Jan 30, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (24) stands on the free throw line against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana won 98-79. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

The Indiana Pacers play a deliberately poised and well, paced style of basketball. There’s just no better word for it. They move the ball around the key thoughtfully, which can be enjoyable to watch, even for those who prefer fast-breaks. But because this team is longer than it is loose, and bruising more than blazing, the movement can also be messy.

For this reason, the Pacers are tough to play, even for the usually scintillating Miami Heat. Their big bodies, who like playing back to the hoop, are always upright and active. In this way, they actually resemble an eighties Pacers team, anchored by opportunistic big men and supported by strong outside shooting. Rik Smits and Reggie Miller would be proud.

The Indiana half court set requires diligence, with the frontline players jostling for position, raising a hand in the low post or foul line extended, while the outside men pass it around, looking for openings and angles. The ball is routinely lobbed in to the likes of David West, whose bulky shoulders and quick jumpers trouble smaller defenders. Otherwise Paul George and Lance Stephenson sink timely long balls. It’s a comprehensive attack.

But what I like most about the Pacers, is that they slow down high octane outfits like Miami, whose alley-ooping, highlight reel approach has infiltrated so many NBA clubs, even when there’s no surprise to it anymore. Sure, it’s lively basketball and gives ESPN and other broadcasters a spectacle, but like the “pistol” offense that’s swept through pro football, how long will it last? Not even the famed Lakers “Showtime” sparkled forever. 

If there’s a style of play that might upend the Heat’s reign, it might be this more methodical, rebounding-centric, down and dirty approach the Pacers are making their own. Their few highlights—maybe a George fade away from the corner, or a West jump hook—are the sorts of plays that lift a coach from his seat more than the crowd. And that’s okay. The strategy works, even if the pinstripes on Indiana’s jerseys are the fanciest thing about them.

So, if the Pacers meet the Heat again in the playoffs, or Chicago, or New York for that matter, they might be grinding contests, but engrossing nonetheless. Indiana present a genuine threat to any of those aforementioned teams because yes, they’re swarming on defense, but also so burly on offense.

While so many other clubs are content to stall on the perimeter and allow one player to create, the Pacers players turn like the parts of a watch. They revel in their size and inside presence, banging wilfully against barreled chests like that of LeBron James. There’s no fear in this Indiana squad: They’re happy to dent egos, and spur conflict. They hustle, switch, set screens, call for lobs, make cuts for unspectacular lay-ups, and shift to an imbalanced formations. They’re not afraid to fumble the ball, scrap around for it in the paint, or throw themselves at the glass. It’s the sort of basketball that will disrupt slicker opponents, and those teams might be better to quit showboating, and start worrying. 

Jan 12, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) brings the ball up court during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers defeated the Rockets 107-100. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Houston Rockets have lost enough games now to drift out of the Western Conference top eight, and into distant mediocrity.

Jan 15, 2013, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Nash (10) dribbles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Staples Center. The Lakers defeated the Bucks 104-88. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Yes, the self-obsessed, hyperbolic Los Angeles Lakers have been bad. And everyone talking about it hasn’t helped. But this is sports in 2013, where a team still seeking its groove before half the season is through, is scrutinized like Kim Kardashian jogging in Malibu.

Dissecting the Lakers can be equally harsh. The main problem with the offense has been its lack of movement. This new star-stacked L.A. team is the victim of nothing more than bad habits, chief of which is ball watching. A typical trip down to the offensive end, for example, sees four Lakers cemented on the perimeter, while either point guard, Steve Nash, or two guard, Kobe Bryant, single-handedly manufacture a play. When Nash does it, at least he’s sniffing out opportunities for others. Bryant, however, desperate to right all wrongs, is hoisting balls at the hoop like the apocalypse is coming. In his mind, it might be.

Obviously this squad lacks cohesion, but what’s worse, there’s not an inkling of glue holding them together. Of course, calling your team old, as Bryant has, or sulking around the bench, as Dwight Howard will do, won’t really improve camaraderie.

Much of the disjointedness starts with Bryant, who has a tendency to halt others, hold the ball at the apex of the key, and then barge his way into the paint, where he inevitably fades back into a jumper or struts in for a lay-up. Young Kobe got away with this. Older Kobe needs to be more thoughtful and creative—if this team is to challenge for the title. Don’t get me wrong: he can still score, and score in high volumes. He just dropped 31 on the Milwaukee Bucks, after all. It’s just questionable if he can learn to adjust to his new teammates and get them winning consistently.

Steve Nash still does his thing with aplomb—that being organizing, patiently waiting for crevices to open, and then threading the ball to an open man. But in this offense, where there are fewer teammates on their toes, and a distinct shortage of offensive IQ, Nash seldom finds spots to drop the ball. He routinely makes a three-foot bounce under the hoop, to big men who sometimes enjoy the set-up, and other times look stunned to receive the pass. This isn’t quite Phoenix, is it? Knowing this, Nash often takes the shot himself, which at this point seems a sensible idea.

