The 10 Biggest Surprises of the NBA Season (So Far)
The Bobcats have how many wins!?
None
Before we delve into what's surprised us so far this NBA season, let's highlight the trends we saw coming a mile away. First, the Thunder and Heat are the class of the league and, insufferably, it looks to stay that way for the next half decade. Second, the Spurs are great and nobody outside of San Antonio gives a shit. Third, without Derrick Rose the Bulls are about as watchable as an episode of Kourtney & Kim Take New York. OK, that felt good. With order restored, let's take a look at what (so far) has surprised us this season.
Written by Sean Evans (@seanseaevans)
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The Knicks Offense
New York's shooting better than 40 percent from beyond the arch. Carmelo Anthony's did better November numbers than Twilight: Breaking Dawn and, presumably, things will only get better when Amar'e Stoudemire returns to the lineup. The Knickerbockers are tied for the Atlantic division lead with the Nets and are the third-seed in the East. The last time the Knicks looked this good to start a season, Al Gore was disputing election results in Florida.
Before Spike Lee clears his calendar for May, he should note that the Knicks have won exactly one playoff game in the last decade. When it comes to postseason pedigree over the last 20 years, it's a franchise that looks way up to the Milwaukee Bucks. The plot line for New York is always of a team that's on the verge and until they win something (anything!), they're still the fucking Knicks. But—damn—things look good right now.
Andrew Bynum Has Lost His Mind
If ever there were a case for raising taxes on the wealthy, it's Andrew Bynum. Dude's making $16M this year to sit courtside at 76ers games and develop bizarre, ostentatious ways to fuck with his hair. On top of that he aggravated his knee while bowling. Who knew going for that #3hunna (*Chief Keef voice*) could be so dangerous.
Word out of Philly is that Bynum's knee injury could prevent him from playing at all this season. That's devastating news for a team that was hoping to build on last year's Game 7 loss to Boston in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. More time off for Bynum means more time to brandish guns, use drugs, and bump Trina all day long—well, at least according to his former neighbors.
The New-Look Bobcats
Their recent emasculating loss to the Thunder notwithstanding, the Bobcats might be the most surprising team in basketball. Now, are we saying that Charlotte's our dark horse to challenge Miami in the East? FOH. But Michael Jordan's island of misfit ballers has already won as many games as they did all of last season (yes, you read that right). First year coach Mike Dunlap's been a wizard with the defense and Kemba Walker's playing like Derrick Rose lite with his 20 points per game and an affinity for closing out games at the free-throw line.
James Harden Over Everything
We knew James Harden was good. You don't get named to All-Star games and win Olympic gold medals when you play like Darko Milicic. But J-Hard's scoring eight more points per game and has embraced Houston's "the man" role in a way befitting of an alpha male with Viking-like facial hair. The Rockets guard is averaging 24 PPG and the critical whispers of laziness and inconsistency have been mum so far. When he's not playing his former team, he looks like the NBA's next major superstar.
The Clippers Can Do More Than Make Top-10 Plays
Many a lazy outlet has legitimized LA's other team through Blake Griffin SportsCenter cameos and Chris Paul lobs to DeAndre Jordan. While jumping stock Kia's is sexy, the Clippers battle for Los Angeles has grown tighter because of team defense and Jamal Crawford. Crawford, so far, has looked Ginobilian off of the bench for Lob City, leading the team in scoring with 17.5 points per game. If the Clippers start rebounding as well as they force turnovers and block shots, they'll be less reel, more real. Get it? OK, we'll stop now.
The Best in the West
It's easy to forget about the Memphis Grizzlies because, well, they play in Memphis. Have you ever been to Memphis? It's like Kansas City, but with drive-by shootings. Anyway, sleep on the Grizz no more because they might be the best team in the Western Conference.
They're currently tied for first with the San Antonio Spurs and Zach Randolph is playing like he has plans of becoming the most bloated MVP since Charles Barkley. The antagonizing big man is fifth in the NBA in rebounding and, provided he doesn't tear his Achilles fighting an opposing player in the locker room, stands to have his healthiest season in years.
The Rookie of the Year Favorite: Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard's taken the league by absolute storm, putting up better numbers (19 PPG and 6 APG) out of the point guard position than bonafide stars like Ty Lawson and Tony Parker. Unfortunately for the Weber State standout, he played his college ball in the not-so-sexy Big Sky Conference and, if you're looking for shine, running the show in Portland is almost as bad.
Rasheed Wallace's Return
So far, Rasheed Wallace has allegedly fought a fan in a stadium parking lot, fouled out of a game in 20 minutes, and sonned Hornets newcomer Austin Rivers at the free-throw line. None of that surprises us at all. Lost in the fuckery are quality minutes out of a dude who's nearing his 40th birthday and spent the last two years, presumably, talking to himself in a park somewhere. Averaging nearly eight points per game, Sheed's been fun to watch on the court and an absolute riot off of it.
Hello Brooklyn
The Nets roster is plus Joe Johnson for a team that finished 22-44 last season. When you consider the crippling expectations of their touted move to Brooklyn, the Nets turnaround is almost inspiring. See Cleveland? There's hope.
Before GM Billy King and Mikhail Prokhorov split a celebratory bottle of Zyr Vodka, it should be noted that Brook Lopez has been the hinge point of Brooklyn's success. The man that team brass tried so desperately to shill for Dwight Howard is playing like Artis Gilmore reincarnated, averaging 18 points and six rebounds per game.
The Lake Show (Emphasis on "Show")
Well, delusions of "Showtime" reincarnated took all of six weeks to turn into a nightmare. The Lakers are a mess, complete with fans like this and a fabulously botched changing of the guard at head coach. The only thing separating the Lakers from an episode of Real Housewives: Beverly Hills is a Kobe Bryant endorsement deal with Christian Louboutin and a few Botox treatments for Dwight Howard.
That said, if we've learned anything from the Heat or Celtics, it's that super teams take a minute to materialize and adversity is pretty easily overcome in basketball. In the NBA, half the league's teams make the playoffs. So, even with a disappointing regular season, the Lakers can still manage to secure a No. 5 seed. If, by April, Dwight Howard's demanding a trade to Chicago and the team's being coached by the ghost of George Mikan, Kobe can still will his team into the second round of the playoffs. So tell Stephen A. Smith to take his "Panic Meter" and shove it.