For me it's The Utah Jazz without Stockton and Malone. It's unbelievable how well they are doing, Kirilenko will soon become an all-star and their two point guards are impressive too. They both shoot well and have great passing abilities. Denver also is a surprise for me, I didn't think carmelo would do this well. Finally the grizzlies are doing a nice season to, but I always thought that they have the potential to do so.
I was surprised about Utah as well. My roommate from Utah has called it all along though. He is in love with DeShawn Stevenson. He talks about him as if he is the next McGrady. Another team that has blown my mind is the Nuggets. I mean..when they beat the Lakers last year, I knew that they were a pretty good team with no 'name' players, but I still didn't see this coming. Even with the addition of 'Melo, who could have seen them picking up the pace? By far my biggest surprise is Orlando. They showed some promise at the beginning of the season. Afterall, last year, McGrady had developed a reputation as a marquee player. But what the hell is going on down there? Does anyone know? I am surprised by Sacramento. They are doing crazy well considering that Webber has been out for a while. Imagine how good they will be when he is back in the line up. If there is any team that can beat the Lakers, I think that it is Sacramento with a healthy Webber. Who isn't surprised by San Antonio? Did David Robinson really make that much of a difference in their game or is it something else? Well...Duncan hasn't exactly been healthy, but they do have a pretty solid bench. But I find it surprising that they are below .500. And the team that everyone is surprised about is Indiana. Before this season, the J. O Neal that I remembered was the J. O Neal from the Portland days. I was definitely wrong. I now see why he was one of the top free agents. I don't see them beating any of the powers in the West, but they will undeniably be a force in the East this season.
Sacramento doesn't really surprise me. they played well last season without Webber. New Orleans surprised me. Well, more specifically, Baron Davis.
Ill admit... I doubted the Nuggets from day 1 because they were young. I didnt doubt their potiental but I said they wouldnt accomplish much beside getting used to the game this season. Boy was I wrong. LEADING the Midwest division. Totally blows my theory that young teams can't win.
Nuggets have a good mix of having young guys and vets with plenty of experience.Thats why they are winning.They play very good team defense and all of them are willing to work for each other.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">Miller, Camby, Lenard, Boykins.. Not as young as ya think.</div> Andre Miller is still realively young compared to the bulk of PGs in the L... and I was thinking more along the lines of their core players... Nene & Carmelo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting purehoops:</div><div class="quote_post">Andre Miller is still realively young compared to the bulk of PGs in the L... and I was thinking more along the lines of their core players... Nene & Carmelo.</div> I don't know about that, to me every Nugget brings something to the table. Team defense/offense. Lenard scoring 26 in a quarter. Someone always finding Melo for a layup/dunk. Nene dunking on everybody. Chris Anderson blocking the entire league. Boykins being the closer, Mr. Clutch. Miller just being Miller, steady as always. Kiki Vandeweghe is a genius.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting King James:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know about that, to me every Nugget brings something to the table. Team defense/offense. Lenard scoring 26 in a quarter. Someone always finding Melo for a layup/dunk. Nene dunking on everybody. Chris Anderson blocking the entire league. Boykins being the closer, Mr. Clutch. Miller just being Miller, steady as always. Kiki Vandeweghe is a genius.</div> KJ couldn't have said it any better. Nuggets are the suprise team this year, I thought it would just be a fun year for them to let Carmelo go, but they look like a contender. Great shooters in Boytkins, Lenard, and Jon Barry. Miller has always been solid, Lenard has been a solid scorer this year, Nene playing great, and Carmelo being the main difference out in Denver, and Chris Anderson IS a animal. Also don't forget about Marcus Camby, he's not doing much on the scoring side, but he brings 9 rebounds a game and 2 blocks.
Utah have surprised even me, I expected them to have a run at the playoffs, but not make it. They're looking like they will make the playoffs so far this season. Nuggets have been a surprise aswell. But the biggest surprise has been the Magic easily.
its the Denver Nuggets look at their season record last season and compared it to now the most improved team
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting tmac15:</div><div class="quote_post">Utah have surprised even me, I expected them to have a run at the playoffs, but not make it. They're looking like they will make the playoffs so far this season. Nuggets have been a surprise aswell. But the biggest surprise has been the Magic easily.</div> So true, so true, I cant believe my eyes that they are 1-18? Last year they made it to the playoffs and ALMOSt beat the Pistons coming in the 8th seed V the 1st Seed, and they fought to Game 7 to determine who advances, the Magic has a lot of potential, Tracy McGrady needs better leadership.... hes a dynamic in offense but in Defense he doesnt do nothing
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TimFlem:</div><div class="quote_post">The Magic when they loss to the SPURS</div> Why exactly is that a surprise? It would be a surprise if they won not lost.
Magic are a big surprise.. I didnt expect them to be like this. Nuggets/Jazz are a surprise too. Spurs.. I would think them or the Mavs would be leading the midwest.
