2016 NBA Playoffs' Top 5 Teams So Far and the Dark Horse that May Surprise

By Glenn Minnis First Posted: Apr 23, 2016 02:18 PM EDT

NBA suits may want to wait a bit before printing those Golden State Warriors vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals tickets most fans have been predicting all season. Latin Post introduces its list of Top 5 Teams in the 2016 NBA Playoffs so far.

For sure, the record-setting Warriors continue to look the part of being up to the challenge of earning the right to defend their crown. And now with Steph Curry insisting his sprain right ankle is again pain free, Golden State definitely figures to there when it matters the most.

As for the Cavs, in racing out to a commanding 3-0 lead over the overmatched Detroit Pistons in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, LeBron James and Co. have done little to quell talk of a rematch. We list our top five teams for the 2016 NBA Playoffs and the likely Dark Horse who may surprise in the tournament down below.

Heat Look Like Class of Eastern Conference

It's just that up until this point, the Miami Heat may have done more to rightfully earn their place atop the field in the growing debate of which team truly reigns as the best the East has to offer.

Dwyane Wade and the Heat have blitzed the Charlotte Hornets by an average of 22 points over the first two games of their first round series. Beyond that, the Heat marched into the postseason as one of the league's hottest teams by virtue of going 16-8 over their last 24 games.

Miami Coach Erik Spoelstra appears to have found just the right mix in the veteran core of Wade, Luol Deng, Joe Johnson, Goran Dragic and Amare Stoudemire and the rookie tandem of Justice Winslow and Josh Richardson.

Whiteside on the Move

In the middle, manning it all, has been the still emerging Hasan Whiteside, averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks against the Hornets.

Through all the dominance, the Heat have kept just the right mindset.

"We won two games at home," Wade told reporters of the Heat's dynamic start to the series. "Our job now is to go up there and try to get one but understand that we're going to see a totally different team. It's our jobs, the coaches, the veterans on this team, to prepare our team for seeing a different a ball club."

No matter what comes their way, early indications are Miami will be up to the challenge. The looming showdown with James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals shapes up as one for the ages.

But don't expect Wade and the Heat to get ahead of themselves. After their recent Game 2 win, the team held a closed door meeting to talk about staying sharp and remaining focused.

"D-Wade was speaking D-Wade talk," Whiteside said of the message that was relayed by the team's three times NBA champion leader.

Beyond that, the Heat seem content to just let their play keep doing the talking.

Warriors

Meanwhile, the Warriors are intent on capping their record-setting 73-win regular season with another title and with Curry now expected back at full strength he, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green resume their place as the league's most potent trio.

Cavaliers

And can any team that features James ever really be counted out? And The King has been in absolute rare form in easily leading the Cavs past the Pistons, averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Eye-popping as those numbers are, James has hardly been a one-mam show, with Kyrie Irving growing before the eyes of NBA Nation to the tune of averaging 26 points and five assist a night. Kevin Love chips in with averages of 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Spurs

And then, there are the Spurs, who always seem to find a way, no matter how much the odds might seem stacked against them.

Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge again give Spurs' fans reason for optimism and the postseason has come to be the time of season when the veteran core of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili has most shined.

Thunder

As for the Thunder, the tandem of Kevin Durant (26 points, seven rebounds, three assists) and Russell Westbrook (23 points, 11 assists, six rebounds) rank as the postseason's highest-scoring duo and you still got the impression they might be capable of even more.