Bulls are Grade-A material in Eastern Conference

• Western Conference report card
  
• Best and worst of the NBA at the break

Atlantic Division

Positive developments: Franchise center Shaquille O'Neal's quick recovery from a thumb injury, which forced him to miss the first 26 games. Since his return, he's been the Shaq of old, pouring in 25.5 points per game and snaring 11.1 rebounds, and Penny Hardaway raised his game to a dominating level in O'Neal's absence.

Disappointments: Though the Magic are one of just two teams to be undefeated at home, their road performance (9-14) has been disappointing, due primarily to a very erratic defensive approach. Starters Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott have been far too inconsistent for them to be a title contender.

Comments: One night the Magic play like the best team in the league, the next night they can barely beat the sagging Boston Celtics. Forward Horace Grant now is back from the injured list and should lead a defensive resurgence, but Shaq must be a defensive stopper at the basket, with everybody else playing harder on the perimeter. This inconsistency is what has everybody whispering about coach Brian Hill.

Grade: B

New York Knicks

Positive developments: In dealing Charles Smith and his huge salary, the Knicks will have nearly $8 million dollars toward next year's salary cap, and they now have three first round picks in June, critical for a team which is not getting any younger. Patrick Ewing continues to play at an All-Star level, leading the team in scoring, and the veteran defensive orientation continues to make this one of the best road teams in the NBA.

Disappointments: Shooting guard John Starks has lost his energy and fierce intensity for the game under new coach Don Nelson, while Anthony Mason has had his problems with Nelson as well.

Comments: How much longer can the aging Ewing retain this pace with two bad knees? In order for the Knicks to advance in the playoffs, Starks needs to regain his enthusiasm and the defensive effort. Despite controversy and life without Riles, the Knicks are 30-16 and only three games behind the Magic at the break.

Grade: C+

Washington Bullets

Positive developments: Juwan Howard has emerged into an all-star forward and Brent Price has come out of nowhere to shore up the lagging point guard position with Robert Pack. Gheorghe Muresan has grown from being a novelty into a legitimate nightly factor at both ends of the floor at center.

Disappointments: Season-ending injuries to the team's two marquee players -- sharpshooting point guard Mark Price and Chris Webber have hurt. Combined, they have played just 22 of 90 games. Calbert Cheaney continues to be an erratic performer as well.

Comments: Considering the adversity they have faced -- i.e., the injury bug -- the Bullets' performance has been one of the biggest surprises this season. While many teams would scoff at being a couple of games below .500, it is a marked improvement for the Bullets. In recent years, the Bullets have been the 76ers main competition for the Atlantic basement. But not this season. Washington could actually sneak into the playoffs for the first time since 1988 if it stays on its current pace.

Grade: B+

Miami Heat

Positive developments: The Heat have finally added a coach -- Pat Riley and a center -- Alonzo Mourning -- that it can build a future around. Rookie Kurt Thomas has shown flashes that he will help in the future, and Sasha Danilovic was superb before wrist surgery slowed him down. He could return for the final month and that would be a big boost for the Heat.

Disappointments:Injuries have killed the Heat, beginning with a foot problem for Mourning, and expanding to Danilovic. Billy Owens has had injuries and been horribly erratic when he has been healthy. And Kevin Willis has been, well, Kevin Willis; he's a loser and he'll be gone either by trade or free agency.

Comments: While many people expected the Heat to walk on air simply because of Riley, it has become increasingly evident that the team doesn't have the health or manpower to compete. Mourning can't do it all by himself every night, and point guard Bimbo Coles is just too limited as a floor-leader for consistent success. Riley would do himself and the team a favor by giving more playing time to Thomas, rather than singing the "rookies are to be seen and not heard" tune.

Grade: C+

New Jersey Nets

Positive developments: Getting rid of Derrick Coleman and Kenny Anderson might have hurt the team talent-wise, but it greatly improved its karma. These two former all-stars, once considered the keys to the Nets' future, disgraced themselves in recent years with their constant whining.

Disappointments: Shawn Bradley, the 7-foot-6 center, acquired from Philly for Coleman, continues to play like a life-time project, rather than the future all-star many experts tabbed him to be. His field goal percentage (.433) says it all. And his 9.5 scoring and 7.6 rebounding averages are nothing to write home about, either.

Comments: What do the Nets have to build around? As usual, the team has no apparent direction and no hope for improvement.

Grade: D

Boston Celtics

Positive developments: The emergence of rookie Eric Williams, a power forward who has mixed finesse and tenacity with a terrific work ethic. Also the dramatic improvement of forward Dino Radja, who has stepped his game up about three notches and did deserve a spot on the All-Star team.

Disappointments: Shooting guard Dee Brown was named captain as both Xavier McDaniel and Dominique Wilkins split for Greece, and his response has been poor both on and off the floor. Perhaps more importantly, the signing of free agent Dana Barros to a long-term, huge contract tied the Celtics in knots, as he isn't even starting, nor performing anywhere near his All-Star level of a year ago.

Comments: As virtually everyone predicted, coach/GM/schmoozer M.L. Carr is in way over his head. He promised the team would be better but instead, the once-proud Celtics have fallen flat on their faces. You have to wonder what aging Red Auerbach is thinking these days as present and future of the franchise has looked increasingly dim.

Grade: D-

Philadelphia 76ers

Positive developments: If there is one, it would have to be rookie Jerry Stackhouse, the immensely talented guard out of North Carolina. Though he is the latest in a long line of rookies to be tabbed "the next Michael Jordan", he hasn't let the pressure get to him. Instead, he has played well and appears to have a bright future from which to build.