It’s a worry when your second unit shows more initiative than your starters, but that’s what seems to happen with the Lakers on a nightly basis. The bench are more willing to set picks, their feet have some bounce, and when led by the bulky Metta World Peace, they drive at the goal. They have purpose.

Still, none of this represents the substance of a total offense. And much of it has been caused by a mismatch of parts, each new acquisition a lesser version of his true self. For instance, a cumbersome Dwight Howard, a desperate Bryant, an awkward World Peace, and a frustrated Nash. Notably, these personas recently disappeared against the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks, teams with paper-thin defenses. Bryant and Howard especially collaborated better in those games. But we need to see it when it counts, and against more formidable opponents.

When all is said and done, it might be Nash who holds the key. He plays the game instinctively. When he’s had success it’s been because he controls the attack, and picks apart the defense, whipping the ball into spaces past rubber-necking defenders. But will Bryant allow Nash the touches he needs to excel?  The answer is that he must if he wants to win more. He now has the closest thing to Bob Cousy by his side, a man who given the chance, will slice up the floor and part the lane like his new haircut. Bryant needs to stop whiling away the clock, and quick-triggering as he so often does, and allow Nash to become the team’s glue. 

Dec 29, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at the United Center. Chicago defeats Washington 87-77. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls are charging through the NBA. And yet, they’re still hovering in the middle of the Eastern Conference, and can be unconvincing against weaker clubs. For example, they gifted the Charlotte Bobcats a win on new year’s eve, only narrowly beat the Orlando Magic a couple of days later, and then struggled with the feeble Cleveland Cavaliers. The other problem is that their leader and best player, Derick Rose, is still rehabbing his injured knee. Kirk Heinrich may wear stylish goggles, but he’s not quite the head turner Rose is.

So as you might expect, without Rose in the line-up, Chicago doesn’t seem to scare teams the way they should, especially those plucky enough to stare them down. After all, their makeshift backcourt is full of journeyed veterans, while big men Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are often seen to undermine the group as much as impact it—one being too soft, the other sometimes going in too hard.

But that’s all just perception, not reality. When both Noah and Boozer play with determination, like in their recent showing against the reigning champs, the Miami Heat, the results can be devastating. In particular, Chicago’s front court, including Luol Deng and Taj Gibson, can rebound with ferocity. When facing a poor rebounding team like Miami, that’s a tasty recipe on par with the city’s deep dish pizza. In their recent meeting, the Bulls out-swept the Heat on the glass 48-28 (with a whopping 19-4 on the offensive end). And you guessed it, Noah and Boozer led  with 12 boards apiece.

What I really like about their combined effort against the Heat, is the sharing of responsibility. They split their rebounding tally evenly on the offensive and defensive ends, and also shot the ball with efficiency (Boozer was 12 of 17 for 27 points, Noah 5 of 11 for 13 points). The Bulls can compete with anyone in the East when their bigs see red like this—even without their spectacular playmaker, Rose. Boozer and Noah realize this, which is why seeing them stand-up to LeBron James and Co. is exciting.

Noah was said to be fighting through a flu before the game, and yet he was relentless in attack. You have to hand it to the Bulls’ center, who may irritate opponents with his self-proclaimed energy—pogoing, reaching and clawing at the play whenever he can. He may not be as reflective or eloquent as his father, tennis great Yannick Noah, but he’s equally instinctive, and willing to scrap for mere inches.

While the Heat like to skip behind the defense and toss up lobs, or isolate James, or Dwayne Wade—constantly seeking highlight-reel dunks—the Bulls tend to tough it out in the paint. They set picks, find spaces, and make clever bounce passes to players moving to the hoop. They chase up missed shots, and challenge the interior. In this recent defeat of their relatively new rival, the Bulls outscored Miami inside 46-34. Some of these differentials may seem trivial in January. But when you consider they’re doing all this without their catalyst, Rose, a player who makes his living at the rim, then the sky might just be the limit for these Bulls.

No they can’t fly—not without Rose. But they’ll hang around, and in a long NBA season, that can be equally valuable for a championship run.

Dec 26, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Houston Rockets shooting guard James Harden (13) dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Greg Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Heat might be the best team in the NBA, but concerns about their inability to rebound seem valid (they are the league’s second worst rebounding team according to ESPN.com). Hey, that’ll happen when you’re undersized. Has an NBA club ever been more infatuated with players of 6-feet-8-inches? The bottom line is that when you jack up hasty shots and don’t, well, rebound, poor stats follow. Forward Chris Bosh said the team needed to figure out a way to fix the problem. Here’s a suggestion Chris – try rebounding.

Houston Rockets superstar, James Harden, no longer second fiddle in Oklahoma, has taken the league by storm since his relocation. Harden top scored for the Rockets in most of their December games and also dropped 20-plus points in a 14 straight contests (at the time of writing). His beard, too, continues to be the benchmark for NBA facial hair, and has moved past Bill Walton’s werewolf era fuzz on the all-time list.

