What Makes Each NBA Team Distinctively Special?

The only team that can realistically support live animal mascots.

Sometimes they can work for the amusement of the crowd, but on that rare occasion the stubbornness of the animal gets the better of their trainer.

The Atlanta Hawks might consider their live animal mascot hard to control, but at least they aren't the Memphis Grizzlies.

I know the Orlando Magic might be the most recent team to join the parquet movement, but let us not forget our roots.

The Boston Celtics have played on the parquet floor ever since the beginning, and till this day it is the most distinctive court in all of the NBA.

The court where Bill won 11 rings. The court where Havlicek stole the ball. The original birthplace of the "Big 3."

Boston is a brotherhood.

Ever since the Charlotte Bobcats joined the NBA family back in 2004, anticipation has been at an all time high in Charlotte.

Sure, university basketball might highlight better than professional basketball in North Carolina, but no one can deny the excitement that comes along with Charlotte.

But to clarify things, when I use the word "anticipation," I mean it in the sense of growth.

The NBA took away the Hornets from the city of Charlotte, leaving many fans in sorrow. Now with the Bobcats dedicated to Charlotte, the anticipation has begun.

The Bobcats have excited the folks with countless draft picks. The lottery has been the home of the Bobcats for a while, but this coming year can prove to be the growth of a Bobcats team.

The fans have been patient. They deserve this more than anybody.

The potential that electrifies this city is incredible. People might of disagreed with past draft picks, but the result is slowly blossoming.

Fans in Chicago and all over the world are beginning to see things through the eyes of Derrick Rose.

His play and determination has not been seen for a while in the Windy City.

Potential doesn't simply lie in Rose, but in all of the talented players on the roster. They've got the tools for an elite team.

It is a matter of time.

The loud mouth owner of the Dallas Mavericks has been their face for years now.

His wardrobe of jeans and tees has hardly been questioned. His involvement in games is uncontested. And his consistency managing the Mavericks has been well documented.

The Mavericks have been playoff contenders for eight years now, and the only person to thank for this is Mr. Cuban himself.

Bringing back hometown hero Chauncey Billups might have been the smartest move in Denver Nuggets' history besides bringing in Alex English during the 1980s.

Billups brought the Nuggets back to life after the bad experiment with Allen Iverson. He whipped Carmelo Anthony into shape.

He not only believed in his team, but made his teammates believe as well; something clearly lacking years before.

John Mason; the god of PA annoucing.

Exclusively heard in the Palace.

Defense win championships. Offense wins the fans.

The dunks, the flashy passes, and the long range three ball get the people standing up in the Bay Area.

Its the way Don Nelson does things, yo!

No one expected the Rockets to carry on without Tracy McGrady, but they did.

No one expected Ron Artest to be a leader in Houston, but he did.

No one expected players like Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry to step their game up, but they did.

No one expected the Rockets to win 22 straight games, but they did.

You can't help but to not ride out the Rockets this year.

Back then it was Reggie Miller.

Now it’s Danny Granger.

The Indiana Pacers scorched the net from downtown last year. As a team, they shot 37 percent from beyond the arc.

The NBA might have to move the three-point line further away to make it fair for the Pacers' opponents.

I've used the term "A New Hope" a lot in my articles.

I've used it to open slides, and to add emotion and depth to my pieces, but nothing fits better with this term than Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers.

He is going to be a force for this club, and hopefully sometime in the near future the Clippers can be playoff contenders.

The season ticket holder.

As much as I try to give each team something distinctively special, I can simply not give one to the Memphis Grizzlies.

Why?

Because they stink; sorry folks.

But if there is one thing that is beneficial for fans, it has to be the extra space when watching games live in the stadium.

The leg room is something else!

Pictures are worth a thousand words.

This one is no different.

Finally, some flavour in Milwaukee!

Brandon Jennings brings the zaz and blam to a team that hardly has any taste. Scott Skiles will have a huge job shaping Jennings into an NBA-calibre player.

Nonetheless, a project that is going to be very fun and interesting to watch.

The Minnesota Timberwolves have got their annual dose of youth.

To give you some statistics, 15 players on the roster to not have more than five years of NBA experience.

With a leader only 24 years of age, the T'Wolves have a huge task proving critics wrong and stepping up into the playoffs for the first time since Kevin Garnett left.

H.O.V.A!

His natural attraction of wealthy Russians and LeBron James goes hand-in-hand when trying to reconstruct a worn down New Jersey Nets.

True team spirit.

Only until they score can all fans plus bench players sit.

Of course, grandma and grandpa are exempt from this law.

The Mecca of basketball.

Home to the unusual. Home to records. Home to rowdy fans.

Smack dab in the heart of New York City.

Despite only being around for a year, the crowd attendance in Oklahoma City is bananas.

I've narrowed it down to three possibilities:

1. People in Oklahoma love their basketball.

2. People in Oklahoma are really bored.

3. People in Oklahoma gather to see the creature known as Robert Swift.

Only a few years ago were the when the Orlando Magic were 21 - 61; seventh in the Eastern Conference.

But this past year people across the globe have witnessed the full transformation. Eastern Conference champions, trip to the finals, and beating the odds were all achieved last year.

With Superman leading the way, there is nothing to be afraid of.

Nothing!

The significance of the initials "A.I." never seems to fade.

Whether we are talking Allen Iverson or Andre Iguodala, both are leaders and coincidentally have the same initials.

In way these letters have cursed the franchise. They've gotten close to the championship, but fell down.

Nowadays, they are seen as Eastern Conference playoff bait.

This year is Iguodala's break out year, just watch!

In my opinion, the true international player who has brought his team from the grave and turned them into an elite team.

"Captain Canada" Steve Nash did not just bring playoff excitement, two MVP awards, and people in Phoenix on their feet, but most importantly brought a style of play that altered Suns basketball.

He helped Stoudemire break through the crust of role player, and into the spotlight of superstar.

Steve Nash is Phoenix Suns basketball.

A vision that began three years ago when the Portland Trail Blazers drafted Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, it has only been progress from that point on.

"The Natural" has lead his inexperienced Blazers high into the West rankings, and hopes to be positioned there for a long time.

They've battled adversity and tasted success, all that is waiting is another championship.

Chris Webber. Mike Bibby. Vlade Divac. Peja Stojakovic. Doug Christie. Hedo Turkoglu. Bobby Jackson. Scott Pollard.

The list is well remembered and will live on.

This current roster, however, won't.

Four championships in the last ten years.

Dynasty with hardly any changes.

Connecting the four corners of the earth is what the Toronto Raptors seem to be good at. With at least five international players on the roster, the Raptors will be sure to see some Euro style of play during the season.

After all, Toronto is one of the multicultural mosaics of the world.

With a career record of 1137–751 and exactly 30 years of coaching experience, Jerry Sloan has managed to make more than ends meet with his style of play.

The Utah Jazz has thrived on his coaching habits and will continue to as long as he is the coach of the Jazz.

A true pioneer in the National Basketball Association.

Gilbert has done it once, he can sure do it again!

Just wait and see.