The NBA Regular Season is about a third of the way done in a shortened condensed lockout season. As a whole the NBA product has really been hurt from not having a preseason workouts and training camp. This year the teams are averaging more turnovers and scoring has come down. Right now there are only three teams that average over 100 points a game (Heat, Thunder, Nuggets). The teams that did not have major change in players or coaches have looked better as they do not have any chemistry issues like the Heat, Thunder and the Bulls.

The other thing that we have learned with this condensed season brings more injuries. Guys like Dwayne Wade, Manu Ginobli, Zack Randolph, Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut and many others have missed games and have affected the standings. This affect will be lingering all season and may decide which team wins the championship this year. The team that can stay the healthiest will have an advantage once the postseason begins. Also every time has to play at least 3 games in 3 nights once this season, and many of them are on the road and so there will be lots of travel and will effect older teams like Celtics and Spurs. Teams that get off to quick starts will have an advantage because every team will have players with minor injuries and so they can rest as the season progresses like the Bulls, Thunder and Heat.

Biggest Disappointment has to be the New York Knicks sitting at 9-15 and a 1 ½ games out of eight. They have struggled due to so many new players and very bad chemistry on the court. As a team they have struggled to figure their identity on offense and outside of Tyson Chandler they have struggled on defense. They have a tough road ahead because they have gotten to such a bad start that they need to play harder for the rest of the year to make playoffs which could wear this team out before the playoffs even start. Biggest Surprise had to be the Indiana Pacers. They are 16-7 and within three games of first place in the conference. This team finished eighth last year and gave Bulls a tough first road matchup. Everyone wanted to see if they could get better this year as their younger players progressed. They have played terrific and the addition of David West has given them the depth on that frontline. They are team to worry about in the East.

In the East it’s very top heavy at this point and so it looks like 6-7 teams have really established themselves as playoff teams and are just fighting for position. While out West outside of the Thunder who have a three game lead on everyone else it is a ten team race for the other seven spots and injuries and schedules will decide which teams will get in. I think as the season progresses teams will get better and the stars will playing much better and used this first part of the season as like a training camp and preseason as players get themselves into basketball shape. It will be another exciting season in the NBA.