Like Washington’s politicos, the city’s Wizards face an unnerving precipice, one which could see its entire future fall into disarray. Okay, let’s be honest: the Wiz haven’t cast a good spell since Harry Potter sought the Philosopher’s Stone. And yet, amid all the turmoil, the ineptitude and disgrace, rookie Bradley Beal has been a beacon of hope on The Hill. Beal led all Eastern Conference rookies in scoring (13.4 ppg) and total assists with (41) in December. He also had six games with 15-plus points during the month.

It took an unlikely opponent in the Brooklyn Nets to upend Oklahoma City’s 12-game home winning streak with a recent 110-93 victory. This was, in part, helped by the ejection of a rather conversational Kevin Durant. The other part was a combination of Joe Johnson scoring 33 points, and Deron Williams taking charge with 19 points and 13 assists. Amazing how quickly he’s adjusted to his new coach, isn’t it?

Don’t look now but the Detroit Pistons are motoring, winning five of six en route to a 12-22 overall record (as of January 4). Sure, their record is still woeful, but we’re talking about the Eastern Conference here folks, where a sub-500 record is fashionable, and making consecutive free-throws is cause for All-Star consideration.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics are flat out of luck, losing four straight and dropping below .500. Most alarmingly, the Cs have lost each of these game by an average mark of 20 points. Things haven’t been this bad in Beantown since the Celtics 15-win season of 1996-97 on the back of Antoine Walker’s 33% from three-point land. Good times.

Portland Trail Blazers point guard, Damian Lillard, has fast become Rookie of the Year favorite. With the Blazers playing mid-tier ball, it was surprising to see them rattle the New York Knicks at home, let alone beat them. But Lillard is a big reason for that. He’s fearless, and plays an all-around game—scoring, rebounding, passing, you name it. For the Knicks, Amare Stoudemire returned to a standing ovation. He then proceeded to light up Madison Square Garden with 6 points, one rebound and two turnovers. Spike Lee was beside himself.

No round-up would be complete without something about Kobe Bryant. In recent days, the league’s best scorer has called his Los Angeles Laker team “old” and “slow”, and admitted that their Staples Center roomies, the once lowly Clippers, are in the mix for the NBA crown. Kobe even called the Clips, currently among the Western Conference’s elite, “one of the top contenders”. Presumably L.A. reporters are now seeking Bryant’s view on Daniel Day Lewis as an Oscar favorite, and his take on other outrageousness circling the internet.

Dec 29, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Orleans Hornets guard Eric Gordon (10) drives to the basket and shoots against Charlotte Bobcats forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The amazing thing about a team that ranks as lowly as the New Orleans Hornets, is that on certain nights, when the opponent is weak, motivation low, and everybody just wants to stay in and watch TiVo’d Homeland, they can still dig out a win. The recent match-up with the Charlotte Bobcats, featuring the NBA’s two top rookies, at least provided some incentive, if nothing more than to see the clash of long eyebrows with long socks.

There was also a weird symmetry at play in the meeting with an unremarkable ‘Cats ball club, whose lack of wins—and brand recognition—found itself pitted against its alter-ego. (It’s widely believed that once New Orleans changes its moniker, the Bobcats will transform into the Hornets, colours, pin stripes and everything). After all, the nickname dates back to the Revolutionary War in Charlotte, when British General Charles Cornwallis likened the resistance in Charlotte to a hornet’s nest. There’s also the small fact that Charlotte is home to the original Hornets.

In this instance, the current Hornets shot 43% from the field, seemingly not enough against the Bobcats’ 49%, who even more impressively hit a ridiculous 63% in the first-half. That equated to a 17-point lead at the break, a tally compiled mostly by the No.2 overall pick, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who made 9-of-11 shots, and Kemba Walker’s 6-of-8. This type of near-immaculate effort would sink the majority of NBA teams, who, post Christmas turkey, would surely be thrilled to have an early night. But unfortunately for the home team, the future New Orleans Pelicans are plucky. Who knew?

If the startling shooting wasn’t enough for New Orleans to overcome, they were also out-rebounded and scored fewer points in the paint (58 to 32). And that’s still not even the whole story. The Hornets didn’t log a single fast-break point, while Charlotte, with 17 straight losses, had 27 on the break. Those points, driven by the relentless Walker, were a tangible difference: But the impact of running the opponent up and down the court, too, can’t be underestimated. And still the Hornets stayed abuzz.

So how in the world did New Orleans win this rather meaningless game? Well, No.1 overall pick, Anthony Davis, helped with 10 boards, and Grievis Vasquez’s 8 assists fueled the offense. But the return of shooting guard, Eric Gordon, who’s missed 29 games rehabbing a sore knee, ultimately powered the pinstriped squad. His 24 points off the bench ignited a second-half rally that bodes well for the Hornets in the new year.

As if he hadn’t missed a beat, Gordon was 12-of-14 from the free-throw line and scored 16 of his points during the Hornets’ second-half comeback. It wasn’t just his scoring though, for which the barrel-chested guard has become recognized. Gordon added seven assists and two steals to his tally. Importantly, he’s provided a much needed shake to the hive. Gordon looks happy to be back on court with his teammates, and said so after the game. But if this very young Hornets team has trouble posting more wins, these types of fun nights with Gordon at the two-spot will become as much a memory as the color of teal in New Orleans.