10 Reasons The NBA Is Already Better This Year Than Last

We love guys like Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Steve Nash. They've had bigger impacts on the game than 95 percent of players ever will, giving NBA fans supreme entertainment for over a decade. None of them are done on an individual level by any means (especially Allen), but both the Celtics and Suns have lost a step and find themselves with 4-8 records. As the old heads have fallen off, the whippersnappers have risen. In this season's case, the 76ers (10-3), Pacers (9-3) and Clippers (7-3) are newbies to the top shelf. Watching young teams come together—the Pacers and 76ers a bit more organically than the Clippers—always makes for more exciting, unexpected games that anybody can enjoy. Instead of talking about the same good teams, we get to discuss new matchups and wonder "How long will it last?" and "Are they legit?" Something about the unknown just makes for better basketball. Young'ns, FTW! #notapredator

With last year's slow start, all the talk about the Miami Heat was focused on their chemistry or lack thereof. After coming within two games of winning an NBA championship, the Heat have come back more cohesive and hungry than they were last season. LeBron and D-Wade are still connecting for ridiculous highlight plays but surprising role players and the addition of Shane "Ugly Head" Battier have made this team the one to beat once again. Every team that plays Miami gives it their all, making every Heat game must-see TV this season.

The fun thing about having one of the league's biggest stars on the trade market is that your lowly squad (yes you, Nets and Warriors fans) actually has a chance of landing him. True, the 'round the clock Dwight Howard rumor updates can be annoying, but don't lie, you know you get just a little excited thinking Superman might come save your team. Soundtrack, please!

The wound is still gaping. A mangled gash left in the center of Cavaliers fans' backs from the unsharpened, rusty knife that LeBron skewered Cleveland with. It's the type of damage that only a championship will fully heal, but Cleveland is tough. They've waited before and they can continue to wait, especially when they've already picked up Kyrie Irving, a stud point guard out of Duke who already looks up to NBA speed. It took 63 excruciating losses (including 26 in a row) to earn the No. 1 pick, but that pick has already given the Cavs 6 wins in their first 12 games. Competing with the Timberwolves' Ricky Rubio for Rookie of the Year, Irving is averaging 17.7 points 5.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game and has topped 20 points in five consecutive games. It looks like their near future won't be too bad after all.

The way Kobe's playing so far, it's hard to believe he's the same guy that let his team get swept by the Dallas Mavericks last year. As reported, Kobe traveled to Germany to undergo an experimental (but popular) platelet-rich plasma therapy in his right knee and left ankle. That's the same procedure Bartolo Colon underwent, which basically saved his shoulder and bought him a few more years. It looks like it's doing the same for Kobe, who has been on an absolute tear, becoming the oldest player in NBA history to score 40 points in four consecutive games last week. The Lakers were 3-1 in that stretch and are 10-5 as they continue to to battle the Clippers for the lead in the Pacific division.

Just when you thought the trio of Kenny, Chuck and EJ couldn't get better, they add The Diesel to the mix. It's so much better to see Shaq giving entertaining commentary rather than seeing him overweight and stumbling down the hardwood like he was last season. He's already been caught cussing on national TV and chumped Ernie up for some answers. They make staying up past your bedtime worth it with their off-beat humor and honesty. We kind of feel bad for C-Webb, though. He's been designated to the D-League (NBA TV) to sit alongside Rick Kamla and D3.

Everyone knew that when the Chris Paul deal went down the Clippers would no doubt improve as a team. But becoming contenders and not only stealing some spotlight from the Lake Show but seemingly being the better collective team, too? We thought we'd never see the day that Donald Sterling did something good for this team. Thanks to a little help from The Godfather a.k.a David Stern, the future looks pretty bright in Lob City.

Hate Mondays? There's an NBA game for that. Fuck up your interior by spilling a cherry slushie? There's an NBA game for that. Get dumped by your girlfriend because you love Kevin Durant more than her? Uhh...you may have some issues. Anyway, we never thought we'd say this, but we kind of like the shortened season. Not only are there games from around the league every single day, but there are times when your favorite team is playing three nights in a row and five times a week. It's impossible to stay in a bad mood when you can come home and watch basketball everyday. The NBA came back with a vengeance.

After reaching the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons last year, the Knicks added some defense to their roster by signing Tyson Chandler in the offseason. But New York hasn't improved to become a serious contender in the East. Instead, they've regressed (currently 6-7, 8th in the East) and have lost to teams like Golden State, Toronto, and Charlotte. Despite having offensive All-Stars in STAT and Melo, the Knicks currently rank 26th in the league in field goal percentage (41.7%). There's something we love about seeing big market teams splurge on big names only to fall flat on their face. #dangilbertsteez

The T'Wolves loony GM, David Kahn, isn't looking like a fool now is he? Many folks (including us) were ready to hunt him down after he drafted point guards, Johnny Flynn and Ricky Rubio with consecutive picks. Rubio is the real deal and his savvy on the court can be attributed to playing professionally in Europe since the age of 15. He's averaging 11 points and 8 assists a game, which has earned him the starting gig. With him, Kevin Love, and Michael Beasley, Minnesota has a talented, young core for the future and a team no one wants to face.