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he's really inconsistent in his evaluations. The Warriors and Mavs deserved better grades sure. Cavs too. All I agree with him about is that Duncan is still the best player.
Western Conference grades
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
As ever, these grades should not be seen as absolute measurements.
Instead, they are meant to reflect each team's regular-season performance as compared with its preseason potential and expectations. Accordingly, several inferior teams will have higher grades than many superior teams.
DALLAS — C+
No real surprises from the Mavs this season. As a finalist and near-champs, they were supposed to dominate the West, although not quite so completely as they have. Avery Johnson has continued to imbue his players with the kind of in-your-face intensity that marked his own playing career. AJ also made the most of his roster's versatility, and the defense showed some improvement. It remains to be seen if Johnson's well-do ented courage under pressure is also contagious.
Should the Mavs fail to win the championship, then their grade will automatically transmute into an F.
DENVER — B+
The Nuggets came on like gangbusters in the final weeks even though Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony have sequential, rather than synchronous, talents. Steve Blake is another vital addition since he relieves A.I. of much ball-handling responsibility. The explosive scoring of Iverson and Anthony make the Nuggets an especially dangerous foe in the playoffs.
But there's still work to be done on the roster. How far can a ballclub go with essentially a two-man offense and a one-man defense?
GOLDEN STATE — B-
The Warriors did play better than anticipated, especially after the trade. They still lack a potent post scorer and a sufficient number of reliable outside shooters. It's inevitable that Golden State be compared to Phoenix. Like the Suns, the Warriors can make a scoreboard flash like a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular. But they lack a Steve Nash-type point guard who's more interested in facilitating than in looking for his own and passing only as a last resort. Also, the Warriors' defense is even worse than the Suns'.
Given Nellie's trickeries and deceits, and given the one-dimensional skills of most of his minions, there's little room for improvement with this particular collection of players.
HOUSTON — A
What with Yao Ming's broken leg and T-Mac's aching back, the Rockets basically stayed aloft because of their defense. Shane Battier set the tone in this department, and was therefore the primary catalyst for the team's surprise success.
This was the best coaching job that Jeff Van Gundy has accomplished during his entire career. Even more so than his leading the Knicks to the finals in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season.
CLIPPERS — D+
From last season to this season, the Clips have devolved from a marginal conference powerhouse to a team that has to struggle merely to compete for the eighth seed. On too many occasions Elton Brand plays as though he's as old as Sam Cassell. Shaun Livingston, even before his injury, failed to make the next step in his development. Chris Kamen's lack of talent was revealed and exploited. The hassles between Corey Maggette and Mike Dunleavy created confusion, irritation, and distraction — the scars of which still linger. Overall, the Clippers are less than the sum of their parts.
And the question remains: Aside from Cassell, does this team have enough heart to successfully challenge its betters? Probably not.
LAKERS — C-
The Lakers played over their heads in last season's playoff confrontation with Phoenix. There's simply too much immaturity on and off the court for the Lakers to take fullest advantage of Phil Jackson's coaching. Among the players, Andrew Bynum obviously plays like a teenager, but he also acts like a grade-schooler. Smush Parker has delusions of grandeur. While in the executive suite, Jimmy Buss wasted millions on Vlad-Rad and Brian Cook, and did nothing to bring in a more experienced point guard.
With his shoulder still aching, Lamar Odom's jumper remains in intensive care. Kobe is Kobe, but routine end-game double-teamings have reduced the triangle to Luke Walton's going one-on-one much too often for the Lakers to expect another overachieving playoff season.
The Lakers' miserable execution on offense and defense is a disgrace. The shock on PJ's face while he's forced to watch his team's disgraceful performance tells the whole story.
It's time for Dr. Buss to open up his wallet and reconfigure the team with an influx of talented adults.
