The NBA gets a much-needed break on Thursday, as no pro basketball games are scheduled for Christmas Eve. The league rages back in full force the very next day for Christmas, though, and there are some very interesting matchups and story-lines we all can enjoy for the holiday. The slate isn’t overly heavy, but it’s filled with enough action and drama to appease even the most intense NBA fan.

Let’s break down the top things to watch for during Friday’s NBA Christmas Day schedule:

Christmas Day Uniforms

One of the coolest aspect of the NBA Christmas games is the special custom basketball uniforms each team gets to wear. With five games on today’s holiday slate, we get to see 10 different versions to the cool new retro Christmas jerseys. That way, even if a game is out of hand or not particularly exciting, we at least get to see the players in new digs.

The Brow vs. Hassanity

While the new holiday uni’s are a fine touch, not much beats two goliaths facing off. Anthony Davis is easily one of the top talents in the league, but today he’s tasked with facing both Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside. It’s tough to remember a time we saw so much talent (and shot-blocking ability) in the same game.

Harden vs. Kawhi

It’s the age old battle of elite offense versus elite defense in this matchup, as James Harden tries to get past defensive ace Kawhi Leonard today. The Spurs as a whole are not to be messed with on either side of the court, but their defense is especially a challenge. Can a currently ineffecient Harden do enough to thwart of the Spurs? Will Kawhi even be assigned the task of slowing down Houston’s best offensive player? Probably not, and probably.

Battle of L.A.

The Lakers and Clippers are two very different teams heading in opposite directions, but this is still a fun battle between two Los Angeles teams that don’t lack star power or confidence. Blake Griffin, Chris Paul ad DeAndre Jordan fuel a Clippers team that struggled out of the gates but appears to be finding their second wind, while any game associated with Kobe Bryant is must-see TV these days. The Black Mamba has been on an unlikely run of vintage performances, but can it keep up on Christmas Day – his last ever in the NBA?

NBA Finals Rematch

The uni’s and all of the other stars on Christmas Day are just noise compared to easily the biggest matchup of the holiday season – the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors took down LeBron James and the Cavs in the NBA Finals last year and since then have lost exactly one game to start the 2015-16 NBA season. Will Cleveland hand the mighty Warriors loss number two?

Got something else worth tuning into the NBA games for on Christmas? Tell us in the comments below!

A few weeks ago we documented that the NBA would be issuing new Christmas Day uniforms. The custom basketball uniforms had undergone a bit of an overhaul, where they league ditched the tight sleeves and nicknames and instead opted for a more traditional, retro look. As it turns out, the league’s holiday gift-giving doesn’t stop in the real world.

Per reports, fans of the NBA 2K16 video game will be graced with the very same Christmas uni’s. A new update for the popular NBA video game will allow all 30 teams (even the ones not actually playing on Christmas Day this year) their own Christmas uniforms. Fans should be able to access the jerseys in all game modes, but the patch does not apply to already existing leagues. Anyone wanting to see the new Christmas NBA uniforms in their league would have to start a new game mode in order to use them.

NBA 2K16 isn’t stopping at just the new NBA Christmas Day uni’s, either, as they’ve also added three new shoes to their arsenal. Fans can pay up to land the new digs on their MyPlayer game mode. NBA 2K16 also took the time during this latest update to address numerous bugs and corruptions in the online system for various modes.

The recent overhaul is just in time for the holiday season, which both promotes an enhanced user experience for die hard NBA 2K16 gamers that already own the game, and also gives the franchise a mild boost as an improved product to purchase during Christmas.

If you’re not a fan of the game or simply don’t own/play it, you can catch the special Christmas Day NBA uniforms in real life when a select few NBA squads go to battle on December 25th.

Excited about the NBA Christmas Day uni’s one way or another? Tell us about it in the comments below!

*photo credit – operationsports.com

It’s not officially a new NBA season until everyone has their first loss. It’s also not officially the new NBA season until a bunch of trade rumors pour out into the league. The defending champion Golden State Warriors finally became the last team to lose this year and now we’re also starting to catch fire in the NBA rumor mill.

Needless to say, December is already shaping up to be a very interesting month and it could bleed into an even better January. It’s impossible to know what’s real and what will actually stick, but the recent buzz suggests we need to be ready for anything. Let’s touch on a few of the louder whispers around the league at the moment:

Celtics, Heat and Bulls Eye Boogie

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise, but we already have a quick head count of teams that are quite serious about chasing down Kings star center, DeMarcus Cousins. Per reports, the Celtics, Heat and Bulls are all in the mix and could (and possibly already have begun) pitch packages to land the superstar big man. It’d be somewhat shocking if the Kings actually did end up trading their best player, but there have been so many rotten rumors that it might be best for all parties to go their separate ways.

