Eastern Conference grades
Finishing off the midseason theme, it's time to see just how well teams have done through the first 41 games. Grades will be handed out based on performance, how a team has fared based on preseason expectations and entertainment value. The latter is important because, heck, if you're going to lose, at least you can make an effort to be competitive and watchable doing it.
Here are the posted grades for the West:
Dallas Mavericks
In his first full season as head coach, Avery Johnson has gotten every ounce out of his players. Dirk Nowitzki has been his usual steady self, but what has pushed the Mavericks over the top is the improvement of young guys like Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Marquis Daniels and reclamation project DeSagana Diop. As they hang in there in pursuit of the Western Conference's best record, you can't help but applaud a brilliant half-season. Grade: A+
Denver Nuggets
They were expected to run away with the Northwest Division but have lost center Marcus Camby (finger) for a considerable time and Nene for perhaps the season on opening night (knee) and have had to deal with Kenyon Martin's knee trouble. Still, thanks to the growing maturity of Carmelo Anthony and George Karl's determination to overcome a short-handed roster, Denver is right where it should be. The Nuggets ride a seven-game winning streak into the weekend and are getting Camby back in the fold. It's always nice to see progress. Grade: B
Golden State Warriors
Perhaps it was unfair to expect the Warriors to immediately be a factor in the Pacific Division, but that was the thought given how they finished last season after adding Baron Davis. They looked to be in good shape after winning 12 of the first 18 but have fizzled since, limping into the halfway point on a three-game losing streak. They're within striking distance, but you wonder if they're going to regret not nabbing Ron Artest when they had the chance, particularly since he ended up in their division. Grade: C-
Houston Rockets
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| Tracy McGrady's absence has destroyed Houston's season. (Getty Images) |
Los Angeles Clippers
They opened the season as the NBA's biggest surprise, tailed off slightly, and have picked things up lately, winning three consecutive games to pull within 2.5 of the Suns. I'd say, big picture, that's clearly more than anyone expected, particularly if I told you Corey Maggette would miss most of the season with a foot injury. Grade: A
Los Angeles Lakers
You can look at this as half empty or half full. The pieces around Kobe Bryant aren't very good. Bryant himself has been unconscious. As a result, the Lakers are right about on schedule for Phil Jackson's hope that they would win 46 games and make the playoffs. After last season's debacle and the obvious disappointment Kwame Brown has been, they have to be content to be where they are. Grade: B-
Memphis Grizzlies
Damon Stoudamire's season-ending knee injury was certainly a bummer, but all things considered, the Grizzlies have to be content with being on pace for 50 wins. Veterans Eddie Jones and Bobby Jackson have brought stability to the backcourt and in the locker room, while star forward Pau Gasol has become more physical and consistent. Defensively, Mike Fratello's concepts are being followed, making the Grizz one of the NBA's stingiest teams. Grade A-
Minnesota Timberwolves
Perhaps the 12-6 start was fool's gold. Perhaps it was that they led the Northwest Division for a spell, or that they lost so many tight games. Fact is though, the Timberwolves simply lacked the firepower to do win consistently, and it has been proven halfway through. The recent acquisition of Ricky Davis and Mark Blount will improve things if both commit to playing defense and hit the ground running. But as far as the old guard was concerned, they hit their ceiling long ago. Grade: C-
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
Let's see, a team that wins 18 games last season gets displaced by a hurricane, deals a former All-Star center and reaches 20 victories in 40 games? Byron Scott has done a remarkable job, fostering the development of superb rookie point guard Chris Paul and the emergence of third-year forward David West. He has gotten his guys to buy into playing hard and letting the chips fall where they may, and because they're so often overlooked, they bite teams on a consistent basis. Grade: A
Phoenix Suns
When the Suns lost Amare Stoudemire through the All-Star Game in the preseason, I immediately wrote off their playoff aspirations. But Mike D'Antoni has found a way to utilize newcomers Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, James Jones and Kurt Thomas so they've actually effectively replaced Stoudemire, Joe Johnson and Quentin Richardson. Steve Nash has stepped his game up a notch as well, and although they're not 31-10 as they were at last season's halfway point, the job this short-handed team has done is probably more impressive. Grade: A+
Portland Trail Blazers
In Year 1 of construction under Nate McMillan, Portland has made progress and probably won more games than many would've expected them to at this point. They'll finish with the worst record in the Western Conference, but that's something they knew was likely. At least forward Zack Randolph looks like his old self following complicated knee surgery, so that's been a bright spot. Grade: C
Sacramento Kings
No one could have dreamed the Kings would slip to last in the Pacific given their talent, but uninspired, inconsistent play has led to their demise. The acquisition of Ron Artest should provide a spark in the second half. He might be many things, but lazy and satisfied with losing aren't two of them. This was a team drastically in need of a boost; the first half was simply as bad as it gets. Grade: F
San Antonio Spurs
Clouding their start has been the repeated injury problems of guard Manu
Ginobili, who most recently sprained an ankle, likely costing him a few
more games. Despite his absence, the Spurs have remained a
smooth-running machine, except of course when they've played the
Pistons. The defending champs are on cruise control and still have a
share of the Western Conference's best record. Not too shabby.
Grade:
A
Seattle SuperSonics
It remains to be seen whether the shoddy start is an aberration, or whether last year's success was. The Sonics have been mixing and matching pieces trying to find an effective combination of role players to help out Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. First Bob Weiss failed, and now Bob Hill is struggling. For some reason, I had a hunch the Sonics wouldn't be a 50-win team again, but now it seems to be an upset when they don't lose. Grade: F
Utah Jazz
Once Andrei Kirilenko returned from injury and got his act together, the Jazz made a run and are in the mix for a playoff spot, just five victories off their total from all last season. Mehmet Okur has been a pleasant surprise as the go-to guy, but rookie Deron Williams, recently demoted to third-string point guard, hasn't adapted as quickly as Utah hoped. Overall, the Jazz have been average, which, considering how bad they were last year, is at least an improvement. Grade B-