MEMPHIS —F
Don't blame the departed but unlamented Mike Fratello for the Grizzlies' woes. The roster is loaded with an embarrassing number of inadequate athletes. The bigs are either soft or dumb. There's no leadership at the point. Pau Gasol's absence was no excuse since the Grizz had more than enough time to salvage their season after he returned. Despite being ensconced in the league's outhouse, the Grizz do have some glimmerings of a more civilized future. Gasol is what he is. Mike Miller is a poor man's Kyle Korver (or is it the other way around?). But the team always competed, and hope lives in the spectacularly undomesticated skills of Hakim Warrick, the sprightly talents of Rudy Gay, and the incredible potential of Tarence Kinsey. After all, things can't get much worse.
MINNESOTA — F
The front office, the fans and the media have the same misguided outlook: KG is a superstar and the T-Wolves' perpetual failures are blamed on everybody but him. None of the spare parts seem to fit Garnett's game, and the new guys are just as inadequate as the old guys. Hogwash! As long as Garnett continues to be vastly overrated, the T-Wolves will be toothless.
It's way past time to punch his humongously costly ticket, send Garnett elsewhere, and start from scratch.
NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY — C+
The Hornets will just about duplicate last season's win total, yet they've shown signs of coalescing around Chris Paul, David West and the "new" Tyson Chandler, who's finally accepted his offensive limitations. The past despair and future hope generated by the absence of Peja Stojakovic is a pipe dream. That's because Peja doesn't want (and shouldn't get) the ball when an important game is up for grabs, and because his defense is pitiful.
Still, Byron Scott has managed to keep the treadmill moving at an acceptable speed.
PHOENIX — B+
The defense is slightly better — but then it couldn't really have gotten any worse. Nash is more than slightly better. Leandro Barbosa is immensely better. Mike D'Antoni has redesigned the offense to keep Amare Stoudemire from having to make sharp spins and putting undue pressure on his surgical knee. And, if his own defense is ridiculously inept, Stoudemire's size and straight-ahead quickness are big pluses.
The lack of power is a holdover problem, as is the short rotation. (Although Barbosa's quantum jump has curtailed Nash's minutes.)
However, the Suns' honor roll grade for the regular season will most likely be trumped by a dunce list grade in the playoffs.
PORTLAND — A-
The best thing to happen to the Blazers was for Darius Miles to miss the entire season. The absence of Miles' all-around selfishness allowed Nate McMillian to firmly put his imprimatur on the team with few distractions. McMillian was able to give Brandon Roy a huge amount of responsibility and the rookie not only responded, but thrived. Jarrett Jack proved to be a steadying force. If the second-year point guard doesn't have spectacular talent, he has a good head and a big heart.
Now if only Miles would vanish into oblivion, and if Zach Randolph would grow up, there would be fewer thorns growing in the Rose Garden.
SACRAMENTO — F
The old guys are too old, the young guys are too young, and Ron Artest is too disruptive. A dull, plodding ball club that doesn't do anything particularly well. Look for Eric Musselman to take the fall.
SAN ANTONIO — B
A grade of C for the first half of the season combined with an A for the stretch run works out to a B.
Pop has his squad peaking at the right time. He smartly saved the legs of his old-timers and didn't blow out his regulars during the preliminary season.
Tim Duncan is still the best player in the league. The Spurs are still the league's smartest team and play the best defense. And Manu Ginobili is still their X-factor. Whenever Ginobili fails to bring his A game, then Pop's grand designs go for naught.
SEATTLE — C-
The Sonics only functioned one step below expectations. Blame Bob Hill for yapping too much, pointing too many fingers, and not doing enough coaching. The arrogant Hill is better suited to be a sleazy politician than a third-rate Pat Riley wannabe.
Also, by not settling the point guard position Hill ensured a season's worth of confusion, unhappiness and not-so-secretly nurtured grudges. Then Hill had the audacity to blame the team's misfortunes on the season-ending injury to Robert Swift! The soft, inexperienced, often clumsy, defenseless Robert Swift?
Time for Hill to be shown the nearest exit ASAP.
UTAH — A-
The league eventually caught up with the lack of runners, jumpers, and creators on the Jazz. But as long as it lasted the flavor was truly tasty.