If Boogie is out, though, where does he go? Boston might have the best collection of assets to let go. They have a good amount of draft picks in addition to some nice young talent in Marcus Smart, James Young and R.J. Hunter. They also have solid bigs like Amir Johnson and Jared Sullinger that could be added to the mix. While Boston’s pitch would include solid quantity, it’s possible the quality isn’t right for one of the best players in the league.

Miami could be a little more attractive, as center Hassan Whiteside is a defensive menace with a very high ceiling. Rookie stopper Justise Winslow could also be an attractive piece as well, but it’s tough to see the Heat parting with him after being so high on him this summer.

There there are the Bulls, where basically no one is off limits save for probably Jimmy Butler. Chicago has soured greatly on Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson, so a package of them and a pick or two could be cause for pause.

The funny thing is this is just three teams that are now popping up. This DeMarcus Cousins situation is far from settled and we surely haven’t heard the end of it yet.

Houston, We Have a Problem

Dwight Howard is reportedly “extremely unhappy” in Houston, and why wouldn’t he be, as the Rockets have gone from barely missing out on the NBA Finals to probably not making the playoffs. Howard has been patient and quiet while playing major second fiddle to James Harden, but it turns out he’s not too keen on that and could want out. Being that he’s in a walk year, Houston could wisely use his sour mood to jump on a trade to make sure they get something and don’t lose him for nothing in free agency. Where he goes is anyone’s guess, but he’s still a very good center in a league with few of them, so he won’t want for suitors.

Bulls Looking to Loosen Up

Chicago has been stuck in a rut in the post all season, with only Pau Gasol really playing at a high level. Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah are seeing their roles and minutes jerked around like crazy, while the Bulls are reportedly also quite interested in freeing up room to start developing promising rookie big man, Bobby Portis. They already seemed to be slowly headed for divorces with Gibson and Noah, but their interest in playing Portis more could expedite that. It might be wiser to part with Gasol given that he’s in a walk year and is a defensive liability, but that seems unlikely. Look for Gibson and/or Noah to be moved before the trade deadline.

Hassanity

The obvious speculation of Miami possibly being interested in trading for Dwight Howard has Hassan Whiteside on high alert. So far reports suggest that the Heat have no intention of trading away their young center, but as currently constructed, they don’t have time to wait for him develop. With Miami in full-blown “win now” mode, swinging a trade for Howard doesn’t seem so crazy.

Terrence Being Shopped?

The Rockets have not exactly stormed out of the gates at just 12-13 this year an with Dwight Howard unhappy on top of that, they could be quite active in NBA trade rumors. It’s going to be difficult to see what’s real or not, but Terrence Jones being moved (possibly in addition to Howard being traded) is something to look for. The reality is he’s in a walk year and Houston has several big man in a bit of a log jam. Shipping off Jones would kill two birds with one stone and possibly it could help upgrade the point or get them another scorer off the bench.

More tidbits of NBA news and rumors will trickle in, and we’ll be sure to stop and discuss as things heat up even more. Got another hot rumor that we need to talk about? Bring it up in the comments below!

The Golden State Warriors finally lost on Saturday night, when the Milwaukee Bucks proved too much to handle on the road. Yeah, the Bucks snapped Golden State’s insane 24-0 run to begin the 2015-16 NBA season and made the defending champions go from unbeatable to just another team in a matter of hours. Still, the Warriors are title contenders on an obvious mission. Could that mission include the best regular season record the league has ever seen?

Let’s be clear: no one ever thought the Warriors were going 82-0. It’s never happened and it never will happen. That’s too many games of being healthy, of being on, of getting lucky and of gutting out those wins that seem next to impossible. Golden State even got one of those in double overtime the night before. They were on a high, but they were tired and the next day was their seventh game in a row on the road. Those road stretches are a brutal part of the schedule. That’s a new city almost every other day for over a week. That’s not just tough, that’s borderline unfair. Yet every team goes through it and if they’re lucky, they escape with a 4-3 record in a stretch like that. The Warriors went 6-1 on the back half of a ridiculous 24-1 start.

So, with that weird, silly, ridiculous dream of perfection wiped away, we can finally focus on the big one that is actually feasible: the Warriors posting the best record in NBA history.

First we need to consider the mountain top: the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls.

Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan teamed up to form quite the dynasty, as the Bulls dominated the 1990’s with six NBA titles. That 95-96 run was their best ever, however, as they went 72-10 to own the best finish in NBA history. That’s a winning percentage of 87.8%.

The Bulls understandably won the title that year, as their dominance didn’t stick to just the regular season, but also stretched into a great playoff run. The same could be likely for the Warriors, but nothing is ever certain in the competitive Western Conference.

That’s to be debated at a later date, however. The big question is whether or not Stephen Curry can lead this team to the best NBA record we’ve ever seen.

A 24-0 run to start the year certainly doesn’t hurt. Obviously if the Warriors keep going on crazy 24-0 runs before being handed their next loss, they’d finish somewhere around 78-4 or 79-3.

Is that feasible? It can’t be. Just like this crazy streak to open the season was shocking, the Warriors doing anything close to that three more times to finish out the year just seems like it’s asking too much. That’s not to say it’s impossible, can’t be done or these very Warriors aren’t capable. They’ve proven with their league-leading offense, depth and stingy defense that they can beat anyone, in any fashion and on any given night.

But replicating what they’ve just accomplished even one more time is probably unrealistic. In fact, to even tie the Bulls going forward, they’d have to finish the year on a torrid 48-9 run.

We’ve seen a fair amount of 60+ win season and we’ve seen loads of 50+ wins seasons. Only one team ever has notched even 70 wins. Can the Warriors get hot again (and again) until they reach the best record we’ve ever seen? Yes, I think they can, and honestly, I wouldn’t put anything past this team. But I don’t think it’s likely and certainly wouldn’t be on it.

Do you think the Warriors will break the single-season NBA record for wins in a year? Tell us in the comments below!

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!

The 2015-16 NBA season has been going on for a couple of weeks now and we’re really not that far off of what we expected going into the season. It’s early, some teams are banged up and the picture could really clear up in another month or two, but we still should have an idea as to who some of these teams really are.

The Warriors are undefeated and the Cavaliers have one loss. In fact, Cleveland hasn’t lost since their opener, having won eight straight. So last’ year’s NBA Finals reps are well on their way to a rematch.

But that might not happen. After all, it’s pretty safe to say no one expected the Warriors and Hawks to have the two best records in all of the NBA a year ago, and even fewer people would have given Golden State a serious shot at winning their first championship in 40 years.

That’s exactly what happened, though, so we need to continue to embrace the potential for the unexpected.

I doubt it’s to an extreme like that, however. That being said, it still makes you wonder which teams that weren’t in the Finals a season ago could get there now. The Pistons come off as an upstart unit, seemingly out of nowhere too, as they’ve got off to a solid 5-3 record. Detroit seems legit at first glance, as they have the inside/outside duo of Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, while summer trade acquisition Marcus Morris has also fit in well. They’re in the same division as the Bulls and Cavs, though, so their path up the ladder comes off as quite difficult.

There are the Toronto Raptors out East, too. The Raptors got off to a hot 5-0 start, dropped three in a row and still sit atop the Atlantic Division at 7-3. When DeMarre Carroll suits up this is a balanced offensive team that can defend at a high level. In a cakewalk division that only boasts the Celtics and Knicks as true contenders to their crown, Toronto is a lock for the playoffs and probably a top three seed.

The Eastern Conference has some other mild gems like the veteran Heat, the rising Magic and others, but if you’re looking for two teams that could make some real noise and be mildly surprising while doing it, it’s Detroit and Toronto.

But that’s just in the Eastern Conference.

Out West things still have to come together for struggling teams like the Clippers, Grizzlies, Rockets and Pelicans (1-8!), but the top teams are still the top teams, for the most part. The Warriors keep the crown at 10-0, the Thunder are back at 6-3 and the ageless wonders that forever are the Spurs are a stellar 6-2.

Injuries and slow starts have pushed the competition down, and it’s quite possible this first month has a lot of teams showing their true colors. Odds are the Cavs will make it through an improving Eastern Conference, and hey, if Kyrie Irving (knee) can make it back and the Cavs are 100%, they’ll probably live up to their preseason odds and win the whole thing – for the first time ever. And odds are they’ll have to do it against the team that beat them last year – Golden State. And if not them, just like the early records suggest, it will probably be the Thunder or the Spurs they have to try to take down.

But if you’re looking for someone else to realistically root for, teams like the Raptors and Pistons sure don’t leave you short on the fun.

Toronto and Detroit probably aren’t winning it all this year, but you just don’t ever know. Got a sweet sleeper of your own? Tell us in the comments below!

There are a lot of cool changes going on in the NBA these days. One of those changes is numerous teams are busting out new NBA uniforms. We showed you recently that the Cavaliers were preparing to unleash three new alternate uniforms, but they’re far from the only team preparing to don new digs for 2015-16.

The folks over at Sportsgrid recently busted out a full list of all the new custom basketball uniforms we can expect to see at some point during the new NBA season. The Milwaukee Bucks are featured with multiple new jerseys and shorts, while the New Orleans Pelicans just might take the cake in terms of most regrettable new uniform (the look n Anthony Davis’ face probably says it all).

Them or the Los Angeles Clippers, really.

But the Pellies and Clips aren’t alone. There are many highly questionable basketball uniforms gracing this list, with the new orange Oklahoma City Thunder uniforms definitely being one and the Atlanta Hawks new player-designed jerseys being another.

Check out the slideshow here and then let us know which new NBA uni’s you love or hate the most. Our personal favorite? How about any of the NBA Christmas Day uniforms? We broke those all down a while back, but several of them have a really nice, authentic and throwback feel to them. They probably own the top spot for us, even if that ends up having several of them notted up in a tie.