the Blazers looked like the team most likely in the West to challenge the Lakers. Although they haven’t looked great in the first round, the Blazers do boast an 8-0 record against the Lakers in the last eight games played in Portland.

While the Lakers will likely make it out of the Western Conference bracket, that doesn’t appear to be as automatic any longer.

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