Kahn report card

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

REPORT CARDS: Some good, lots of bad, no in-between 
    By Mike Kahn, SportsLine.com Executive Editor

> The NBA regular season is history, and along with that comes perspective.
> And that's not necessarily a good thing. It might bode well for some
> teams, horribly for others, and remain a mystery for the rest.

> That's why management for the 13 teams headed for the lottery generally
> take some time to simmer down before making any moves (at least until
> Monday). It isn't easy, but most of the time, they allow the emotion of
> misfortune to leave before making decisions on coaches and players.

> As for the 16 teams in the postseason, most are thinking about how to
> advance. But even among the playoff teams, there have already been
> varying degrees of success based on preseason expectations. It has been
> a terrific season for some, and disappointing for others, with very few
> falling in between.

> With that in mind, we will take a look at the regular season of the 29
> teams and grade them subjectively based on preseason expectations.

> So don't get excited ... yet.

> Atlanta Hawks <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/ATL>: 
> Finally sold, along with the arena and the Thrashers and a peck full of
> troubles. The only thing GM Billy Knight was allowed to do was dump
> salary. Terry Stotts was the only coach in the East not to lose his job,
> a strange contradiction because of the Hawks' terrible record. Will the
> new owners known as the "Spirit" be able to right this sinking ship? No,
> but at least Stotts got what players he had left to compete most of the
> time. Jason Terry still is an explosive scorer, and they're hoping local
> wunderkind prep star Dwight Howard can do for them what LeBron 
> James did for Cleveland. Good luck! Grade: D

> Boston Celtics <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/BOS>:
> Initially, it looked as if new president Danny Ainge thought he had
> joined a Rotisserie league, moving players right and left. And it still
> looks that way. Evidently, coach Jim O'Brien thought so, too, so he
> resigned and assistant John Carroll took over. In many ways, All-Star
> Paul Pierce was left holding the bag ... and it was empty. The Celtics
> have gone from the conference finals two years ago to backing into the
> playoffs. By next season, we'll know what players Ainge does like, and
> perhaps a former Celtic will be coach. Watch for another active
> offseason -- maybe this one will work. Grade: D-plus

> Chicago Bulls <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/CHI>: After 
> five years of stumbling all over the place, this was supposed to be the
> season the Bulls' youth movement finally worked. Kids Eddy Curry and
> Tyson Chandler were going to dominate the poor inside players in the
> East, Jamal Crawford would come of age, and Jalen Rose would lead them
> to the playoffs. Instead, Rose was traded, Chandler was hurt, and Curry
> must have spent the offseason studying all the great things being said
> about him. Coach Bill Cartwright was fired after the poor start,
> replaced by Scott Skiles. GM John Paxson is beside himself, so expect
> major changes, with Curry or Chandler dealt. Grade: F

> Cleveland Cavaliers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/CLE>:
> Expectations for LeBron James were through the roof, but not for the
> team. And as James exceeded expectations, he nearly carried it into the
> playoffs. Carlos Boozer has grown into one of the East's best power
> forwards and Zyrdunas Ilgauskas is a top-flight center. And when
> president Jim Paxson acquired Jeff McInnis to play point, everything
> clicked and they were playoff-bound -- until McInnis got hurt. But
> prospects are bright with another lottery pick coming. Paul Silas
> certainly was the right choice as coach. This was the first step. The
> next will be even more difficult. Grade: B-plus

> Dallas Mavericks <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/DAL>:
> Everyone raised an eyebrow when they added Antoine Walker, wondering how
> all the scorers would fit together. They're still wondering. From the
> conference finals a year ago, they turned into a horrible road team,
> with even Dirk Nowitzki wondering about the style of play by the end of
> the season. Steve Nash wasn't quite as good, and Michael Finley has had
> some nagging injuries. They're still a great home team, but considering
> how they have backslid, nobody expects them to go beyond the first 
> round of the playoffs. And if they are first-round casualties, owner 
> Mark Cuban is very likely to end the Don Nelson regime. Grade: C

> Denver Nuggets <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/DEN>: The
> makeover is about 75 percent done, and it's already a rousing success.
> Adding rookie Carmelo Anthony, along with free agents Andre Miller, Earl
> Boykins, Voshon Lenard, Jon Barry and now Michael Doleac, turned them
> into one of the surprises. They are in the playoffs for the first time
> in nine years, and Kiki Vandeweghe still has cap space this offseason.
> If they can add a good shooting guard to this mix, they'll be in
> business. The only question is why they have left coach Jeff Bzdelik
> flapping in the wind. Does owner Stan Kroenke want to hire buddy 
> George Karl? Bzdelik deserves better. Grade: A-minus

