This Is How It Starts...

Brand and Cassell- Clips Whip Sonics
Guess who’s relevant again? If Sammy keeps having big games like this the Clips are going to keep winning. This was easily one of his best games, ever. Cassell was brought into this young team to provide leadership and that’s exactly what he did for them against the Sonics. The game was also a coming out party for James “I went to college in Kentucky” Singleton who put up a double-double (10 boards, 14 points). Singleton will be able to get some major minutes this season as a backup 2-3 behind Magette and Mobley. Look for him to be a real surprise as the season progresses. The Clips win, the Lakes win; this is going to be an interesting year in LA.

Steve Nash- Transcendence to Greatness
Steve Nash led a Suns team to within a few shots of beating the Mavs in a double overtime thriller… Without Amare… Without Marion’s shot falling… In fact, besides Nash and Raja Bell, nobody on the Suns roster was shooting well. And still Nash took them to the edge. Sure they lost the game, but you can’t win every one and if you get the ball in the hands of your star when it matters, you can’t hope to do any better. Nash could have hit a few extra big shots, but that will come with time. He’s still learning what it takes to be the MVP.

Chicago Bulls- Team Resiliency
Nothing says crushing defeat like falling down 25 points to a team in its second year of existence. That’s the prospect the Bulls faced Wednesday night. It’s the third quarter, you’re down by a lot and your best player just went down. Last season the Bulls defined themselves as a group of warriors that, despite all odds being against them, persevered to win. If ever a team needed that mentality it was the Bulls and they needed right then, stuck in the third quarter with almost nowhere to go. With the prospect of facing the Nets, Spurs and Warriors in the next three games, this was a game the Bulls could not afford to loose. This was a moment they could not afford to let slip away. And so, like all of last season, the Bulls came clawing their way back, fighting hard and establishing a new member of their team as an important piece of the puzzle that will be their season. With Darius “Big Shot” Songaila earning a place for himself in the hearts of Chicago fans that night, the Bulls were able to fight back and win, in overtime. When you fall, get back up; the Bulls mantra from last season seems to have carried over to this season. Now, rather than a crushing defeat, they have a victory under their belt and are ready to face the Nets and the Champs. They are a truly resilient team.

Milwaukee Bucks- A team with something to Prove
Everyone hates the Bucks. Bogut’s too young. Simmons isn’t enough. Ford’s been out too long. Redd isn’t a big enough player to be “The Man.” There were just too many questions for a team in the toughest conference in the NBA. Then the trade happens and everyone loves the Bucks. Maglore is what they need. He’ll free it up inside. He’ll make everyone better. And now the Bucks are up 2-0. They have the best record in the best division: the only division where nobody lost their opener. People are still sleeping on the Bucks but they won’t be for long. This team is going to be better than the darlings of the NBA; that is Lebron and the Cavs. They might be better than the Bulls and they’re certainly going to be better than every Eastern Conference team outside the central division except Miami. Bogut looks like the Bucks best big since a guy named Lew. Ford looks like the best point guard in the East. Simmons and Redd? Well, they’re killing it. Absolutely killing it. This is a team with something to prove, and soon, they’re going to be proving they’re right to a lot of teams around the league.

Kobe and Phil- They’re Back
Kobe and Phil know how to win. Kobe and Phil want to win. Kobe and Phil win. Despite the best efforts of Lamar Odom’s shot and Kwame Brown’s concentration, the Lakers edge the Nuggets in a last second victory. Smush Parker emerges as a relevant point guard putting up 20 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. This is going to be an interesting year in LA.

Iverson Looses... Melo Looses.... Peja Looses... These guys were supposed to be really good, right? Looks like they're falling hard on thier backs.