Handing out NBA's midterm grades
ATLANTA: B+
After winning only 30 games last season, the Hawks are within reach of a .500 season and are definitely in the playoff hunt. How can any bird-watchers in Atlanta criticize the job being done by Mike Woodson and his staff? Still, a significant sign of this team's overall immaturity is its miserable performance on the road.
BOSTON: A+
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| Paul Pierce is much happier now that he has a little more help. (Elsa / Associated Press) |
Nobody doubted that the Celtics would be good, but few observers believed they'd be this good! Doc Rivers is doing a superb job of motivating his players, and Tom Thibedeau deserves considerable credit for his defensive schemes. Still, championships are not won until June.
CHARLOTTE: D
Bernie Bickerstaff left the bench much too early. Whereas the players responded to his gentle but firm manner, Sam Vincent's off-the-cuff remarks and slow learning curve have undone much of what Bickerstaff had previously accomplished. The result is that the Bobcats played harder for Bickerstaff than they do for Vincent.
CHICAGO: F
Ultra-high intensity coaches like Scott Skiles can easily turn off their players — especially if they don't win. The Bulls are also paying the price for their disastrous signing of the washed-up Ben Wallace. The current rumor is that John Paxson is considering Larry Brown as his next coach. In truth, this wouldn't be a bad move. If Brown is likewise in the Skiles-Billy Martin mold, at least he's earned a championship ring. However, if Brown is indeed hired and the Bulls aren't legitimate contenders after two seasons, then the surviving Bulls will most likely undergo another disengagement with another over-the-top coach. By any measure, this franchise is in total disarray.
CLEVELAND: C-
On the one hand, LBJ says that he can win no matter what his supporting cast is. Then he comes right back and gripes about not being surrounded with the right players. For several reasons, then, things are not quite clicking in Cleveland. And if it took super-human efforts by James to boost the Cavs into last season's championship series, it'll take another constant outpouring of other-worldly efforts by him to even reach this year's conference finals.
DALLAS: D+
There's no way the Mavs approach last season's total of 67 wins. Though all concerned may deny it, there's no question that being upset in the opening round by the Warriors left deep psychic scars on the returning veterans. It's easy to tell by their erratic play that the Mavs no longer believe in themselves. And although Avery Johnson is putting up a good show, it's just as evident that he, too, no longer trusts his players. Only Jason Kidd has a chance to turn this team around.
DENVER: A-
The Nuggets play like champs in the Mile High City, but like chumps on the road. That's because too many key players are undisciplined, and of questionable character. Even so, this team is more dangerous than last season's underachieving squad. The difference being the time needed for A.I. and Melo to mesh, and the home-court bully-boy play (along with his meekness on the road) of K-Mart. But a lengthy playoff run is out of the question.
DETROIT: B+
These guys are much more consistent this year. The reasons? The absence of Chris Webber. A decrease in Rasheed's hysterical reactions to calls that go against him. And most importantly, Flip's generous use of his bench. Come the playoffs, the Pistons are the only Eastern Conference team that can beat Boston.
GOLDEN STATE: A
They're playing with a confidence they never had before ousting Dallas in last season's playoffs. When it's absolutely necessary, all of the Warriors have also proved capable of stepping up their defense. But how will Davis react to his All-Star snub? By forcing more shots than usual? Or by playing a higher level of team ball?
HOUSTON: C-
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After failing to meet expectations early in the season, the Rockets have taken off as of late. The reasons for their improvement are many: With Steve Francis down for the count, and Mike James on the bench, the crowd at point guard (and the resulting instability) has been resolved. The progress of Luis Scola (at least on offense), and the players' increasing familiarity (and comfort) with Rick Adelman's fresh-air offense. All they lack is the willingness of Tracy McGrady to drive the ball to the hole. Look for them to be the one team that nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
INDIANA: C
This is about where the Pacers are supposed to be. All they need to do now is to somehow ditch Jamaal Tinsley and trade Jermaine O'Neal, and then their rebuilding process can really get under way.
LA CLIPPERS: D+
Even without Elton Brand, the Clips should be more competitive. But that's what happens when the coach wants to trade a player he detests, and the owner refuses because Corey Maggette is his favorite player. Is there a franchise that is now, or ever has been, more dysfunctional?
LA LAKERS: A+
Even BG (Before Gasol), the Lakers were the surprise team in the West primarily because of the vast improvement of so many of their young players — Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, Sasha Vujacic, and especially Andrew Bynum. And has Kobe truly become a dependable elder statesman?
MEMPHIS: C
The Grizz are no better and not much worse than expected. However, by the time the current fire sale is completed, the franchise just might be compelled to switch places with whoever wins the D-League championship.
MIAMI: F
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| It's been a frustrating season, to say the least, for Dwyane Wade and the Heat. (Brian Kersey / Getty Images) |
How low can they go? Does Riley really think that D-Wade and the Matrix can be the modern version of M.J.-Pippen? If he does, then it's the result of his taking too many charges during his playing career. Or else Riley's just trying to encourage the Heat fans to stay cool and renew their season tickets.
