Five early lessons as the season begins to take shape

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have had much to celebrate early in the season, including the Celtics' perfect home record. AP

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The NBA season is at the quarter pole, a place far enough along on the track to get an idea of where the race is heading but still far too early to draw any conclusions. Right now, the Spurs and Celtics are neck and neck in the lead, a length ahead of the Suns and Mavs. Behind them, a crowd of contenders is bunched up, including the Pistons, Rockets, Jazz, Magic and Hornets.

Even if you just watch the Kentucky Derby each year, you know the winner often spends the first half of the race or so lurking in the middle of the pack only to blast out in front at the end. Therefore, we won't attempt to predict how this NBA race will finish. Instead, we'll just take a quick look at five things we've learned after the first 20 games of the 2007-08 season.

1. Green is good

It seems obvious now that the Celtics, with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joining Paul Pierce, would be a top team. But it's easy to forget that before the season, a lot of pundits were seriously doubting Boston's chances of competing for an NBA title right away. These skeptics wondered whether one ball would be enough for three superstars. They wondered whether Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins could handle starting roles. They wondered whether the Celtics' bench would be deep enough.

The Celtics have answered those questions in rather definitive fashion (well, except for maybe the bench part). While it's still early, and its schedule has been relatively soft, Boston has been as good as advertised. The most impressive aspect has been how quickly its defense has come together. With Garnett protecting the basket and hitting the boards, the Celtics rank No. 1 in the league in points allowed and field-goal-percentage defense. Boston still has to show it can handle the likes of the Spurs, Suns and Mavs, but it's safe to say that the Celtics (as long as the Big Three stay healthy) have a very good shot at making the Finals.

2. Lakers were smart to keep Kobe

Sometimes the best trades, as the saying goes, are the ones you don't make. It certainly has been the case in L.A. with Kobe Bryant. Through Tuesday, the Lakers were a respectable 12-8 and Bryant was having another All-Star-caliber season. While it might be argued that the Bryant soap opera is merely on hold and that it could flare up again, L.A. at least seems to have bought time with its disgruntled superstar.

The bottom line for the Lakers is that Bryant is more than a great player. He's also a marquee name, a box-office draw who keeps corporate suites filled and makes Hollywood glitterati cough up $2,000 for those courtside seats. Luol Deng or Ben Gordon were not going to do that. And by being patient, the Lakers now have a chance to placate Bryant and add an All-Star like Jason Kidd or Jermaine O'Neal (see No. 4 on this list). For sure, it is a better situation overall for the Lakers than had they panicked and shipped him away for less than full value.

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