> Detroit Pistons <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/DET>: 
> Who would have believed Joe Dumars would be the same kind of 
> team president as he was a player? The longer you watch him, the 
> more you appreciate his skills. Following the bizarre firing of 
> coach Rick Carlisle, he brought in Larry Brown, shocked everybody 
> by drafting painfully young 7-footer Darko Milicic instead of Anthony 
> and made a huge trade to put Rasheed Wallace next to Ben Wallace 
> up front. As a result, the Pistons have set defensive records and 
> have a head of steam going into the playoffs. The key to their success 
> will be in the backcourt, where Richard Hamilton and Chauncey 
> Billups have to prove they are of championship timber. 
> Grade: A-minus

> Golden State Warriors <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/GS>:
> Let's see, they were overwhelmed with injuries. They didn't make the
> playoffs. They are unhappy with their coach. Hmmm, this could have been
> any of the past 10 seasons. With a mix of veterans and youth, the
> Warriors just never got it going, and coach Eric Musselman is under the
> gun. Chris Mullin now is running the team with Garry St. Jean, and they
> have to decide if the young parts -- Jason Richardson, Mike Dunleavy,
> Mickael Pietrus and Speedy Claxton -- are the future. They have another
> lottery pick, and they can only hope center Erick Dampier, coming off
> his best season, sticks around. Grade: D-plus

> Houston Rockets <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/HOU>: 
>They hired Jeff Van Gundy, moved into a new building and had the 
> makings of an exceptional team all season. It just didn't work out 
> that way. Yao Ming is developing into a top-flight center, and adding 
> Jimmy Jackson gave them a multitalented small forward, but Steve 
> Francis and Cuttino Mobley were wildly erratic, while Kelvin Cato 
> and Maurice Taylor continued their underachieving careers. Van Gundy 
> is a tough customer and made it clear he's not happy with the way 
> things have gone, but optimism remains for the playoffs -- a place 
> they haven't been since 1999. It's tough to imagine them beating a 
> second seed, but you never know. Grade: B

> Indiana Pacers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/IND>: A month
> before training camp, Larry Bird fired Isiah Thomas and hired Rick
> Carlisle, his former assistant and teammate. But that didn't happen
> until they reconciled not re-signing center Brad Miller. Carlisle
> pacified young star Jermaine O'Neal, who was stung by Thomas' firing,
> and developed Ron Artest and Al Harrington. He got all he could out of
> blue-collar center Jeff Foster while treating aging Reggie Miller with
> kid gloves. They ran a point guard by committee -- Jamaal Tinsley, Kenny
> Anderson and Anthony Johnson -- while stressing defense. It added up to
> the first 60-victory season in franchise history and the best record in
> the NBA. Grade: A

> Los Angeles Clippers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/LAC>:
> Once the Clippers, always the Clippers. Hiring Mike Dunleavy helped at
> first, but they were shocked when free agent Gilbert Arenas chose
> Washington over L.A., and that should have told them something. Injuries
> started with Elton Brand, and spread to Quentin Richardson, Marko Jaric,
> Keyon Dooling and others. Corey Maggette kept improving and had a great
> year. Chris Wilcox came on, and rookie Chris Kaman did, too. It all came
> in spurts, with nothing in unison. Consequently, they're battling to
> stay out of the cellar again. Do they really believe Kobe Bryant will
> sign as a free agent? Maybe, but only if they change their name. 
Grade: F

> Los Angeles Lakers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/LAL>: No
> team had ever had more expectations than this one when Karl Malone and
> Gary Payton decided to join Shaquille O'Neal and Bryant. It appeared
> Phil Jackson was the perfect coach to handle it. But everyone was
> stunned when Bryant was indicted for sexual assault and the court case
> has hung over him and the team all season. Injuries also affected him,
> Malone had the first significant injury of his career and O'Neal had his
> annual stint on the injured list as well. They had runs of 18-3 to start
> the season and 22-4 after the All-Star break, and in between a great
> soap opera. It's doubtful they can win three rounds without home-court
> advantage. Grade: B

> Memphis Grizzlies <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/MEM>: 
> For a team that set a franchise record a year ago with 28 victories,
> expectations were very high. But when they won their 50th game this
> season, it was time to rejoice in the complete reversal pulled off by
> Jerry West and Hubie Brown. With Brown's 10-man rotation, newcomers
> James Posey, Bonzi Wells and Bo Outlaw kept improving with the core
> group of Pau Gasol, Jason Williams, Shane Battier and Mike Miller. Now
> nobody is putting a limit on what they can do because Brown has them
> believing in each other. Maybe it will change in the playoffs. Maybe
> not. Grade: A

