Some new observations:

Teams

- Does anyone else feel some of the suspensions/ fines the league has given out have been a bit... inconsistent?
- How much LONGER will the Knicks have a better record than the Raptors?
- How much better has Philly looked in their last three than their first seven?
- Can the Titanic Atlantic division sustain four teams with .500 or better records?
- Can Cleveland dethrone Detroit as the Central division power?
- How much are you not surprised that Atlanta is no longer winning the Southeast division?
- Will the three Texas teams continue to have a combined record below .500 for the whole season?
- Will New Orleans realize they are a better team than 5-4?
- Do you know how much Utah misses Deron Williams?
- Are you on the Greg Oden bandwagon? I am, and I'll be your conductor this evening.
- Have you noticed the battle heating up for fourth place in the Northwest division? 15 straight losses between Minnesota and OKC and counting!
- Anyone else have that Shaq-is-once-again-a-beast feeling? And that this isn't the year the Suns drop off?
- Are you at all surprised that there are only 6 teams averaging over 100 points a game?
- How impressive is it that Dwight Howard [who will be mentioned again below] averages more blocks a game than the Spurs and Knicks do combined?
- Can you imagine being Don Nelson, and see your team go to the FT line 32 times a game, but only get 70.3% of them in?
- Did you know Stephen Jackson [who will be mentioned again below] takes almost the same amount of threes in a game that the entire OKC team does?
- Oh, Phoenix is still shooting 50% as a team... yet, more amazingly, actually take the least amount of shots each game of any team... I know... Phoenix... those 'what's a shot clock?' Suns...

Players

- Can you imagine how scary Lebron James would be if he weren't shooting 24% from three? This considering he is already averaging 30 ppg, and shooting 50% from the field, and 77% from FT. He is shooting 55% from within the arc, just so you know. Oh, and also 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, and a block... just saying...
- Would you have guessed that OJ Mayo would be the only rookie averaging 20ppg?
- Are you as amazed as me that Dwight Howard is STILL averaging over 4 blocks a game?
- Are you amazed that Dwight Howard is averaging 14 rebounds a game, but is NOT the league leader?
- Are you surprised TJ Ford is in the top 20 in 3-point FG%, ahead of Michael Redd?
- Can you imagine being Don Nelson, and seeing Stephen Jackson hoist 7.5 threes a game, while getting only 26.7% of them in?

Raptors

- Second worst in the league in steals per game, but lead the league in assists
- Third worst in rebounds per game, but second best in FT%
- Third best in 3PFG% and sixth best in FG%
- Very 'middle of the pack' in a lot of categories
- Bosh fourth in ppg at 25.1
- Oneal top 20 in blocks per game, Bargnani top 25
- Calderon second in the league in assists, with 9pg
- Bosh 10th in rebounds per game, Oneal 20th
- Calderon still hasn't missed a free throw, one of only two eligible players that is able to say that
- Bosh is 5th in the league in FT attempts per game at 9.6
- Kapono 5th in 3PFG%, but Bargnani the only other Raps-rep in the top 25

Early Observations

So, the NBA season has begun, and we're into our second week. Just thought I would jot down a few observations from what has thus far transpired, and for the format, I will take a page from a Yahoo! Sports NFL columnist:

Standings
- Is it any surprise that Boston, Detroit, Houston, LA Lakers, and Utah are leading their divisions and sporting good records?
- Would you have guessed that the other division leader that isn't listed above are the 4-0 Atlanta Hawks?
- How long will it last that the Knicks have the same record as the Raptors? Hopefully, not long.
- How long will it last that the East has only four teams with losing records, while there are four teams with losing records in the Northwest division in the West?
- Will the Wizards win a game before Agent 0 gets back on the court?
- If I told you that the Spurs would be 1-4 to start the season, would you believe me?
- Will the Clippers win a game... this season?
- How exciting of a battle will it be to see who isn't the basement dweller in the NE division between Minnesota and Oklahoma City?

STATS
- Do you think the top three scorers in the league will continue to be Tony Parker, Danny Granger, and Tim Duncan?
- Are you at all surprised that T-Mac, Vince Carter, and Yao Ming are not averaging 20 points a game, but Kevin Martin is?
- How long can Dwight Howard average four blocks a game?
- Will this be the year Lebron stops teasing us and actually averages a triple double? Currently at 25-8-8.
- Is it racist to notice that out of the seven players averaging 11 rebounds a game or more, only one of those [the leader, no less] is white?
- Will you do a double-take at this line after I mention that the Pistons are second in the league in points per game scored, at 102.8?
- Are Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph that bad, that the Knicks are averaging 1.2 blocks per game?
- How long will the Hawks remain undefeated while shooting a league-worst 64.7% from the charity stripe?
- Is there an over/under somewhere for how long the Suns can keep shooting over 50% AS A TEAM!?!

Raptors [not in question format]
- Tops in the league by shooting 50% from three
- Second in the league in FT%, but in the bottom half in attempts per game
- Dead last in the league in rebounds
- Fourth best in assists, fifth best in blocks, but second worst in steals
- Bosh tied for third with 26ppg
- Bargnani (!) cracking the top 25 in blocks per game, while JO is top 15
- Parker top 10 in steals per game
- Calderon #2 in assists, and has yet to miss a free throw
- The Raptors have two representatives in the top 10 in 3PFG% [Moon(!) and Bargnani] and three more in spots 11-20 [Kapono, Parker, Calderon] - all 50% and up