Surprise, Surprise

After about 1 month into the NBA season, there are always feelings of the “same-old-stories,” but what has surprised people the most so far? The Celtics' raging start? Isaiah Thomas squandering the Knicks' off-season improvements? The southwest division being over-loaded?

Well honestly, the Celtics have only beaten 2 real playoff teams, Isaiah will always seem to confuse me, and no matter how you draw the division lines one division is always stacked.

So what really makes you stop and say “Hmm, that was unexpected?” Well, like Rasheed Wallace not getting a technical for a full month - here are the top surprising stories of the NBA so far.

1. A Skinny Durant Doesn’t Matter-

Being undersized is hard to pull off in the NBA, unless you have incredible speed or have a basketball I.Q. equivalent to 3 Hubie Browns. Yes, being skinny is quite difficult for an NBA player. However, Kevin Durant proves to be the anomaly to this theory. Although the Sonics are struggling to win, the bright spot of Durant’s play has brought a light to Seattle that would even make a young ‘Glove’ and ‘Reignman’ pause to take a look. Durant already has a nice all around game that can be developed a lot further - perhaps he should start with bench pressing? OK, that was low, but all he really needs are a few more young talented players to complement his game and a nifty nickname. I put my vote into “Slim Jim” so a few years down the line you can imagine announcers calling “Slim Jim for 3… SNAP!”

2. Lakers- from trade to made

Trade Kobe? What? Why? Who would ever do that? It’s almost nostalgic to think that Kobe really wanted to be traded from this team about a month ago. Now, he is giving high-flying body bumps to Jordan Farmar and lobbing up balls to Andrew Bynum in the lane. The Lakers start with an 8-6 record with impressive wins over the Suns, Jazz, Rockets, and Pistons. There is some young talent twinkling here and there. Ironically, the trade rumors really helped the team grow up fast to make a statement that they can be legitimate contenders in the near future. This can be seen by the uncanny bench point production from the first 15 games of the season- it has been so good you would think Kobe was coming off of it. If they bring in a consistent role player or if Lamar Odom becomes a greater force, then look for this team to make some noise (that is not whining) in the playoff picture.

3. Bulls’ Blunder

My hometown beloved Chicago Bulls… It is definitely true when someone says that there is a thin line between love and hate. First off, what really surprised me was the lack of moves that John Paxson made during the off-season. I think he is too accustomed to the mindset that the off-season is ‘break time’. So while many other teams got at least a step better, Paxson just sat on his draft pick (Joakim Noah) and thought that the Bulls would be fine. Sadly, this lack of management savvy is coming back and biting him in the… well ok, the Bulls, especially Paxson, need to concentrate on 2 lingering issues that have crippled them worse than Kenyon Martin’s knees. [1] No inside scoring – a problem since the Eddy Curry trade to New York, and as a result Aaron Gray is the best post player in the lineup. [2] No all-star – Luol Deng is the closest, but no cigar. It is a sheer naïveté to think that the Bulls can evolve into a championship team without any additions or fixing at least one of these problems. And if nothing evolves by the all-star break, Chicago may have to start rebuilding from rebuilding.

4. Miami- Party in the city where the heat is gone

OK, so they were without D. Wade for the first few games, and Shaq got called out for being lazy so now the diesel is trying harder. But overall, there isn’t that feeling of fear when playing this team like there was two years ago. That killer championship edge has been lost over the past year accompanying an early first round exit of last years' playoffs. Maybe it is the adjustment of Ricky Davis coming to the lineup, or maybe it is the lack of bench production that they have lost via free agency. Well, regardless of the issue, the Heat are now looking from the bottom of the barrel. This might be an issue later on since Shaq is accustomed to resting some games to be ready for the playoffs. This year does not seem like that luxury will be available. He’s either going to get no rest or an early vacation depending on how the season pans out.

5. New Orleans- Gellin’

The Hornets definitely have talent, and to be on such a solid start in the strongest division is admirable. But let's look at the team's makeup. Other than Chris Paul, the Hornets’ team does not scream playoff caliber. Actually, looking at the Hornets’ roster on paper you would initially think that this was a list of ‘NBA lost souls.’ However, fortunately for the Hornets, the players are being utilized to the fullest. Tyson Chandler found himself on team USA over the summer and has become a rebound machine. David West can hit 20’ jumpers with one hand on one foot with one eye open. Peja Stojakovic looks like the Peja of old draining 3-balls like nobody’s business. And Chris Paul… is Chris Paul. The Hornets are the top jump-shooting team in the NBA and probably will continue to be as long as Paul is setting them up for open looks. New Orleans is hosting All-Star Weekend this year, and the Hornets might be sitting pretty in that Southwest division. So with this nice core emerging from the bayou, there might be something to look forward to other than Mardi Gras this season.

-D.Choi

Loyalty

Where do you draw the line on loyalty? To a team? To a city? When does allegiance to a team start? Can it end?

I live in Chicago, a city dedicated to their teams as much as any. The Bulls haven't won in 9 years, the Bears in 22, and the Cubs in 103. Sure, the White Sox won in in 2005; but to me, they don't count. Sorry, but it's less than two years later and everyone forgot.

We love and hate our players as many cities do. We aren't as bad as Philadelphia (Donovan! Come back to the Chi!) in regards to hating their players if they haven't done anything for them lately. But in Chicago, when we embrace someone, it's hard to let them go. There are tons of 'what-ifs' and 'if-onlys' and 'just-whens.' When someone becomes a hero in Chicago, they are remembered forever. If you were the backup punt returner on the practice squad of the 1985 Bears, you can't go anywhere in Chicago and not claim a free meal. Chicago residents will refuse to believe that Air Jordan even played on the Wizards. Sammy Sosa's sweetest memories will still be in confines of Wrigley Field (achoo!). Scottie Pippen is embraced at all the Chicagoland Pita Inns.

It even hurts when we bench our players; I'm glad Rexstacy is benched for Griese. I think we'll have a better chance to not lose (not win... we'll have less bleeding with Griese), but somewhere in my heart, I have a feeling of sorrow to know that that Rex will not stand behind Olin and unleash the dragon.

But snap back to reality, oh there goes Rabbit, he choked... yea... back to the subject of loyalty. In Chicago, if you are a Packers fan, a Pistons fan, a Cardinals fan, or a Knicks fan, you are hated and ostracized. Okay, Knicks fans are just laughed at, but you get the point. Especially if you've been living in Chicago for a long time, it just doesn't make sense to be a fan of a different team.

But, can't it have something to do with when you grew up? I grew up with the Bulls during an era where Jordan was king and not much else. I didn't know other teams were allowed to win titles when MJ was on the court (they didn't). I grew up with Sosa fever running rampant and watching two stud pitchers lead the major leagues in Ks (Now, they lead the major leagues in DNPs). So, naturally I relished in Cubdom and Bullsdom at the young ages where I started to watch the sports.

(Don't kill me, Chicagoans) But when I started to get into football, circa 1995-1997, the Bears sucked. Erik Kramer? Rashaan Salaam? Raymont Harris? Bobby Engram. Alonzo Spellman? Spare me please. Watching the playoffs, I had to choose a team that I would stick with for the rest of my life- I chose Pittsburgh. Could you blame me? They had a stellar defense and an offense to drool over. The Jaw, Coach Cowher, ran the ball like there was no tomorrow, Bettis made linebackers cry, and Kordell was "Slash." Backed by a great tradition and a winning attitude, I fell in love with Pittsburgh. I followed them through and through with every heartbreak and my dedication paid off when we won "one for the thumb" in 2005.

But around 2002, when the Cardiac Bears started to win games, I started to watch and saw a team with characteristics similar my Steelers: hard-nosed running and a stellar defense. I like to watch the Bears and I like to cheer for them; I pay attention to them since I listen to AM radio. But when the Steelers and Bears play, I'm yellow and black, not blue and orange. But I consider myself a Bears and a Steelers fan and I'm lucky to see my teams having recent success. Is it wrong? One is AFC and the other NFC. I have to admit, I am loyal to both teams.

I am loyal to the city of Chicago, but I just don't recognize the White Sox. So many jumped on the wagon in 2005. Don't deny it. The true white sox fans- I applaud you for your dedication. But to the ones who decided to keep the Cubbie blue in the closet in exchange for White Sox Black (White Sox Black? How does that make sense??), I scoff at you. The decision came and you made the wrong one; and now, you want to change back? Many allegiances have ended since people want to cheer for a winner- something the White Sox are not anymore. Something happened, maybe Ozzie got some of the crack that was dealt at The jail Cell.
If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a Cubs fan through and through. I never minded the White Sox until all their "fans" started to poke fun at me and my team. But it got me to think- why are so many individuals who bled White Sox black (still not making sense) now denying it ever happened? Lost allegiance? I guess so.

In any case, I'm not posting this to try and offend anyone. I'm just trying to get a read on what people feel about loyalty to a team. I have favorite players on opposing teams that I'll follow regardless of the team they're on. I have respect for Brett Favre, Rip Hamilton, and Albert Pujols. Is it okay to be a Packers fan in Chicago? Is it okay to cheer for both Chicago baseball teams? I mean, Indianapolis isn't too far.. can I cheer for Peyton?