4 Ways that blockbuster trades have changed the landscape

Despite being on a 50-win pace, All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony and the Nuggets are far from a playoff lock. AP

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4. The Celtics aren't so scary anymore. The win-now culture sweeping through the league was inspired by Boston director of basketball operations Danny Ainge when he dealt long-term assets last summer in exchange for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen while keeping Paul Pierce. But the Celtics' trio isn't so intimidating now that the Lakers have Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom (with Andrew Bynum on his way back next month); the Suns will soon be starting Steve Nash, Amaré Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal (not to mention having Grant Hill, Leandro Barbosa and others); and the Mavericks are hoping to team Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard with Jason Kidd, if their trade with the Nets can be salvaged.

Consider this a healthy development for Boston. Though Boston doesn't have to worry about any of those teams until the NBA Finals, the improvements will enable the Celtics -- despite their league-leading record -- to view themselves as underdogs, which should renew their motivation heading toward the playoffs.

3. More pressure on rivals. The Nuggets are on a 50-win pace -- and in danger of missing the playoffs in the West. The Cavaliers are Eastern Conference champs and have won 15 of their last 21 games, and yet that still doesn't seem quite good enough. Both teams are among those seeking ways to improve at point guard or in other areas in order to keep up with the trend of Boston, the Lakers, Phoenix and possibly Dallas.

2. The best playoff race in years. The Rockets have won eight in a row and are in a tie with the Nuggets and Warriors for the last two playoff spots. The Hornets have the best record in the West yet stand five games away from missing the playoffs entirely. The fight for the eight playoff spots in that conference -- never mind home-court advantage -- is going to be terrific, especially with so many teams trying to incorporate new stars on the fly. One bad week could doom a contender.

1. The importance of continuity. Could it be, after so much spectacular upheaval, that the two elder mainstays of each conference will meet in the NBA Finals? San Antonio and Detroit are the deepest contenders as well as the teams likely to play the best team basketball because they've been together so long. While others have traded for the newest thing, the Spurs and Pistons have been minding their own business.

3 Names in the news

3. Isiah Thomas. "Everybody thinks he's on his way out,'' said a rival GM who deals with the Knicks routinely. "I don't get that impression at all.'' This executive has the clear sense that Thomas remains empowered to make any deal he wishes and that his removal as president of the Knicks is not imminent. "I think that owner [James Dolan] is just digging his heels in.'' If Thomas' enemies want him out of New York, they ought to start a "Save Isiah'' campaign. I'm not joking: The only way Dolan is going to replace his team president/coach is if he's convinced the public wants him to stay.

2. Kevin Garnett. His extended absence is helping the Celtics on two counts, noted Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. It's enabling Garnett to freshen up for the crucial second half while bringing the best out of his teammates, who have gone 7-2 (losing by a combined four points) without him.

"He has a lot of mileage, obviously, and in the past his knee's bothered him a little bit,'' Popovich said. "So let these guys go on their own a little while. They're going to face some situations now on their own, be in a lot more close games than they would if Kevin was out on that court right now. It's good for Doc [Rivers] and the coaching staff to see who's going to step up in those situations, who they can depend upon, who's going to execute, who's going to make a decision. And if you're just kicking everybody's butt constantly, so the first time you might face those [questions] is the third game of the first round -- then you don't want that.

"Assuming that Kevin is going to be OK, and I think he will be, it's a good thing. Guys are in situations that maybe they wouldn't be in normally. And in a seven-game series you're doing all sorts of different things, and if those guys have that experience it really is a bonus.''

1. Terry Lyons. The former NBA VP of international communications has landed with Elevate Communications in Boston as senior VP and managing director of global communications. Frankly, I understand very little about the nuances of brand-building and sports marketing, but I know Terry will be very good at it.

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