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WINNERS and LOSERS: NBA Edition

Blink and we’ll already by a quarter the way though the 2012-13 NBA regular season. Let’s take a look at some winners and losers so far.

WINNERS: The Heat for splurging on Ray Allen who will contend for sixth man of the year. I predict Allen still has enough in the tank for a few Jesus Shuttleworth dunks come playoff time.

LOSERS: The Celtics for letting Allen walk and then bringing in Jason Terry, “the poor man’s Ray Allen.”

LOSERS: The Milwaukee Bucks when Ersan Ilysova is starting.

WINNERS: The Milwaukee Bucks when Ersan Ilysova comes off the bench.

WINNERS: Phil Jackson bashers who got to watch him get punk’d by the Lakers.

LOSERS: The Lakers assembly of high-priced players; standing around and watching Kobe Bryant continue to put up 20+ shots per game.

WINNERS: James Harden and the Houston Rockets, he may not get a ring in the next couple of years, but nothing is guaranteed. Current ring count: James Harden 0, Kevin Durant 0.

WINNERS: The Oklahoma City Thunder getting along just fine with Kevin Martin playing the role of James Harden.

WINNERS: The Memphis Grizzlies and the giant chip on their shoulder.

LOSERS: The NBA writers and bloggers who predicted the demise of the Memphis Grizzlies.

LOSERS: The Dallas Mavericks for not resigning Tyson Chandler. Sure, it’s been two years, but this one still hurts each time you watch them play.

WINNERS: Mark Cuban for his work on ‘Shark Tank.’

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David S. Grant is an author of several books, rock columnist, travel writer, and NBA blogger. Follow David on Twitter: .david_s_grant