The Boston Celtics were the NBA’s best team on Christmas Eve, composing a record of 27-2.

Then they lost to the LA Lakers in Los Angeles.  And they were still the NBA’s best team.

But when they lost 99-89 to the Golden State Warriors the day after Christmas and followed that up with a 100-88 loss to the hands of the New York Knicks on Sunday, their aura of invincibility vaporized.  A team mired in the Stephon Marbury fiasco and seemingly fading from the playoff picture, despite Mike D’Antoni’s coaching, managed to beat them.  The Celtics were barely adequate on the road in last year’s NBA playoffs on their way to the championship.  During their most recent setback, players were seen yelling at each other and missing defensive assignments.  Even though Finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 31 points, that was not enough and now the questions about the odds of Boston being able to repeat will commence based on this team’s recent slump.

Although the NBA is just three days in, it’s never too late to start sorting out the best teams. Which teams look the best so far? Here’s the SteamySports top five:

1) Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have wasted no time in looking dominant in the 2008-09 season. Already 2-0, the Lakers have pounded both the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers. And shockingly enough, it’s not all Kobe Bryant anymore. He’s still their best player but he has an amazing amount of talent around him this year.

2) Boston Celtics
The reigning NBA champions are off to a good start. They beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in their one game so far this season. However, we have to put the Celtics behind the Lakers. Not only do the Lakers look very, very good, the Celtics have a few questions marks including how they’ll adapt without James Posey and what they will do if Ray Allen loses another step.

3) New Orleans Hornets
Speaking of James Posey, his new team is looking quite good. At 2-0, the Hornets are a team that fits so perfectly together. Chris Paul is the head of the snake but he also has a lot of very talented players around him that fit perfectly in the equation. If the Hornets can remain healthy, they could very easily end up with the best record in the entire NBA.

4) Houston Rockets
The Rockets sit at 2-0 after two impressive victories to star the season. The combination of Ron Artest, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming already has other teams shaking in their boots. Houston made a lot of changes over the summer but if they can get some chemistry, they definitely have the wherewithal to go all the way.

5) Detroit Pistons
The Pistons started off their year with a win and they promise to once again be a formidable opponent in the Eastern Conference. The only big change this season is Amir Johnson starting in place of Antonio McDyess. Other than that, this is basically the same team that has had much playoff success over the last half decade.

Check out this video as correspondent Elie Seckbach talks to members of the Lakers about Kobe Bryant: