Surprise team of the year for you

[Jasper]

In my books its Indy.

Glad to see George bounce back from a horrible injury.... absolutely awesome for a come back player of the year award if it really is available.

But Ellis / and a few bigs making it all work , have them in a playoff seed right now.

That is amazing.

My second runner up has to be Hornets .... seems like they have figured it out.


yours ....

[SpaceJam]

I agree Pacers and Hornets

3rd would probably be the Mavs didn't expect them to start off like this

[Legends66NBA7]

Dallas and Charlotte are overachieving.

Milwaukee and Houston are underachieving.

[JohnMax]

Cleveland,

I expected them to struggle without their best player, Kyrie Irving, but Kevin Love has kept them competitive.

[ShawkFactory]

Cleveland,

I expected them to struggle without their best player, Kyrie Irving, but Kevin Love has kept them competitive.
:rolleyes:

[DoctorP]

Mavs.

[KG215]

Hornets, Celtics, Pacers, and Mavericks. Can't really decide who out of those four would be my biggest surprise. I'd probably go Mavericks and Hornets as my 1a and 1b and the Pacers and Celtics as my 2a and 2b, although I have no problem with someone saying the Pacers are a bigger surprise than any other team in the league this year.

I thought the Hornets finally had it figured out two years ago when they made the playoffs and, at times, held their own against the Heat despite not having Al Jefferson. But they sucked last year and were a pretty big disappointment. I remember them killing it during the preseason but you never take preseason performance to be a good indicator of how good (or bad) a team will be during the regular season. But they've got a top 10 offense and top 10 defense and their SRS ranks fifth in the league. It's still somewhat early, but they may be legit. Batum has been a great addition for them and might be having an All-Star caliber season.

I just can't really figure out how to feel about the Mavericks. They're 14th and 13th in the NBA in ORtg and DRtg respectively and their SRS of -0.38 ranks 17th in the league. Carlisle is a phenomenal coach and, if the Mavs continue their current 46-47 win pace and make the playoffs, then he deserves some serious consideration for COY. And Dirk averaging 17-7-2 on just a shade under 50/40/90 shooting is pretty amazing given that he's 37 and is in his 18th season. Deron Williams, Pachulia, and Powell all have been pleasant surprises and are probably the main reasons the Mavs aren't having the year everyone expected (non-playoff, losing record team) and instead are overachieving a little.

[TaLvsCuaL]

Bosoton and Charlotte. Both teams are playing excellent basketball.

[HylianNightmare]

Washington being this bad

[DMAVS41]

Hornets, Celtics, Pacers, and Mavericks. Can't really decide who out of those four would be my biggest surprise. I'd probably go Mavericks and Hornets as my 1a and 1b and the Pacers and Celtics as my 2a and 2b, although I have no problem with someone saying the Pacers are a bigger surprise than any other team in the league this year.

I thought the Hornets finally had it figured out two years ago when they made the playoffs and, at times, held their own against the Heat despite not having Al Jefferson. But they sucked last year and were a pretty big disappointment. I remember them killing it during the preseason but you never take preseason performance to be a good indicator of how good (or bad) a team will be during the regular season. But they've got a top 10 offense and top 10 defense and their SRS ranks fifth in the league. It's still somewhat early, but they may be legit. Batum has been a great addition for them and might be having an All-Star caliber season.

I just can't really figure out how to feel about the Mavericks. They're 14th and 13th in the NBA in ORtg and DRtg respectively and their SRS of -0.38 ranks 17th in the league. Carlisle is a phenomenal coach and, if the Mavs continue their current 46-47 win pace and make the playoffs, then he deserves some serious consideration for COY. And Dirk averaging 17-7-2 on just a shade under 50/40/90 shooting is pretty amazing given that he's 37 and is in his 18th season. Deron Williams, Pachulia, and Powell all have been pleasant surprises and are probably the main reasons the Mavs aren't having the year everyone expected (non-playoff, losing record team) and instead are overachieving a little.


I posted this in a Mavs thread earlier, but on the season...the Mavs are ranked 28th in shooting on wide open shots. For a majority of the season they were dead last.

How they have managed a top 15 offense so far...is beyond me. They almost never turn it over and Dirk/Deron have really been good, but man...if they start hitting shots (and they have had a ton of good looks all year) they could get a lot better on that end.

Conversely, the defense is over-rated imo. We are lucking out on teams hitting 3's against us. We give up a lot of 3's because of Dirk and his beyond slow rotations....and really just not having much on the perimeter outside of Wes.

It will be really interesting to see how Parsons fits in on this team. I'm not sure I like him and Dirk together all that much. Hopefully Rick plays him off the bench all year. The Deron/Dirk offense to start with Parsons off the bench makes a lot of sense if Parsons can play at least decent basketball starting in January.

Parsons looked good last night...so hopefully that minutes restriction is close to being lifted and we can have him playing 30 plus a night off the bench.

[MMM]

Dallas and Charlotte are overachieving.

Milwaukee and Houston are underachieving.

