The 2015-16 NBA season has been a mixed bag. On one hand the defending champion Golden State Warriors have looked very much deserving of last year’s title run (at the moment they’re still undefeated), but beyond them the league boasts numerous disappointments.

The Cavaliers, Rockets, Pelicans, Wizards, Clippers and Hawks are just a handful of would-be contenders that just haven’t been living up to expectations. Luckily the NBA does have an answer for the slow start, but we’ll have to wait until mid-season to see it in action: the 2016 All-Star uniforms.

The NBA and Adidas recently announced the new custom basketball uniforms for the league’s All-Star extravaganza, to be worn by the NBA’s top players on February 14th in Toronto, Canada.

The league issues new All-Star uniforms every year, but this is the first NBA All-Star break held outside of the states, so it’s nice to see them get it right for a chance. A lot of the past year’s All-Star uniforms have been a little over the top and too modern-looking, but this year’s edition does a good job of giving each side (blue and red) solid, bold colors with a slick design that looks to be a solid mix between vintage and modern.

Per the report, the Eastern Conference is slated to don the red uniforms, while the Western Conference will wear the white uniforms with blue trim.

Our take is the NBA and Adidas did a great job this time around and got it right. In past years, the logos felt out-dated and forced or the jersey colors clashed with the shorts colors. For one reason or another, the All-Star uniforms of old were generally big misses. This year seems to be a hit.

The only thing that could make it more interesting is knowing already who will actually be wearing the new All-Star uni’s. For that info, of course, we’ll have to wait.

Like the new All-Star uniforms or like an older version better? Tell us in the comments below!

*photo from nba.com

Yesterday we took a timeout from an entertaining 2015-16 NBA season to call out the NBA squads that were supposed to take a big step forward, but so far haven’t. A few talented teams have so far failed to live up to expectations, and while that’s a bummer for them, there’s always the other side of things – the positive side. For every bad team, there is another finding it’s way, and while there are certainly a few teams that aren’t where many expected them to be, there are a handful that have definitely exceeded expectations to this point.

It’s quite early in the NBA season. It’s only just December 4th, after all. Things could change violently in just the next month, as one of the struggling teams we took a look at yesterday could ascend to the top of the league, and a surprise team doing well right now could plummet. But that’s the point of analysis in the here and now. At least for this moment, there are a few teams that have shocked us all in a good way and that deserves a spotlight, even if it’s ever so mild. With that, let’s give credit where credit is do and discuss the top five NBA teams that are currently topping preseason expectations:

Orlando Magic

The Magic got a new coach in Scott Skiles but changed little else, as they opted to develop their young talent and hope a defensive-minded teacher could train them to improve from within. It’s been working, as the Magic have ripped off five wins and suddenly are within striking distance for first place in the Eastern Conference’s Southeast Division. Orlando continues to toy with their rotations and need to perform better on the road, but have already shown huge progress as a defensive team (allowing just 99 points per game). It’s anyone’s guess if it can hold up in the same division as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks, but for now the Magic are one of the nicest surprises of this young NBA season.

New York Knicks

The Knicks have slipped a bit lately but few teams have been a nicer surprise, as rookie phenom Kristaps Porzingis has become a permanent fixture of New York’s starting lineup en route to a solid 9-10 start. New York isn’t yet a consistent winner above the .500 mark but they’re already in the Eastern Conference playoff picture and still have plenty of upside to tap into with Carmelo Anthony on board. The Knicks have some work to do on offense but have been a solid defensive team and remain just a couple games back in a soft Atlantic Division. The Knicks probably won’t get the crown this year, but after being one of the worst teams in the league a year ago, this quick and steady progress is rather welcomed.

Detroit Pistons

Detroit had been a laughingstock for years after they broke up their title contending roster, as the Pistons had major free agent gaffes in Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Detroit has picked up the pieces over the past two years, however, and with center Andre Drummond as the main focus at both ends of the court, the Pistons are back to a bullying, physical brand of basketball. It’s working, too, as they’re giving up just 97 points per game and are a solid 10-9 through the season’s first 19 games. That doesn’t sound amazing, but after the struggles this franchise has been through recently, they’re finally starting to see the fruits of their labor.

Charlotte Hornets

Charlotte regressed last season into an offensively challenged team that could only win with defense. They opted to aim a little higher on the offensive side of things this summer, and brought in reinforcements via Jeremy Lin and Nicolas Batum. Charlotte even targeted a big man they could groom behind Al Jefferson and brought in Frank Kaminsky to be a future star. Jefferson is sidelined and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is out for the year, but the Hornets have still improved after a down year, as their offense is light years better than it was last season and they still possess a solid defensive edge. Once they get a healthy Al Jefferson back they’ll really know where they stand, but so far they’ve been dominating at home (8-3) and hold a respectable 10-8 overall mark.

