Ricky Rubio and 10 Early-Season Surprises We Never Saw Coming

Before the season, analysts make all kinds of predictions and are dead certain about every one of them.

Then the season starts, and all the predictions that were completely off get brushed under the rug, and the analysts pretend like they saw it all coming. 

Well, we didn't see it all.

In fact, some of these no one saw coming, or at least only a minority of people. Here are the 10 biggest surprises to the season so far. 

Cleveland Cavaliers Contending

If the playoffs started today, the Cleveland Cavaliers would be in.

Granted, they'd be facing the Chicago Bulls, and in all likelihood, they'd be on their way to a very quick road home, but that they are in contention for a playoff spot at all is a pleasant surprise to the Cleveland faithful. 

Led by Kyrie Irving, one of the favorites for Rookie of the Year right now, the Cavaliers are playing close to .500 ball.

That's a big step up from the team that had an NBA record 26-game losing streak. 

Philadelphia Success

The Philadelphia 76ers right now are, statistically speaking, the best team in the NBA. 

Granted, that's largely because they also have the easiest schedule.

Still, while they've been playing the weakest teams in the league, they aren't just beating them—they're beating the snot out of them, winning by an average of almost 15 points per game. 

Their next three games are against the Denver Nuggets, the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks. Depending on how they do in those three games, we'll get an idea of how they really look. 

The Miami Heat Three-Game Losing Streak

The Miami Heat were supposedly going to challenge the record for the highest winning percentage now that the Big Three were together for a second year. LeBron James had added a post game, Chris Bosh had gotten stronger and the team had signed Shane Battier to help with the defense. 

Instead, the team has shown the same struggles as last year.

The Heat still struggle against the zone. They still lose when you take away their transition game and force them to be you in a half-court offense. They're still in the bottom third of the league in production from the center, point guard and bench. 

All of this was exploited in the Heat dropping three straight. If the playoffs started today, they'd be in the sixth spot. They're 8-4 and could easily be 5-7. 

This team is very much a contender and could win it all, but it's a long way from threatening the greatest teams ever in the history of the game. 

Carmelo Anthony Isn't Making the Knicks a Winner

At what point do you look at the Carmelo Anthony trade and start asking if it was a failure?

Signing Tyson Chandler was supposed to shore up the defensive issues, and to be fair, the defense has gotten better. It's currently ranked 12th, which, if the Knicks had the type of offense they had before they traded for Anthony, would be great. 

The problem is that their offense is stinking up Madison Square Garden. It's ranked 23rd in the NBA, has scored fewer points than it's given up and has a losing record. 

How bad is it in New York? Fans are pinning their hopes on Baron Davis.

The Collapse of the Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics were supposed to have one more year in their window. They were a team that was a dark horse to contend—that might be able to do what the Dallas Mavericks did last year. 

It turns out that's not likely. 

The Celtics are 4-8, and if the playoffs started today, they wouldn't even be in. They are a game-and-a-half behind Cleveland for the last spot. They haven't won a game against a team with a winning record. 

They just aren't very good anymore. 

The Disappointed, Disappointing Deron Williams

Deron Williams was going to help the New Jersey Nets return to contention. 

Then again, maybe not. As it turns out, the Nets are just downright awful and arguably one of the worst teams in the league. 

The only question now is whether Deron Williams is more disappointed or disappointing.

Clearly he's discouraged. It's in his body language on the court. On the other hand, he's having his worst year since his rookie season, with a PER of just 17.1, a full five points below what it was last year in Utah. 

This team is not doing well. Neither is Williams. 

The Washington Wizards Waning Worse with John Wall

The Washington Wizards were supposed to be improved and were considered by many to be a playoff contender.

They may be the most disappointing team in the NBA. Certainly, they are the worst.

The Wizards have a 1-12 record and really the only question you have if you've watched them play is how on Earth they managed their only win. 

This is arguably the most selfish team in the history of the league. At some point, there's going to be a wrestling match over the ball between Wizards.

The only time you see them making a pass is when they're flirting with a girl in the bleachers. It's that bad. 

Utah Jazzing

The Utah Jazz weren't supposed to be good. Now, we're hearing they are just "hot" and are going to "cool off." 

The truth is they are jazzing things up. They have the second-best record in the Western Conference. 

Let me say that again: The Utah Jazz have the second-best record in the Western Conference. 

They really are pretty good.

They haven't built that record against the scrubs of the league, either. They've played the 10th-toughest schedule in the league and their opponents have a winning percentage of .535. They also have a 4-4 record against teams with winning records. 

It's time to admit we were wrong about Utah. 

The Rookie Success of Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio was prognosticated to be such a flop that it was almost to the point where you were expecting him to never see time on the court.

Instead, he's worked his way into contention for the Rookie of the Year and made the Minnesota Timberwolves one of the most enjoyable teams to watch in the NBA. 

Rubio is one of the best stories of the year, and he's certainly one the prognosticators missed on. 

Kobe Bryant's 40-Point Streak

Kobe Bryant was not happy to be listed as the seventh-best player in the league. He was so mad about it that he scored 48 points in a game and then made a comment about it afterwards.

Then he had another 40-point game. Then he had another. Then he had one more just to prove that the first three weren't flukes. 

Clearly, he's not too old, and he's not the seventh-best player in the world.