Andrei Kirilenko bought a house in Salt Lake City, but his game was deported. Carlos Boozer proved he could play effectively while hurting opponents and not himself. Derek Fisher had to use all of his guile and experience to (barely) survive at the shooting guard slot. Utah's lack of overall athleticism put immense pressure on young Deron Williams, and he (along with Boozer and Jerry Sloan) deserve the credit for the team's early- and mid-season syncopations.
Utah's late-season nosedive proves that precision and brutality will get an NBA team just so far.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6683902
Eastern Conference grades
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
As ever, these grades should not be seen as absolute measurements.
Instead, they are meant to reflect each team's regular-season performance as compared with their preseason potential and expectations. Accordingly, several inferior teams will have higher grades than many superior teams.
ATLANTA — C+
Even with no functional point guard, with a power forward (Zaza Pachulia) playing center, with JJ missing multiple games, and with Josh Smith acting like a knuckle-head (methinks, however, that he wasn't acting), the Hawks are actually (albeit slowly) moving in the right direction. The credit goes to Mike Woodson for rousing his mostly inept players to the point where they are at least threats to beat anybody at Phillips Arena.
Still, unless they hit the jackpot in the upcoming draft, the Hawks remain at least a generation removed from battling for a playoff berth.
BOSTON — D+
A plague of injuries to veterans forcibly accelerated the development of several young players — and in Gerald Green and Al Jefferson, the Celts feature a pair of budding superstars. On the flip side, Boston has failed to acquire and/or develop either another legitimate power player or a promising point guard. Despite their horrific record, though, these young, fresh players never went belly up.
Since Danny Ainge has bet his and the franchise's mortgage on Doc Rivers it's no wonder that the beleaguered coach is apparently on the verge of a contract extension. But if the ball club fails to make a dramatic improvement next season, then management's patience will no longer be a virtue.
CHARLOTTE — B+
Even though Adam Morrison failed to live up to the hype, much progress was made. Gerald Wallace is on the verge of super-s om. Raymond Felton showed flashes of big-time potential. Whenever he was healthy, Emeka Okafor proved to be a staunch man in the middle. Matt Carroll became an acceptable fixture at the 2-guard slot. Even Walter Hermann finally figured out how to play in the NBA.
For sure, there are plenty of roster holes to fill. And whomever the Bobcats' new coach turns out to be, Bernie Bickerstaff's combination of compassion and expertise will be sorely missed. Yet the 'Cats were virtually a .500 team at home, and they always played hard.
Given that the franchise has only been in existence for three seasons, where they are now is a remarkable achievement by all concerned.
CHICAGO — B
For a team that lacks any post-up presence whatsoever, and plays like rookies on the road, the Bulls have gone a long way on the basis of hustle, defense, and perimeter shooting. So what if Scott Skiles has fascist tendencies? If Ben Wallace is somewhat long in the tooth? And the only thing wilder than Tyrus Thomas' talents is his judgment? Within their considerable limitations, the Bulls play the game the way it's supposed to be played.
But all the sound and fury will signify nothing unless the Bulls come up with an offensive-minded big man in the near future.
CLEVELAND — D+
Where's the progress? Just the same old predictable offense and scatter-brained defense. Once again, there's LeBron massaging the ball at the top of the key in clutch situations while his teammates stand around and watch. Once again, there's confused defensive rotations when a stop is desperately needed. Once again, both Eric Snow and Donyell Marshall are each a year older and a year slower than they were last season.
The only saving graces are the coming out of Sasha Pavlovic, and the silencing of Damon Jones' delusional braggadocio.
Once again, the Cavs have failed to evolve an iden y.
DETROIT — C+
Ever so slowly, Chris Webber is wearing down. Rasheed Wallace is still unstable and still plays like a guard. Tayshaun Prince is still underutilized on offense. And Chauncey Billups is still the heart and soul of the team.
Credit the Flipster for so adroitly using his bench. But, by effectively subs uting Ben Wallace for Webber, the Pistons have changed from a power team to a finesse team, a transformation that bodes ill for the kind of heavy-hitting that characterizes playoff action. Not to mention Webber's career-long penchant for choking in the money-season.
