With 30 games left...

The hottest teams in the league are all in the West (surprise, surprise), in the form of the Minnesota Timberwolves (33-20), Los Angeles Lakers (26-25), and San Antonio Spurs (36-16).

The T-wolves are currently streaking along on a 12-2 run. Kevin Garnett is playing some of the best ball of his life. Wally Szczerbiak has not only returned from injury, but also has stopped stealing passes intended for other teammates. He has learned to feel the yin and yang and play with KG, not against him.

The Lakers are hot too, with a recent seven-game win streak during which Kobe Bryant averaged 42 ppg. However, they were cooled off slightly by a loss to the New York Knicks in which Allan Houston actually out dueled Kobe by going off for 53 points. (I did a double take at the box score myself, but don't rub your eyes, it's true.)

And the team with the most mojo right now is the Spurs, who have won eight consecutive road games against the likes of quality opponents such the Indiana Pacers (37-16), Portland Trailblazers (33-18), Lakers, and Sacramento Kings (36-18).

Tim Duncan has proven that he is indeed the league's MVP to this point in the season, with apologies to Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Tracy McGrady. However, the Spurs cannot win the NBA title while Duncan is a one-man team. Tony Parker needs more time, David Robinson is pretty much a window decoration by now, and no team is going to win a title with Stephen Jackson as their third scoring threat.

So who will take home all the glory in June? Pure hatred prevents Inside the NBA from picking the Lakers or the Blazers, there's still no D in Dallas, the T-wolves need to worry about just getting out of the first round for a change, and the thought of an Eastern Conference team winning is laughable. Sacramento has yet to get everyone healthy and on the same page, but when they do, they have Chris Webber to dominate for three quarters, Mike Bibby for the fourth, and a good enough supporting cast to finally get Sac-town over the edge. They also have an evident mental advantage over the Dallas Mavericks, so the pick is the Kings. For now.

At this point, Coach of the Year goes to Jerry Sloan, who has guided a Utah Jazz team led by Andre Kirilenko, Matt Harpring, and ancients John Stockton and Karl Malone to a 31-21 record. Apologies go to Flip Saunders, Isiah Thomas, and Rick Carlisle, who have done impressive jobs as well.

The Defensive Player of the Year is Ben Wallace, hands down. I love it when the stat book reads four pts, 22 rebounds, four blocks.

As far as trade talk goes, there has been lots of it, and here is why the rumors regarding the following players will not amount to anything: Latrell Sprewell (he fills the seats at MSG, plays D, has a contract the size of his yacht, and -- now is the time to rub your eyes -- the Knicks are only one and a half games out of the final playoff spot in the East); Derrick Coleman (coach Larry Brown loves him and the 76ers are starting to come around), and Damon Stoudamire (who wants him?!?). Here are who things could happen for: Gary Payton (lots of playoff teams are looking for a veteran point guard), Danny Fortson (someone needs to get this dude off the Golden State Warrior's bench and hitting the boards like he used to), and anyone on the Atlanta Hawks (Glenn Robinson, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Jason Terry are the worst meshing of "stars" since Scottie Pippen, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley for the '99 Houston Rockets.)

And for those of you who are wondering who the ten best players in the NBA are right now, here you go. First Team All-NBA: guards Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, forwards Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, and center Shaquille O'Neal. Second Team All-NBA: guards Jason Kidd and Allen Iverson, forwards Paul Pierce, Chris Webber and Dirk Nowitzki. Case closed.