1. Utah Jazz without question. They are just playing with a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of heart, never letting anybody else make them second guess themselves.
2. Denver Nuggets. I can't believe Utah and Denver are ahead of San Antoino and Minnesota in the standings.
3. Milwaukee Bucks. Michael Redd has really stepped up, and TJ Ford is contributing nicely. Terry Porter could be in the running for coach of the year.
4. Seattle Supersonics. Slowed down a little lately but beat Rockets to stay above .500 (as a Rockets fan, I'm going NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

). Ronald Murray has been a eye-popper.
5. New Orleans Hornets. Without Mashburn, I didn't think they would do so well. Baron Davis has been monstrous.
The biggest surprises (overachievers and underachievers) have come out of the west. I guess everyone felt the west was pretty much mapped out but it certainly has turned out otherwise.