INDIANA — D-
What a mess. Their inside guy wants to play outside. Their playmaker would rather make his own plays. Their best point guard used to hang out with Methuselah. Their newcomers never got comfortable. Their roster is poorly designed.
Yes, the Pacers have made great strides in fashioning their squad so that character is more important than spectacular but selfish talent. Hey, wasn't that Jerry Krause's mantra way back when?
The rebuilding process is well underway and more dramatic changes will undoubtedly be made during the off-season. However, as they are currently cons uted, the Pacers are a lifeless collection of dysfunctional parts.
MIAMI — B+
Shaq couldn't have asked for a better season. He loafed through the pre- and early-season games, then suffered a non-career-threatening injury that kept him out of action for several months. Isn't playing half a season what Shaq has been pining for all these years? No wonder he's been so spry in the home stretch.
Anyway, the Heat made the best of what could have been a fatal scenario — injuries to their only three indispensable players. (Could Stan Van Gundy have rallied the survivors as well as Riles has? Not a chance.) Interesting, though, that since his return to action, Jason Williams has become Miami's most dependable player.
At one point, it seemed that just making the playoffs would be quite an achievement. These days, however, in the unlikely event that D-Wade's recovery proceeds apace, the Heat are aiming for a repeat.
MILWAUKEE — F
This season was a huge step backward for the Bucks. Bogut's smart but clunky game was more of a hindrance than a help, especially against the league's elite bigs. The other back-liners were either soft, limited, or even less athletic than Bogut. Once Steve Blake was dealt, the Bucks backcourt lacked a pass-first point-guard. The defense was atrocious, and the offense was too Redd-centric.
If massive trades and free agent signings aren't in the works, then only Greg Oden or Kevin Durant can create any excitement in the Bradley Center.
NEW JERSEY — D+
The Nets are always erratic, and often boring. Why on earth does Lawrence Frank consistently take the ball out of J-Kidd's hands in the end-game and let Vince Carter shoot craps from the top of the key? Yes, injuries were a factor (as they are for every team), but the Nets suffered through too many poor decisions in the clutch (mostly by Carter), too many games where nobody showed up, and too many dead stretches on both ends of the court.
The mix doesn't mix.
NEW YORK — F
Even when everybody was healthy, this bunch of whiners, complainers, and excuse-makers won a few games they should have lost, and lost many more that they should have won. They always hustled most and performed best when they were 20 points down. The Knicks have as much sheer talent as any other team in the league, and less cohesion than most.
Leave it to the New York media to celebrate Eddy Curry as a franchise center. For sure, he can score if he's defended straight-up — but double-teams totally bewilder him, he doesn't rebound or play defense, and he registers more than four turnovers for every assist.
Even so, the Knicks are a perfect fit all the way around: Punk players, a punk coach, and an owner who loves to sing the blues.
ORLANDO — A
Why such a high grade for such a poor team? Because the Magic did exactly as poorly as could be expected. Dwight Howard continued to demonstrate that he's a top-notch rebounder and shot-blocker, but his clumsy offense failed to improve. One is left to wonder if getting rid of Clifford Ray was what stalled Howard's development. Just look at how much Al Jefferson improved this season under Ray's tutelage.
Otherwise, Jameer Nelson is a shooting guard in a runt's body. Darko Milicic is often present in body and absent in mind. Hedo Turkoglu had a break-through season. But the only player who exhibited any real-life magic was Grant Hill.
PHILADELPHIA — B-
Dealing Iverson and Webber finally changed the gestalt of the team. They are now young and energetic. With the Dreary Duo elsewhere, Andre Igoudala has blossomed into a go-to player. The more-than-capable Andre Miller has assumed the leadership of the team. Kyle Korver has opened up his game. Willie Green and Rodney Carney are free to make the mistakes necessary to facilitate their growth. And even the limited but useful Samuel Dalembert plays with a smile.