Dallas Mavericks

Last but certainly not least are the Mavs, who were supposed to fall from borderline 8th seed to out of the playoffs. That was the popular thought after Mark Cuban and co. missed out on prized free agents, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeAndre Jordan. Dallas rebounded by landing point guard Deron Williams and shooting guard Wesley Matthews, however, and even landed center Zaza Pachulia in a trade. They’re still getting healthy across their roster, but have gotten off to a hot start and are in contention for the Southwest Division crown at 11-8. Once thought to be on the way down, the Mavs are fueled by a seemingly revitalized Dirk Nowitzki and an underrated core.

Got a team that has been even more impressive? Tell us about them in the comments below!

There’s nothing like failing to live up to lofty expectations. It can be even worse in the NBA, when people can see you coming up short on basically a nightly basis. For some NBA teams, the how and why isn’t so bad and can even be understandable. Injuries and new faces can mess with your talent level and chemistry, and a slow start is often to be expected. For others, the red flag list is much longer and the inability to capitalize on talent is incredibly frustrating.

There is a lot of basketball to be played, but right now there are some very specific NBA squads that are disappointing their fan bases at a high level. Let’s take a look at the top five:

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are the first team that comes to mind that is just not getting it done. Just a couple wins away from the NBA Finals a year ago, the Rockets have been so bad that they got head coach Kevin McHale fired. For some reason the organization decided it was his fault, and not the players that are clearly giving little to no effort on the defensive end on a consistent basis. James Harden’s offense has been touch and go, but that’s understandable for a star player that gets keyed in on by opposing defenses. His horrific effort on the defensive side of the ball, however, is unacceptable. On top of that, Ty Lawson has been a free agent bust and Dwight Howard has been in and out of the lineup due to rest (back). Even when he’s on the floor, he’s not getting enough touches on offense to make a difference. This team is totally lost and at 8-11, doesn’t look like a legit title contender at the moment.

Milwaukee Bucks

No one thought the Bucks were about to win it all or anything, but after playing sound defense and team first offense last year, they did look like a team on the rise. Jason Kidd has had to deal with some injuries and inserting a new big offensive piece in Greg Monroe, but it’s still just not working. Monroe has been a sieve on defense and the offense has taken a major dip, while one-time star point guard Michael Carter-Williams no longer looks like an asset. The Bucks don’t defend like they did last year and they don’t have enough shooting to make up for their mental lapses on defense. At 7-12, the Bucks may slide out of the playoff picture in an increasingly more competitive Eastern Conference.

Washington Wizards

Washington might be even more disappointing, as they can’t seem to play consistent ball in any regard. Their last two games are a perfect example of their woeful inconsistency, as they went into Cleveland and crushed the Cavaliers and turned right around and lost to the Lakers at home. It just doesn’t make any sense. They have the size and shooting to play with anyone and when they force the tempo, it’s extremely tough to keep up with them. The biggest problem is their best player (John Wall) isn’t an efficient shooter and they don’t defend at a high level. It’s a recipe for disaster and with a 7-9 start, the Wizards look to be regressing after taking positive steps the past two years.

Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks had the best record in the Eastern Conference a year ago and even made it to the conference finals. This year they probably won’t be able to say either of those things. The Hawks certainly aren’t a bad team, but the loss of DeMarre Carroll clearly stings and the consistency they stretched over last year just isn’t there anymore. Neither is their tenacious team defense, as they’re a pedestrian 12-9 out of the gates and giving up over 100 points a nigh. Atlanta is a solid team that should still make the playoffs and could even still win their division, but they’re definitely not the over-powering team we saw last year.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers ended San Antonio’s title run before it began last year and pushed the Houston Rockets to their limits before caving. That was a devastating blow after being up 3-0 and being one quarter away from their first Western Conference Finals ever and by the early looks of things, they haven’t recovered. There are a ton of issues with this team, as Chris Paul keeps getting hurt, teams are defending Blake Griffin better and the small forward position is unfortunately a rotating door. Los Angeles is still a show on offense and is at their best at home, but they’re inconsistent and need to improve on defense. There is still time to turn things around and be the elite team they’re expected to be, but a sluggish 10-9 start isn’t overly encouraging.

New Orleans Pelicans

No one has failed worse than the Pelicans. After making the playoffs last year, Anthony Davis vaulted himself into superstar status and many figured the Pellies would be yearly participants in post-season play. That could still happen, but The Brow has battled several injuries to start the year and the team has been incredibly unhealthy with five key players missing extended time. Tyreke Evans just returned to the lineup two games ago and could play a key role in getting the season back on track, but the Pelicans are still 4-15 in the brutal Western Conference. It’s highly likely this is too ugly of a hole to crawl out of.

