Surprisingly good team:  Houston Rockets. I know having 2 superstars in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, a respected coach in Jeff Van Gundy, and now the ultimate glue guy in Shane Battier is a recipe for a great basketball team, but I wasn't convinced.  T-Mac and Yao are injury prone, and it felt like people were always saying "THIS year Houston will be good," and then injuries and whatnot occur, and it just doesn't happen.  I'm surprised with how well this team has played, especially given Yao's absence.  The health status of their stars will determine how deep in the playoffs they go.

Surprisingly bad: Memphis Grizzlies. I knew they were going to be a step down from last year, because before the season even started, Gasol was injured and Battier was gone.  but I definately didn't predict this from a #5 seed last year.  Worst record in the NBA.

Other surprisingly good teams: Toronto Raptors. Chris Bosh is playing at an incredible level, they have 2 of the best playing rookies this year, and they are just clicking.
Portland Trail Blazers: not playing fantastically, but better than I expected.

Other surprisingly bad teams: Boston Celtics: I thought the Sebastian Telfair-Paul Pierce backcourt would work a little better.
Chicago Bulls and Clevelend Caveliers: what's to say? they're both playing well but I expected more.
Also the Charlotte Bobcats.

    * The Knicks passed the 50-game mark with a record of 22-28. They won only 23 games all last season. Has Isiah Thomas shown enough to warrant more time at the helm in New York?

Theoretically. I'd still get rid of him though.

    * It's early but last year's Finals participants are already beginning to snipe at each other. The Palm Beach Post has Dwayne Wade needling Dallas Forward Dirk Nowtizki, "Dirk said that they gave us the championship last year...but he's the reason they lost the championship because he wasn't the leader he's supposed to be in the closing moments." (SI.com) Is Wade out of line? More importantly, is he right?

I was really shocked by Wade's comments, he always seems much more quiet and polite than that. I don't think Wade is really right.  Wade was Michael Jordon in those finals, and you can't expect that of Dirk Nowitzki.  Look at the rest of the Heat's starting lineup: Jason Williams, Antoine Walker/James Posey (can't remember who started the finals), Udonis Haslem, and a less-than-stellar Shaq.  That's compared to the Mavs who had Desagna Diop, Josh Howard, Devin Harris, and Jason Terry, which is a much better supporting cast.  It was not Nowitzki's job to average 45 ppg over the finals the way Wade was.  Could he have played better? YES.  But I don't think enough that he was deserving of those comments.

    * Nonsensical prediction time: Who wins the All-Star game, the MVP, and the dunk, 3-pointer, and skills competitions?

The western conference is clearly better but i'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the East wins this one. Gerald Green wins the dunk contest, Arenas the 3 point, and CP3 the skills.

    * Has the All-Star weekend lost its luster from the days when we'd see names like Magic, Bird, and Jordan in all of the above-named competitions even though guys like LeBron and Wade are there? If so (or even if not) any suggestions?

Well the All-Star game has definately gone downhill in general, and can't be taken to seriously. Shaq, and T-Mac and starting while Nash, Nowitzki, and Howard sit on the bench.  As far as the little competitions, i'm sure it's nice for the players in it, but I wish they were more about the best players in the category.  Clearly, the winner of a Dwight Howard, Gerald Green, Nate Robinson and Tyrus Thomas dunk competition probably isn't the best dunker in the league.  Make it Kobe, LeBron, Carter, and J-Rich, and you have yourself a competition.

    * Every year there's a team that comes on late and there's a team that started strong but after the break sinks faster than a Warrior fan's mid-winter playoff dreams. Who are those teams this year?

Finishes strong: San Antonio Spurs. They always do. they just know how to win this time of the year.

Finishes weak: Minnesota Timberwolves. KG can't continure to carry this much of a load.

    * What surprise player is going to come on strong in the final months of the season?
I think Andrea Bargnani and Chris Webber will continue to up their play, which has been impressive as of late. I also think Randy Foye could breakout this half, which would negate my above comment (about the Timberwolves).