I would say Dallas is closer to overachieving than Charlotte. The Hornets are just a flat out solid team. They've improved their guard play and their defense looks as good as it was a few years ago which has resulted in them being top 10 offensively and defensively this season. While Dallas got off to a good start they are starting to show signs of mediocrity which bolsters their overachieving status.

Completely disagree with the Rockets. I've caught a few of their games and they are just a bad team. They've been better lately but remain very inconsistent. As for the Bucks i would agree just because their were a lot of moving parts that impacted their start. In the context of Parking coming off injury, Monroe's implementation, and Gannis continuing development then not only are the Bucks early struggles understandable but they are a candidate for marked improvement throughout the season. What's interesting is the Rockets will make the playoffs while the Bucks might not in the improved eastern conference.

[MMM]

Should Boston be surprising. They look like the same team that had the best record in the East in the 2nd half.

[DrakeTheSnake]

Pelicans are surprisingly bad.

[sd3035]

The West being garbage outside of the top 3

[JonatanRey]

To me, Mavs without a doubt.

They missed DAJ and a guy called Zaza is starting. Also, recovering from Achilles is not easy for Wesley Matthews, Parsons=non-factor (yet). Dirk has passed his prime, Deron has well passed his prime. Sign a Shaqtin a fool star and yet... 14-11. Impressive.

Does Carlisle have a statue outside the American Airlines Center?

[Derka]

Good surprise: Mavericks, Hornets, Pacers, Magic

Bad surprise: Rockets, Pelicans, Wizards, Hawks

I guess I could say the Warriors for a good surprise, too. We knew they were a damn good team...but I don't think any of us thought they were THIS good.

[MMM]

The West being garbage outside of the top 3

wasn't surprised by this but it might have to do more with SA and Golden State taking off even more so from the pack

[Legends66NBA7]

Should Boston be surprising. They look like the same team that had the best record in the East in the 2nd half.

Yeah, they aren't surprising. Infact, they are probably the best team in their division. Just aren't at full strength at the moment.

[MMM]

Yeah, they aren't surprising. Infact, they are probably the best team in their division. Just aren't at full strength at the moment.

only concern is with how well they preform among the elite. Seem like they can't get over the hump vs. top 5 teams but show respectable outings. The Raps are quietly a quality team this year and have a good resume with wins vs, OKC, SAS, LAC, Cle and two close losses to GSW. My concern for the Raps outside of that is how hard they ride Lowry. Last season they had a great start but rode him into the ground.

[Genaro]

On the positive side: Charlotte Hornets.
Mavs are playing better than I expect too

On the negative side: Pelicans, Houston (thought they're winning lately) and Wizards.

[Nets fan 93]

Washington being this bad
Why does that surprise you? Besides Wall and Beal they have average NBA starters.. Who is their PF? Dudley? Geez. Gortat is still solid but past his prime.

[pastis]

i dont think that the hornets will regress the longer the season goes. i see them in the playoffs. they have a well balanced team, a good mix of talent and system

[Proctor]

I really thought the Rockets would be a top seed in the West, and that says a lot considering I can't stand their team and "star" Harden.

[Jasper]

I would say Dallas is closer to overachieving than Charlotte. The Hornets are just a flat out solid team. They've improved their guard play and their defense looks as good as it was a few years ago which has resulted in them being top 10 offensively and defensively this season. While Dallas got off to a good start they are starting to show signs of mediocrity which bolsters their overachieving status.

Completely disagree with the Rockets. I've caught a few of their games and they are just a bad team. They've been better lately but remain very inconsistent. As for the Bucks i would agree just because their were a lot of moving parts that impacted their start. In the context of Parking coming off injury, Monroe's implementation, and Gannis continuing development then not only are the Bucks early struggles understandable but they are a candidate for marked improvement throughout the season. What's interesting is the Rockets will make the playoffs while the Bucks might not in the improved eastern conference.
Point on about Mav's , they acquired a great defensive center from the Bucks , and the Bucks should of just kept him , with Monroe.
I consider him more value than Hanson.
Mav's coach was under mind, when he was in Detroit. I knew then he was a great coach.

Any case Portland , Hawks, Rockets are teams that lost players and basically have two player deep rosters, and in this league you need 3-4 legit players to compete in this league.

Boston I think are not a playoff team , and it shows as they stand that they are seeded , but we are still talking weak east. I sense they will crumble at the end.

As I stated in OP Indy lost players ,changed their style and implimented Ellis into the fold.

[Springsteen]

Washington being this bad

Losing that veteran presence in Pierce really did a number, it seems.

[Jasper]

Losing that veteran presence in Pierce really did a number, it seems.
Gortat and Walls have that responsibility and if they did not learn from Peirce than that is the truth.

Wash. will make the playoffs ... they are to good to not make it as a team first mental team.

[Mass Debator]

Bad - Rockets, Pelicans, and Bucks
Good - Nugs, Blazers, and Pistons
Great - Celtics, Mavs, Hornets

[warriorfan]

Curry has had the biggest surprise