> Miami Heat <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/MIA>: 
> A week before the regular season, coach and president Pat Riley 
> called trusty assistant Stan Van Gundy into his office to tell him, 
> "I'm out, you're in." Riley's sudden resignation stunned the basketball 
> world, and the Heat struggled to a 3-11 start with an awful schedule. 
> But the additions of Lamar Odom and rookie Dwyane Wade made a 
> difference. Caron Butler, after an horrible start, got healthy and 
> regained his confidence. Eddie Jones and Brian Grant got healthier 
> and happier with the injection of youthful talent. Though they lacked 
> the size to be serious playoff contenders, they went from two 
>seasons in the lottery to earning the fourth spot in the East. 
Grade: A

> Milwaukee Bucks <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/MIL>: With
> rookie coach Terry Porter coming home and a completely revamped roster,
> nobody knew what to expect -- but it wasn't much. Instead, Porter
> implored the group to play with his hard-nosed style on defense and
> share the ball on offense. Michael Redd became a star, Desmond Mason
> gave them defense and excitement, Toni Kukoc provided veteran floor
> leadership and rookie T.J. Ford brought speed before a spinal injury.
> They even added more offense and rebounding with Kevin Van Horn at the
> trade deadline. Consequently, the Bucks had a winning record for nearly
> the entire season, which in the East is good enough for the sixth seed
> in the first round. Grade: A

> Minnesota Timberwolves <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/MIN>:
> After superstar Kevin Garnett's years of frustration, GM Kevin McHale
> finally put some talent around him. Adding Sam Cassell, Latrell
> Sprewell, Michael Olowokandi, Trenton Hassell and Ervin Johnson changed
> the face of the team. Although Olowokandi, Wally Szczerbiak and Troy
> Hudson struggled with injuries, Flip Saunders kept the ball moving and
> the team winning. Cassell had the best season of his career, Garnett is
> the likely league MVP, and after a brief slip, they have loads of
> momentum going into the playoffs with the best record in team history.
> Grade: A

> New Jersey Nets <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/NJ>: 
> The Nets have rolled four seasons into one. First there was the team 
> that had Mourning at center through the first four weeks before he retired
> to have a kidney transplant. That was followed by the Byron Scott watch
> before he was fired. They proceeded to win the first 13 games under
> Lawrence Frank, an NBA record. Meanwhile, Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin
> spent much of the season struggling with aching knees and Richard
> Jefferson kept getting better. They too easily won the woeful Atlantic
> Division, and the odds are astronomical against them winning a third
> consecutive East title. Grade: B-minus

> New Orleans Hornets <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/NO>: They
> entered their second season in the Big Easy with great expectations for
> their final season in the East. They got local favorite Tim Floyd as
> coach, with Jamal Mashburn and Baron Davis healthy for a change, along
> with the vastly improving Jamaal Magloire and steady P.J. Brown. But
> guard Courtney Alexander tore his Achilles' tendon in training camp,
> Mashburn hurt his knee and David Wesley hurt his foot. Davis got off to
> a fabulous start, but then it was downhill. Mashburn wants out and can't
> be sent out the door quickly enough, Davis quit on the team and there is
> little chance of Floyd returning. They limped into the playoffs and next
> year they go West. Grade: D-plus

> New York Knicks <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/NY>: They
> started so poorly that Scott Layden was fired as GM and replaced by
> Isiah Thomas. Thomas began turning over the team quickly, including the
> firing of coach Don Chaney and hiring Lenny Wilkens. The additions of
> Stephon Marbury, Tim Thomas, Nazr Mohammed and Penny Hardaway made 
> them different, but not necessarily better. Allan Houston has been a
> non-factor most of the season with back and knee problems. Sure, they
> made the playoffs, but without winning 40 games, it's hardly impressive.
> They have mortgaged their draft choices, so it would be logical to
> assume Thomas will continue to spin the wheel this summer. Grade: C

> Orlando Magic <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/ORL>: By the end
> of this season, the Magic might as well have started Mickey, Minnie and
> Goofy up front. Grant Hill sat out the season, Doc Rivers was fired
> after a record-setting 1-19 start, and GM John Gabriel was let go as
> well. Ultimately, superstar Tracy McGrady cracked under the pressure and
> quit on the team. It's a mess now and for the future, with the fan base
> dwindling rapidly and interim coach Johnny Davis awaiting his walking
> papers. This is a summer of reckoning for owner Rich DeVos, who has put
> the team up for sale before. He has to figure out whether to extend
> McGrady, trade him or gamble he won't leave next summer. Grade: F

