All-Star Break Tiers: 2, Juggernauts

The juggernauts are hungry for for a title. Few holes appear on these squads' rosters and each is primed for a chance at the Larry O'Brien.

The Heat, Bulls, Grizzlies, Jazz, Sixers, and Bucks round out our second-best tier at the break.

Miami Heat

Record, Pre All-Star break: 38-21, 1st in Eastern Conference

The top five seeds in the East are only separated by 2.5 games. Miami finds themselves atop the mountain of juggernauts as a defensive giant. The Heat culture is a real phenomenon that its players buy into year after year, and the team's record is indicative of the grit each player leaves out on the floor. Whether or not they can remain in a position of postseason home court advantage is beside the point. No one wants to play the Heat in a seven game series this year. Miami doesn't forget the beating it took to the eventual champions last year in the first round, and Jimmy Butler now has Kyle Lowry helping to lead the charge.

Chicago Bulls

Record, Pre All-Star break: 38-21, 2nd in Eastern Conference

The Bulls are tied with Miami in the standings, but the tiebreaker is not in their favor. The Heat have bested Chicago in both of their meetings, winning a close on in Chicago back in November as well as blowing out the Bulls in South Beach shortly after. Two more matchups are ahead, and Chicago will have to prove they can beat Miami or they may be doomed in a potential deep playoff run if these two juggernauts clash. The Bulls have been outstanding against the league as a whole, led by MVP candidate DeMar DeRozan who might be playing the best basketball of his career. Zach LaVine should return soon and continue to put up huge numbers alongside his co-star. The Bulls have lots of firepower and energy guys off the bench that give them a great playoff build. LaVine will finally reach the postseason for the first time in his career.

Memphis Grizzlies

Record, Pre All-Star break: 41-19, 3rd in Western Conference

If the Cavs are the feel-good story of the NBA back east, the Grizzlies are their counterpart out west. Memphis has a better record than the two leaders of the Eastern Conference. They split the games versus Miami and beat the Bulls in their only contest so far on MLK day. While the Grizzlies aren't focused on the matchups against East teams at the moment, how fun would a Finals matchup be between a combination of these three teams? The Grizzlies have turned heads with their very young roster, which is only second to the Oklahoma City Thunder in youngest average age. Ja Morant and company are far more suited for a postseason run than they were last year as the nine seed, beating a depleted Golden State roster in the Play-In and losing to Utah in round one. Desmond Bane has been a huge addition for Memphis in his second season, averaging 18 points on 42% shooting from beyond the arc. The great thing about the Grizzlies this season has been their ability to do it by committee, especially on nights when their electrifying superstar in Ja Morant is either struggling or looking to get others involved. As I compared the Cavs to the Hawks in the sense that they could make a run to the Conference Finals, the same is true for the Grizzlies.

Utah Jazz

Record, Pre All-Star break: 36-22, 4th in Western Conference

We've seen it time and time again with Utah. No one will take them seriously until they make at least the Western Conference Finals, a feat they have yet to accomplish with Mitchell and Gobert. The elite regular seasons have been great, but to what end? The Jazz can't make sustained playoff runs, and the ascension of the Phoenix Suns threatens that even more than before, not to mention the return of the mighty Warriors, who have given them playoff trouble in the past. While the window isn't necessarily closing on Utah, they're becoming reminiscent of the late 2010s Pacers in their ability to consistently lose early in the playoffs. It's time to flip the script. If they remain in the four seed, which could be the most foreseeable outcome due to the collective momentum of Phoenix, Golden State, and Memphis, they'd host the Mavericks or Nuggets in the most likely scenarios. Utah should like their chances against these squads, but both those teams are also in a similar situation as the Jazz and are equally as hungry to prove doubters wrong and win a chip.

Philadelphia 76ers

Record, Pre All-Star break: 35-23, 3rd in Eastern Conference

Joel Embiid is the frontrunner for MVP, and would be the second center to win the award in as many years. He's looking to join opposing All-Star Game starter Nikola Jokic in history. The Sixers quietly jumped to the three seed as Brooklyn fell from grace, and have a slight edge over the reigning champs and another MVP candidate, Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Sixers blew up their roster to get James Harden, who will have to fit in nicely with Embiid to help Philly avenge a pathetic playoff meltdown against the Hawks from last season. The subtraction of Seth Curry was worth it for Philly as they increased their firepower multifold. James Harden's arrival increased their Vegas odds tremendously, but make no mistake, the 76ers are Embiid's team. A playoff matchup between Philly and Brooklyn would be as entertaining as they come given the drama of the deadline. The Sixers are ready, and the process can only be complete with a championship.

Milwaukee Bucks

Record, Pre All-Star break: 36-24, 5th in Eastern Conference

The Bucks are not in a position of playoff home court advantage currently, but shouldn't be worried. They should leapfrog the very good team from Cleveland in the standings soon, and round into form as the final third of the season winds down. The reigning champs aren't being complacent, but they are taking it easy. Giannis's minutes haven't been altered in comparison to last year, and his scoring leads the league at 29.4 PPG, just a tenth of a point higher than Joel Embiid. Giannis may be on the way to creating a dynasty in Milwaukee, and it wouldn't be far-fetched to see him win a couple more MVPs, reaching the same number as LeBron. All we can do is appreciate his greatness as the Greek Freak continues on in his prime.

Full Tiers: