The 5 Biggest Surprises of the Young NBA Season

Too soon to pass judgment on the NBA season? No way! We've already handed out postseason awards (and less ludicrously, All-Star berths), and now that we're roughly a sixth of the way through the year, it's a fine time to look at some of the early season surprises, both good and bad. From some familiar Kings of L.A. to a couple new beasts in the East, these are the 5 Biggest Surprises of the Young NBA Season.

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Not an earth-shattering surprise perhaps, but when the season started with the Lakers losing their first two games (after dropping their two preseason matches with the Clippers) and Kobe fighting a wrist injury, lots of folks were ready to hand the town over to the Clippers. The Lake Show hasn't dropped a home game since its opening day loss to the Bulls, and Kobe's wobbly wrist hasn't prevented him from jacking up as many shots as ever (and making a decent percentage of them).

The Clippers have played a tough early-season schedule (that doesn't get any easier with a home game against Miami tonight) and are just a game behind the Lakers in the Pacific. They'll get to stake their claim to the L.A. throne this Saturday when they "host" their purple and gold Staples Center roommates in the most anticipated Lakers-Clippers game ever.

Maybe the T'Wolves weren't so damn stupid when they drafted Rubio in 2009. From the first game of the year, Rubio has been a delight, showcasing a court vision that's sure to please both passing aficionados and showboating fans alike. Minnesota is still in last place, but the Luke Ridnour Era in the Twin Cities is just about over, and that should be enough to warm Wolves fans' hearts this winter.

This was going to be a rough, lame duck year for Williams and the Nets once the season started and New Jersey couldn't swing a trade for Dwight Howard. But it's actually gotten worse. The Nets' primary Howard trade chip, Brooks Lopez, is out with a broken foot, Deron is having his worst season as a pro, and has been called out his coach for his on court demeanor. The Dodgers probably have a better chance than Williams of playing in Brooklyn next year.

The Hawks have been good enough to make the Eastern Conference semis for three years running. Can they break through to elite-level status this year? Hey, even we're not crazy enough to say that this soon, but early signs are encouraging. This week, the night after handing the Heat their first loss of the season in Miami, the Hawks traveled to Chicago and held the Bulls to 26 points in the first half before fading in the second half and losing by 2. They then dropped a home game to the Heat in the first of a back-to-back-to-back. But Atlanta rebounded to beat Charlotte and Chicago the next two nights. The Hawks' season will ultimately be judged in May (if they make it to June their year will be a success), but this team looks a little more resilient than past models.

Last spring, the Sixers were a surprise guest at the playoffs party, where they picked up their gift bag before being quickly dispatched by the Heat. They return essentially the same squad this year, and have ridden a balanced scoring attack (6 players in double figures, and Elton Brand averagin 9.6) to post the best record in the Atlantic Division. They take a 6-game winning streak into tonight's game against the Knicks.