The NBA will never regain its former prominence in the vast panorama of American sports. But after a long period when it seemed there was nothing but bad news emanating from the league--off-court misbehavior, on-court fracases, a gambling scandal and, with the memory of Michael Jordan hovering above, a shrinkage of star power and a tedium in the play--the NBA has staged something of a mini-revival. And coming out of the All-Star break (and an entertaining All-Star game), the NBA can look forward to what appears to be the most compelling season since MJ hung 'em up (at least that second time he hung em up with the Bulls).

It has been a long time since there has been the movement of so many stars--Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to the Celtics, Shaquille O'Neal to the Suns, Pau Gasol to the Lakers and, in all probability, Jason Kidd to the Dallas. And it has created a wide open playoff scenario with at least a half dozen legitimate contenders for the title and another handful of teams considered to have an outside shot. The Western Conference playoffs loom lethal with no team, regardless of finish, able to contemplate a breather, even in the opening round.

The trades have also revived the two most storied franchises in the league, Boston and L.A.. And while Garnett has long been recognized among the game's elite, the Celtics' reemergence (with the best record in the league at All-Star break) has given him a showcase that he never had in a dozen standout seasons in Minnesota and, if he can stay healthy, one that will establish him in the NBA's all-time pantheon. Two of the recent trades, the aging and gimpy O'Neal, and the aging Kidd to Dallas, represent daring moves by franchises that have been perennial contenders in recent years, but clearly felt they were still destined to fall short. O'Neal potentially gives the running Suns a monster in the middle when the games turn halfcourt in the playoffs and Kidd, if motivated and healthy, should resolve the Mavericks' problem of talented, but erratic play at its point.

In the more good news for the NBA, LeBron James simply defies belief as he grows his game, doing what seemed impossible when he entered the league as a teenager--not only living up to the boundless hype, but actually exceeding it. He is even better this season--amazingly, he is still just 23 years old--than he was last when he single-handedly carried the Cavs all the way to the NBA Finals. And it's hard to blame him for thinking that if one of these major talents that has popped up on the open market would find his way to Cleveland, James might nab one of those championship rings.

Sure it's not perfect, the league could use a franchise in New York rather than the laughingstock that is now the New York Knicks. And the Bulls, a team that seemed to be rebuilding with a talented array of youngsters, has regressed so much this season that once untouchables like Ben Gordon suddenly find themselves on the trading block. Moreover, it's hard to explain the seemingly eternal imbalance between conferences, but there is no doubt that the West remains dominant. The West is a plus 48 in the wins column against the Least and right now Houston would be odd team out of the playoffs despite a 32-20 record. That would be the fourth best record in the East, where, at least now, a 23-30 mark would still claim a playoff berth.

The Western dominance is even more remarkable when you consider--also remarkable--that the Celtics are now 16-0 against the Westerns. That unblemished record will be put to a test, starting tonight in Denver, when the Celtics play five games against the West in seven nights, including four teams with winning records. Boston might have the advantage of Garnett returning to the lineup after missing nine games with an abdominal strain.

Assuming his full recovery at some point, it could be one of those injuries that proves a blessing in disguise. It not only gives the 31-year-old Garnett, one of the most intense, all-out competitors in the league a rest, but necessity helped the Celtics discover that they may be more than the sum of their superstar threesome, Garnett, Allen and Paul Pierce.

The Celtics have gone 7-2 with Garnett sidelined and got major contributions from Rajon Rondo at the point and James Posey, Leon Powe and Glenn "Big Baby" Davis off the bench, the latter two who weren't even expected to be in the team's rotation. The added depth should help the Celtics revival story down the stretch. For those ready to catch up with the NBA now, the must-see game on this Celtics trip comes Friday night--a national broadcast on ESPN--against Phoenix with Shaq possibly in the Suns lineup.