Disappointments: Anything and everything. In particular, owner Harold Katz's public humiliation of coach John Lucas. Two weeks ago, Katz decided to interview ex-Celtic coach Chris Ford and he let everyone know it. When he couldn't come to terms with Ford, he left Lucas to coach the team, even after it was clear he wasn't meeting the owners' lofty standards. And when they finally got rid of Shawn Bradley, they got the prototypical underachiever, Derrick Coleman.

Comments: What can you say. The Sixers are awful. Katz has made a mockery of this franchise -- once a proud member of the NBA elite.

Grade: F

Central Division

Positive developments: Michael Jordan's re-emergence as the greatest player on earth (as if there was ever any doubt). And equally as important, Scottie Pippen has been able to sacrifice his ego and co-exist with Jordan -- all the while playing like an MVP himself. And what is wrong with Dennis Rodman? His uncharacteristically excellent behavior hasn't wavered this season. Not even an all-star snub could get much of a rise out of the NBA's best offensive rebounder.

Disappointments: Uh, none.

Comments: In Jordan, Pippen and Rodman, the Bulls have three of the top defensive players in the league, and an exceptional mulit-talent with Toni Kukoc. That is why they are where they are. Only an injury to Jordan or Pippen can stop this juggernaut from winning its first championship since 1993, as coach Phil Jackson continues to prove he's one of the best coaches of this generation.

Grade: A+

Indiana Pacers

Positive developments: The return of Rik Smits -- AKA the Dunking Dutchman --who missed the first 15 games with a foot injury. Indiana went just 7-8 while he was out but has jelled since his return.

Disappointments: Inconsistency. The Pacers went into the All-Star break with a loss against lowly Philadelphia. They haven't outgrown the tendency to play to the level of their competition, be it the Bulls or the Sixers.

Comments: If Reggie Miller falls into a zone like he did in the playoffs two years ago, this team is as capable as anyone in the East at making a run at those Bulls. Led by Derrick McKey and Dale Davis, coach Larry Brown has them playing defense to a level second only to the Bulls.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Cavaliers

Positive developments: Coach Mike Fratello's ability to get the maximum out of a team with very little talent.

Disappointments: The likelihood that center Brad Daugherty (bad back) will never return is obvious, and so is the dream of a championship with Daugherty, Mark Price, Larry Nance, Hot Rod Williams and Ron Harper all gone.

Comments: The effort the Cavs put forth every night is commendable But they might actually be doing themselves a disservice. With their present cast, the most they can hope for is a first round playoff knockout. The only way to rebuild is through draft picks. Therefore, they would be better off watching the playoffs on television.

Grade: B

Atlanta Hawks

Positive developments: Mookie Blaylock's emergence as a steady and sometimes spectacular floor general has been fun to watch as has this team's ability to hustle every night.

Disappointments: Spud Webb is not the same player he was in his first tour of duty with Atlanta.

Comments: The Hawks have a great coach in Lenny Wilkens and a solid backcourt nucleus in Blaylock and Steve Smith. But if this team is to make any kind of a run, it needs some help up front.

Grade: B-

Detroit Pistons

Positive developments: Grant Hill continues to look like the player most likely to grab the torch once Michael Jordan retires for good. Actually, though, his game is more similar to Scottie Pippen, and there is certainly no shame in that. Rookie Theo Ratliff and Otis Thorpe have added power to a previously thin frontcourt.

Disappointments: The continued decline of guard Joe Dumars, once one of the best and still one of the classiest players in team history.

Comments: The franchise player is in place, now it is time to build around him. And coach Doug Collins must stop trying to turn Hill into Jordan. There is only one MJ. Let Hill continue to be the selfless, team-oriented player that he is.

Grade:B-

Charlotte Hornets

Positive developments: Larry Johnson is finally buckling down and playing hard on a nightly basis. Injuries aren't bothering him anymore and he finally appears to be ready to accept the pressure that comes with his monstrous contract.

Disappointments: Trading Alonzo Mourning for Glen Rice. Though Rice is having an all-star season and can shoot with anyone, he isn't the type of player you can build a team around. Also, having pesky point guard Muggsy Bogues on the injured list for the entire first half didn't help matters.

Comments:What were they thinking when they traded Kendall Gill and Khalid Reeves for free agent point guard Kenny Anderson, whose agent is David Falk -- Mourning's guy? Where they go from here is anybody's guess, but the buzz isn't good.

Grade: D

Milwaukee Bucks

Positive developments: Young forwards Glenn Robinson and Vin Baker are already one of the top tandems in the league and they keep getting better.

Disappointments: There continues to be very little help from the supporting cast, leaving to question the personnel vision of coach/GM Mike Dunleavy now in the fourth season in his dual role.

Comments: The Bucks were supposed to jump to that next step this season and at least be a playoff team. But that isn't going too happen. Beyond their forward tandem, what's left? Only Dunleavy knows for sure.

Grade: D-

Toronto Raptors

Positive developments: Who would have thought Damon Stoudamire would become one of the league's very best point guards in just half a season? It almost seems as if Isiah Thomas drafted himself with this selection.

Disappointments: This team could really use some experienced big men, as Ed Pinckney is nearly finished and the Raptors already bought John Salley's contract last week and let him go. The Biggest O -- Oliver Miller -- is talented but too heavy to be consistent, and Willie Anderson can still score, but is on the trading block..

Comments: Considering this is an expansion team, the Raptors aren't in bad shape. In Stoudamire, they have a true building block, which is more than you can say for a team like the Boston Celtics. Now they just need to get him some help up front. Acie Earl certainly doesn't qualify as help.

Grade: C

Ian Browne is a sportswriter on SportsLine USA's staff.

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