Each night, Eye on Basketball brings you what you need to know about the games of the NBA. From great performances to terrible clock management the report card evaluates and eviscerates the good, the bad, and the ugly from the night that was.
Team
Grade
Analysis
A
A clinical takedown win for the Spurs over the Mavericks. It was close for a while, but a 67-point second half did Dallas in. Tony Parker looked like himself with 25 points and seven assists, and Tim Duncan was excellent as always with 13 rebounds.
A
They beat the Pistons, and it was at home, but I get excited any time the Raptors win. They're becoming a great story, a scrappy team that just keeps clawing towards victories despite the odds.
A
Beating the Pacers? Yeah, that's pretty good. The Hawks are hurting with Al Horford, but they found something that worked against Indiana, namely the defensive end. They slowed the game to a grind, and essentially just held on for dear life to the first half lead they built.
A
Nets Make it four straight! Who's gonna stop the Nets? And this win isn't anything to gloss over. This was one over the Warriors, a team riding a 10-game win streak. Joe Johnson was terrific with 27 and the Nets found production from unlikely placed like Mirza Teletovic who had 10 boards. They are fighting, which is something to be said for them right now.
A
Just a tremendous road win for the Suns. They needed to get back on track against the Wolves and they completed the mission on a Gerald Green winner with 4.9 seconds left. Goran Dragic had 26 and nine assists, as the Suns erased a fourth quarter deficit to get it done.
B+
The Rockets topped the Lakers as Dwight Howard beat them for the first time. But the shout out tonight goes to James Harden who had 38, which is his third straight 30-point game. In fact, over his last three, Harden's scored a combined 113 points. Not bad.
C
They lost to the Nets, who are rather poor, but kudos to the Warriors who won 10 straight games and nearly completed the first 7-0 road trip in NBA history.
D+
Another close game, another close loss. It's a disturbing trend for the Wolves, something they can't seem to overcome. That really is the next, and hardest step to take towards become a legit playoff team. You've got to win those two possession games. And they just can't seem to find a way to do it.
D
No shame in losing to the Spurs, though the Mavs didn't really give them much of a look. They allowed 67 points in the second half. That's all that needs to be said.
F
They've gone from promising Eastern Conference team that has a chance to maybe be good into completely stinking horribly. The Detroit Pistons, everybody!
F
It happens. That's the best explanation. On the road against a decent team, the Pacers came out flat and never were able to really dig out of the hole. Paul George had 28-12, though, which was nice.
