Things I Learned from NBA League Pass

If you've only caught nationally and locally televised NBA action this season, you may be missing some of the league's best stories.

Small-market teams and struggling franchises consistently fly below the average fan's radar, and box scores never tell the whole story. If you're one of the seven Bobcats fans who doesn't live in Charlotte, you just might be at your wit's end and craving some coverage of your home-away-from-home team.

The solution? NBA League Pass, of course—the basketball junkie's favorite fix.

Yes, that means shelling out 82-game prices for a 66-game season. And yes, it may mean carefully negotiating with anyone else with whom you share a television. Pure basketball bliss doesn't come cheap.

But, was it all worth it? Absolutely!

In case you decided otherwise and spent the money on something far less important (you know...the bills, groceries, tuition), here's a refresher on what you might have missed. 

The Clippers Should Have Held on to Their 2011 First-Round Draft Pick

When the Los Angeles Clippers opted to package their 2011 first-round pick with Baron Davis in order to acquire Mo Williams' more cap-friendly contract, they couldn't have imagined that pick would turn into Kyrie Irving.

The rookie has given notice to anyone paying attention to Cavs' games that he could one day be every bit as good as Chris Paul, and it's only a matter of time before this franchise puts King James in its rearview mirror.

After sitting out most of his one year at Duke, it was difficult to know exactly what Cleveland would get out Irving this year.

Those questions have been answered. Irving is averaging 18.6 points, 5.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and over a steal per game. He makes 47 percent of his shots—to put that in perspective, fellow rookie Kemba Walker makes 10 percent fewer of his shots.

Most impressively, the budding floor general plays well beyond his years and demonstrates an IQ for the game that would make any coach envious. If you aren't watching Cleveland, you should be—this is a special rookie season in the making.

If Highlights Won Games, the Wizards Wouldn't Be Half Bad

It may take the Washington Wizards some time to put all the pieces together, but it's taken them no time at all to look good at being oh so bad.

Unfortunately, this team will be most remembered for JaVale McGee running back on defense all alone, getting a triple-double no one would be proud of, trying to dunk from the stripe to no avail or proving that he really doesn't care too much for those goal-tending rules.

And no, it doesn't matter that McGee no longer plays for the Wizards. Failed seasons trigger a selective memory of failed plays, and this team has had its fair share.

Nevertheless, any team with John Wall on it is worth watching—this guy didn't even need an NBA season to keep the superhuman highlights rolling.

He may be worth the price of League Pass all by himself. 

There's a Reason You Can Only Watch the Pistons on League Pass

Detroit's auto industry appears to be the only thing making a comeback in the Motor City. Don't be surprised to soon hear President Obama promising a bailout for Joe Dumars and his hapless franchise. 

This team's hope may require nothing short of intervention straight from the Oval Office. 

Sure, there are a precious few signs of life in the Pistons' locker room. Rookie Brandon Knight has already proven to be one of Detroit's most promising assets, and second-year Greg Monroe is one of the leading contenders for Most Improved Player honors.

That's pretty much where the silver lining ends. Even if you kindly ignore the contractual dead weight handed to Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva, this 17-32 team is still a long way from watchable.

Detroit's directionless offense ranks 28th in scoring, 27th in scoring differential and 28th in turnovers. The defense isn't much better, with the Pistons ranking 28th in opponents' field goal percentage.

Good luck getting Clint Eastwood to do a commercial for these guys.

Michael Jordan Secretly Hates North Carolina

Like many coaches, Paul Silas is often described as the kind of guy who can help young guys develop into tried-and-true NBA regulars. For that small handful of you who find yourself inexplicably watching a Bobcats game, you know such euphemisms are code for coaches absolutely incapable of overseeing a winning team. 

Keeping Coach Silas around should tell you something about how little Michael Jordan cares about this team's win-loss column, but the roster should tell you even more. 

Future star Kemba Walker inexplicably remains on the bench so that DJ Augustin can remain a mediocre and inconsistent starter with no discernable place in this organization's long-term plans. Meanwhile, if there were an award recognizing the polar opposite of Most Improved Player honors, it would have to go to Tyrus Thomas. 

This team is regressing at every turn, a trend that should have been obvious when Charlotte elected to trade Stephen Jackson for the perpetually disappointing Corey Maggette.

Jordan may work in mysterious ways, but it's looking more and more like he just isn't working at all. 

DeMarcus Cousins Absolutely Owns the High Post

With Andrew Bynum proclaimed the NBA's next best center and Marc Gasol quickly becoming the most overrated "underrated" big in the league, DeMarcus Cousins' All-Star production at the position has gone largely ignored.

Cousins is averaging a double-double with 17.4 points and 11.1 rebounds, but you could find that out easily enough. What you might not know is just how versatile this guy's offensive skill set is.

Sure, he's a young, explosive athlete capable of finishing in the paint. More impressively, though, the 21-year-old can flat out rake it from midrange. His consistent 15-foot jumper forces opposing bigs to step out on him, frequently freeing him up to take it to the basket for put up a creative shot in the lane.

His inside-outside proficiency is reminiscent of elite forward/centers like Tim Duncan and Pau Gasol, and there's every reason to believe the young standout will only get better.

The Utah Jazz Will Be the Next Indiana Pacers

The last time you heard anything about the Utah Jazz, it probably involved coach Jerry Sloan retiring, star point guard Deron Williams being shipped to New Jersey or this year's Slam Dunk Contest.

The champion of said contest—Jeremy Evans—apparently plays for the Jazz.

Prepare yourself for the dawn of a new era, an era in which this organization is relevant once again—and yes, an era that has absolutely nothing to do with Stockton-Malone nostalgia.

Just as the youthful Indiana Pacers came into their own this season and forced the Eastern Conference to take notice of Larry Bird's steady managerial genius, the Jazz are set for a breakout season sooner rather than later. Coach Tyrone Corbin is bringing along a team with as much potential as you'll find on any up-and-coming rosters.

On the wing, second-year forward Gordon Hayward has become a well-rounded starter earning his minutes, and rookie guard Alec Burks has made the most of his limited opportunities, scoring from everywhere on the court with relative ease.

On the block, this team is deep and poised to get deeper as youth like Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter develop. Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap aren't bad either.

With a long-term solution at the point, this team will soon do what the Pacers have done.  

The Toronto Raptors Are Still in the NBA

Ever since the Grizzlies left Vancouver, Toronto has come to symbolize one of the NBA's most egregiously failed experiments. Canada is where basketball stars go to leave. 

Vince Carter and Chris Bosh used Toronto to solidify their reputations as the franchise players who never were and never would be. DeMar DeRozan and Andrea Bargnani appear poised to do the same, only without anywhere close to the same upside or fanfare.

Toronto's 17-34 record leaves it well-positioned for another year in the draft lottery, but Raptors fans have to be wondering just how many prime picks it will take to make this team competitive.

To be sure, the Raptors were dealt a catastrophically unlucky blow when Chris Bosh opted to take his not-quite-LeBron talent to South Beach. Toronto didn't prepare for the exit with the same anticipation characterizing Carmelo Anthony's departure from Denver.

Anyone catching a Toronto game while surfing League Pass surely wishes it had.