Disappointed even more by another team or think we’re knocking one of these teams too harshly? Let us know in the comments below!

The big names are always going to be involved in the swirling NBA trade rumors. The reality, though, is it’s pretty unlikely we see guys like DeMarcus Cousins or Kevin Durant traded. Boogie is really all Sacramento has and you just don’t trade a guy like KD. There are still other big names that could (or should) be shipped off in a trade for one reason or another, and the rumors have already started up. Let’s break down five star players that could be on their way out of town during the 2015-16 NBA season:

Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls

D-Rose was once a superstar that was putting the Bulls on his back and possibly carrying them to the NBA Finals. Then he got hurt every day for like three years. While now fairly healthy, Rose simply isn’t the same guy he was roughly four years ago and he probably never will be. He also is a walking injury risk and with a new star to lean on in Jimmy Butler, it only makes sense to move on by trading Rose away. If the Bulls think they can win it all with Rose, then fine, but betting on him is definitely a risky move.

Ty Lawson, PG, Houston Rockets

Lawson was acquired to be an upgrade at the point and to relieve James Harden of play-making duties. Lawson hasn’t panned out at all, as he plays atrocious defense and can’t hit a shot to save his life. That’s led to a demotion from starting to a bench role and recently he barely played in a tight game. It’s gotten ugly and it could be a matter of time before the Rockets realize he just isn’t a fit. Ideally he figures his role out, starts knocking down shots and helps take some pressure off of Harden in terms of handling the rock. So far, though, not so good.

Brandon Jennings, PG, Detroit Pistons

Jennings needs to get healthy first (torn Achilles), but the writing on the wall is that Reggie Jackson is Detroit’s future at the point guard position. That makes Jennings the odd man out and if he can show he’s back to normal upon returning, the Pistons should make him available in trade talks. Numerous teams could make him a star again, while he’d be a great offensive spark off the bench for the right contender.

Jordan Clarkson, G, Los Angeles Lakers

If the Lakers want to make D’Angelo Russell into a star point guard, they probably have to get rid of Kobe Bryant and Jordan Clarkson. Trading Bryant is out of the question, but he’ll be off the books next year when he ultimately retires. Clarkson won’t be, and while immensely talented, he’s probably more ideal as a project point guard. He can man the two in a pinch, but his jumper probably isn’t good enough to consistently start at shooting guard. He also gives up size, but any of his limitations are masked as a point guard, where some of his best attributes (quickness, handle, creation, penetration) are wasted at the two in L.A. The Lakers need to build for the future and it’s possible Clarkson is a big part of that. But if he’s just the two guard, they might as well trade for some assets to improve elsewhere.

Taj Gibson, PF, Chicago Bulls

The Bulls have to make a decision and trade one of Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol or Taj Gibson. If they’re smart, they’d trade one of Gasol or Noah and let Gibson either make it into the starting lineup or be one of the first guys off the bench. Nikola Mirotic has played himself into a key role and is a long-term piece to the puzzle, but Noah is a major offensive liability and Gasol tends to be a problem on the defensive end. Both have value still and would bring back a good amount out on the trading block. But do they have more value than Gibson? Probably, which is why the Bulls should trade the younger big man for whatever they can get. The reality is Gibson is a strong two-way player that is wasting away on Chicago’s bench. It’s time they either make room for him to play a key role, or get value in return for him.

Markieff Morris, PF, Phoenix Suns

The Suns burned Markieff forever when they traded away his brother (Marcus) without really ever asking him about it. They’re an NBA organization and can do as they please, but his summer trade demands suggested he was none to pleased. His rocky start to this year can’t help his status with the team, nor his overall value. Perhaps the Pistons pair the brothers back him with another deal or a contending team pays up for the versatile big man. One thing seems clear: his time in the desert is running out.

Ryan Anderson, PF, New Orleans Pelicans

It’s really nice to have a stud shooter like Rando coming off the bench or when you want to go small, he can shift to the starting lineup. But Ryan Anderson is not a mere rotation player. He’s shown time and time again he’s a 20+ points per game offensive star and he also can clean the glass. With Anthony Davis playing his position most nights, Rando is being semi-wasted in New Orleans. The sad thing is he’s also one of their best players, but if the Hornets were smart, they’d send Anderson to a team that actually plans to use him and get some guard depth in return.

Dwight Howard, C, Houston Rockets

The big man has done as he’s pleased since leaving Orlando and it seems if it’s his call, he’s found his NBA destination in Houston. Maybe the Rockets feel the same, but so far his tenure has been marred by injuries and failed expectations in the playoffs. Nearing 30 and in a walk year, the Rockets could opt to cut their losses and deal Howard for assets to do a quick rebuild so they can compete again at a high level in 1-2 years.

Think these guys are staying put or another big name not listed is getting dealt? Tell us in the comments below!