With more fresh talent available in the draft (or to be used as trade-bait), the Sixers have a bright future for the first time in recent memory.
TORONTO — A+
The sum of this team is much greater than its components. Kudos to Sam Mitc for integrating nine new players into a well-balanced ball club. He masterfully apportioned playing time so as to maximize the strengths of Chris Bosh, T.J. Ford, Andrea Bargnani, and Jorge Garbajosa, and to minimize their considerable weaknesses. He appreciated the subtle value of Anthony Parker, and coaxed unexpected mileage from Rasho Nesterovic.
Forget about sentimentalism (Jerry Sloan) and automatic repeats (Avery Johnson). Sam Mitc is hands down the Coach of the Year.
WASHINGTON — A
The Wiz are another team that played at their expected level, i.e., within hailing distance of .500. Even before their rash of injuries, Washington was erratic on offense and helpless on defense. Yet the Wizards would have been a much better team if only their two centers (Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas) were as hostile to their opponents as they are to each other.
Like the Bulls, Washington was another donut-team that lived and died by the jump shot. Unlike the Bulls, their only defense was a good offense. An entertaining bunch, but their accomplishments amount to less than meets the eye.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6683010
he's really inconsistent in his evaluations. The Warriors and Mavs deserved better grades sure. Cavs too. All I agree with him about is that Duncan is still the best player.
Charly Rosen sure has been chummy about the Spurs lately. I don't know if this is good or bad, but it feels like the sky is falling...
Western Conference grades
Charley Rosen / Special to FOXSports.com
Texas Only
HOUSTON — A
What with Yao Ming's broken leg and T-Mac's aching back, the Rockets basically stayed aloft because of their defense. Shane Battier set the tone in this department, and was therefore the primary catalyst for the team's surprise success.
This was the best coaching job that Jeff Van Gundy has accomplished during his entire career. Even more so than his leading the Knicks to the finals in the strike-shortened 1998-99 season.
SAN ANTONIO — B
A grade of C for the first half of the season combined with an A for the stretch run works out to a B.
Pop has his squad peaking at the right time. He smartly saved the legs of his old-timers and didn't blow out his regulars during the preliminary season.
Tim Duncan is still the best player in the league. The Spurs are still the league's smartest team and play the best defense. And Manu Ginobili is still their X-factor. Whenever Ginobili fails to bring his A game, then Pop's grand designs go for naught.
DALLAS — C+
No real surprises from the Mavs this season. As a finalist and near-champs, they were supposed to dominate the West, although not quite so completely as they have. Avery Johnson has continued to imbue his players with the kind of in-your-face intensity that marked his own playing career. AJ also made the most of his roster's versatility, and the defense showed some improvement. It remains to be seen if Johnson's well-do ented courage under pressure is also contagious.
Should the Mavs fail to win the championship, then their grade will automatically transmute into an F.
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6683010
rosen is onto something.......wtf
What else did he want the Mavs to do? They will probably finish with the 2nd or 3rd best regular season record in history. How does that rate a C+? What a stupid article.
I would give the Spurs an A or A-. 60+ wins is ALWAYS outstanding. If Pop gets major play out of Elson in the playoffs, he deserves an A for reworking the center position.
I would give the Spurs, Mavs, Suns, Rockets, and Jazz all A's. I don't know that I would give anyone in the East an A. If any of those teams were in the west, I would reduce their wins by at least 5.
This guy is a fool. look MIAMI — B+ for what getting the 4 seed in the east?
PORTLAND — A-
The best thing to happen to the Blazers was for Darius Miles to miss the entire season. The absence of Miles' all-around selfishness allowed Nate McMillian to firmly put his imprimatur on the team with few distractions. McMillian was able to give Brandon Roy a huge amount of responsibility and the rookie not only responded, but thrived. Jarrett Jack proved to be a steadying force. If the second-year point guard doesn't have spectacular talent, he has a good head and a big heart.
Now if only Miles would vanish into oblivion, and if Zach Randolph would grow up, there would be fewer thorns growing in the Rose Garden.
dallas = near champs
perfect description
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