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The 4 Biggest Early Season Surprises

November 9, 2008

We haven’t even gotten through the first two weeks yet and some things have happened that have taken even the most attentive NBA fans by surprise. Of course not everything has been a surprise. The Celtics and Lakers are in first place as expected, Dwight Howard and Lebron James continue to dominate, and Inside the NBA is as entertaining as ever, but this list takes a look at 5 things we didn’t see coming.

4. The Spurs are 1-4.

The Spurs are known for their slow starts, but this is ridiculous.  Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are both putting up good numbers, but the Spurs can’t seem to guard anybody.  They’ve only held 2 of their opponents under 100, at 98 and 99 points.  That’s not the defense this team is known for.   Now with Parker joining Ginobili on the injured list, things are not looking good in the city of the Alamo.

3. Tony Parker dropped 55 on the Timberwolves.

The T-Wolves aren’t exactly the best competition in the world, but since when did Tony Parker become MJ dropping the double nickel?  For the last 3 years this guy has averaged just under 19 points per game, like clockwork.  18.9, 18.6, 18.8.  He even opened the season with 32 and his season low was 22 in his first four games.  Unfortunately, Parker is out the next 4 weeks with an ankle sprain.  It’ll be interesting to see what kind of pace he can keep up when he returns.

2. The Atlanta Hawks are undefeated.

Don’t look now, but the Hawks are undefeated at 5-0.  It was only last year this team finally moved past joke status to become and up-and-coming team, and now they are tops in the East?!?  Ok, so it is only 5 games and they aren’t going to be the #1 seed in all likelihood, but they are among select company with the Lakers being the only other undefeated team (as of tipoff Sunday night).  The Hawks have won at New Orleans and Orlando, too, so it’s not like they are beating up on chumps.  Don’t be surprised if this team is hosting an opening round playoff series.

1. Allen Iverson traded to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, Antonio McDyess, and Cheick Samb.

Ok, if you predicted this, you must be Nostradamus because there’s no way I could imagine Chauncey Billups not wearing a Pistons jersey in early November.  Iverson being traded?  Eh, stranger things have happened, but if you told me he was traded I would assume he had a hissy fit first and refused to play.  That was not the case.  This was simply a straight-up blockbuster trade the Pistons and Nuggets both felt would improve their team in one way or another, on the court and/or in the balance sheet.  It doesn’t surprise me the Pistons made a move as they needed to do try something new if they want to dethrone the Celts, but trading Billups was shocking.  He’s a clutch performer and has even earned the nickname “Big Shot”.  You usually don’t want to give up your team leader and go-to guy, but sometimes you have to to get a guy like Iverson.  Kudos to the Pistons and Nuggets for shocking us with a big deal that makes sense on both sides early in the season rather than making us wait until the trade deadline like most teams do.

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Written by HoopsAvenue · Filed Under Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, General NBA, San Antonio Spurs 

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