Kobe Bryant’s relationships with his big men throughout the years dictated that team’s success. The rest of this year will be no different.

One thing is clear, Brooklyn has brought strut back to the Nets franchise.

It’s one thing to go through open-heart surgery and all that entails. It is a completely different challenge to get back to being a professional athlete afterwards. That is exactly what Green set out to do and so far he is passing with flying colors. He once again has the supreme bounce and athleticism that drew Ainge in to begin with, and he appears to be on the verge of busting out.

Had the narrative been, “Lakers fire Mike Brown then hire D’Antoni,” then Laker fans would be absolutely thrilled to have D’Antoni. However, the Lakers went back to the well. They called the great Phil Jackson and he was interested. But the Lakers turned Jackson down! That shocking turn of events triggered an overreaction by fans and media.

As we enter the second week of November, the NBA has already given us plenty to talk about. The biggest surprise so far, though, has to be the last remaining undefeated team in the NBA: the New York Knickerbockers.

Mike Brown introduced the “Princeton Offense” to the Lakers, and then Rome fell before it even could crown itself an empire.

As Thunder GM Sam Presti was watching his former sixth man run circles around the Pistons, I suspect he had a moment of recoil. At least he should have.