MILWAUKEE: C+
The improvement is slight, but there's improvement nonetheless. Meanwhile, as the local media raves about Yi, it's clear to more disinterested observers that the young man is fading fast. Simply put, the Bucks have too many scorers and not enough accomplished role players.
MINNESOTA: C+
After the rude shock of having their Big Ticket punched, the T-Wolves are starting to prey on unsuspecting opponents. They have a core of young, talented players — and wait until Al Jefferson learns to play without the ball either in his hands or within easy reach. And compared to what Memphis got for Gasol, Minnesota made out like bandits in the KG transaction. Give them three years and three more players and the T-Wolves will be back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
NEW JERSEY: D+
Is Jason Kidd still in town? Vince Carter, too? If they still are, then the Nets will continue to be dead men walking and certainly not running. If either or both are gone, then the Nets will have a viable future. But why deal a solid defender/screener/locker room presence like Jason Collins for a loose cannon like Stromile Swift? Anyway, with J-Kidd devolving into a power-point-guard, the best that could possibly have been expected of the holdover players was a semi-respectable .500 season.
NEW ORLEANS: A+
Chris Paul has put some muscle on his frame, Ty Chandler now has some idea where the basket is, Peja Stojakovic's hot streaks are more prolonged, and David West has become an unsung star. Kudos to Byron Scott for talking less, coaching more and keeping the faith.
NEW YORK: D-
Why not a red flag? Only because the Nix aren't much worse than they were supposed to be.
ORLANDO: A-
Although Dwight Howard has been suckered by the media hype to the point where he had to be publicly scolded for focusing too much on scoring, the man-child is rapidly becoming a he-man. Hedo Turkoglu has become the go-to scorer and creator, and Rashard Lewis is a help (although not as much as expected). But the Magic still need a capable point guard to get to the next level. Even so, the team's progress has been impressive. Having a personable guy like Stan Van Gundy on the bench instead of grouchy Brian Hill makes a big difference.
PHILADELPHIA: B-
The Sixers' young players are growing up in a hurry. They're still a couple of top-notch players sort of becoming a true contender, but Andre Miller makes all concerned as good as they can be.
PHOENIX: C-
There'd been too much fussing and feuding for the Suns to duplicate last season's regular-season excellence. Their edge was dulling, and their efforts were increasingly erratic, but with Shaq's arrival, everything changes. Still, he's not Kareem, Nash isn't Magic, Stoudemire isn't Worthy (in more than one sense), Bell isn't Michael Cooper, Barbosa isn't Byron Scott, and D'Antoni certainly isn't the second coming of Pat Riley.
If a drastic change was needed to keep the Suns shining, that's exactly what they got. But look for the clouds to start gathering once the money-season is under way.
PORTLAND: A+
Zach Randolph is like the legendary Plochman Diamond — appearing to be of immense value, but only bringing doom and gloom to whoever's unlucky enough to own it. With all the fat cats and selfish yo-yo's gone (except for Darius Miles), the Blazers have become the team that reflects their coach, Nate McMillan. Smart, unselfish, intense, and eager to play defense. For sure, they've gone about as far as possible with only the ghost of Greg Oden haunting the paint, but it was a great trip while it lasted.
SACRAMENTO: B-
With all hands now hale and hearty, the Kings are a dangerous ball club. However, with the playoffs out of reach, and with young'uns like Martin, Garcia and even Hawes itching to be the team's main men, and with Artest still psychologically unstable, it could be that the Kings are more dangerous to themselves than to any opponent. It's past time for a palace revolution.
SAN ANTONIO: C-
OK, perhaps they're simply lying in the weeds and waiting for the playoffs to commence before springing to life. What's much more likely is that the Spurs can't draw blood at will anymore. Even when Tony Parker was healthy, he was reverting to the mistake-prone game plan of his younger days. Manu Ginobili can't carry an offense for entire ball games. TD is still bothered by double teams after he's put the ball on the floor. Nor is their defense as consistent at it has been. Even more significant are the number of brain-locked mistakes the Spurs are making in clutch situations. Like TD fouling a driver — count it, and one — with the Spurs up by three and only a few seconds on the clock. And so on.
SEATTLE: D
Playing time appears to be allotted on a mostly arbitrary basis — which means that too many players are unhappy. The roster is also jammed with too many players who have similar, non-complementary skills. And Kevin Durant's physical frailty is becoming more and more of an obvious handicap. The Sonics are still half a team short of being able to zoom into playoff contention.
TORONTO: C
A handful of games above .500 is just about par for this team. But the big question is, since the blossoming of Jose Calderon, what to do with T.J. Ford? What about trading him for a banger? After all, an all-finesse team has a low ceiling.
UTAH: C+
The slight improvement in the Jazz is due to Andrei Kirilenko's being a comparatively happy camper. But with defenses ganging up on Carlos Boozer, it's imperative that Kyle Korver produces 3-balls on a more regular basis. Still, a lack of overall athleticism limits how far this team can go.
WASHINGTON: B
With or without Arenas, the Wizards are a so-so outfit. Just good enough to make a quick exit in the playoffs. So it's business as usual in Washington.
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