> Philadelphia 76ers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/PHI>: It
> could have been worse, but they have been at loose ends since Larry
> Brown resigned last summer and went to Detroit. President Billy King has
> worked hard to keep things together, but he fired coach Randy Ayers,
> interim Chris Ford has done nothing but rub Allen Iverson the wrong way,
> and a physically and mentally battered Iverson essentially gave up to
> allow his body to heal. Now anything is possible, including everyone
> getting fired and Iverson traded. Glenn Robinson was a bust, Aaron McKie
> keeps breaking down and Eric Snow was up and down. Young center Samuel
> Dalembert kept getting better, as did swingman John Salmons, and rookie
> Kyle Korver is a great shooter. Big changes are coming. Grade: D

> Phoenix Suns <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/PHO>: When they
> dumped Bo Outlaw and Jake Tsakalidis for nothing last summer, it should
> have told us something. The sun is no longer shining on Jerry
> Colangelo's team. It's up for sale. Coach Frank Johnson was fired,
> Marbury was unloaded for draft choices, and they gave a draft choice
> away just to get rid of Tom Gugliotta's contract. Sure, Amare
> Stoudemire, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson and Leandro Barbosa are nice young
> players. But coach Mike D'Antoni has to wonder what will happen next.
> New owners breed new management and short leashes. They were a surprise
> in the playoffs last season and a bigger surprise in last place this
> season. Grade: F

> Portland Trail Blazers <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/POR>:
> When Steve Patterson and John Nash replaced Bob Whitsitt in the front
> office, they promised a change from the "Jail Blazers" reputation. Yes,
> they got rid of Bonzi Wells, Rasheed Wallace and Jeff McInnis. But in
> return, they became frontcourt heavy, lack depth at guard and are not in
> the postseason after 21 consecutive years there. Zach Randolph is the
> favorite to win most improved player, Theo Ratliff came in the Wallace
> deal to provide a great defensive presence inside and Darius Miles (for
> McInnis) has added athleticism and defense at small forward. But Shareef
> Abdur-Rahim doesn't fit with Randolph, so there's still plenty of work
> to do this summer. Grade: C-minus

> Sacramento Kings <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/SAC>: For 59
> games, the Kings were the best team in the West. They moved the ball
> with the speed and dexterity that brought to mind the Boston Celtics of
> yore. Peja Stojakovic was an MVP candidate and center Brad Miller seemed
> to be worth every penny they overpaid him. Then Chris Webber returned
> from knee rehab, and they have been 11-11 since. Mike Bibby has had a
> solid season at point guard, ditto for Doug Christie as his running
> mate, and Vlade Divac is still effective at center. But Bobby Jackson's
> abdominal strain is draining the team of energy, and the only hope is
> Webber gets his legs back just when Jackson returns for the playoffs.
> Grade: B-plus

> San Antonio Spurs <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/SA>: It's
> hard to fathom how the Spurs can have won two of the past five titles
> and stayed under the radar, but they have. The defending champs have
> replaced the retired David Robinson with Rasho Nesterovic next to Tim
> Duncan and super-defender Bruce Bowen. Defensively, they're as good as
> it gets. Tony Parker has overcome an injury-filled start to turn on the
> juice at point guard, Manu Ginobili keeps getting better and Hedo
> Turkoglu regained confidence in his jump shot. Coach Gregg Popovich has
> them as steady as any team in pro sports. They may not repeat as champs;
> then again, they might. Grade: A

> Seattle SuperSonics <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/SEA>:
> Slip-sliding away are these Sonics. Their season was filled with streaks
> and slumps. The team of shooters who don't defend put together by Wally
> Walker and Rick Sund doesn't mesh with the coach Nate McMillan's
> philosophy. Ray Allen didn't play until late December after ankle
> surgery, rookie Nick Collison had surgery on both shoulders and never
> played, Rashard Lewis didn't develop as hoped and Vladimir Radmanovic
> developed even less. They have no center, and 32-year-old Brent Barry
> enters his free-agent summer as a team leader who will bring more money
> from a team that can overpay him as a final piece of a championship
> puzzle. Ownership has to decide if it wants to pay to win or sell it to
> somebody who will. Grade: D

> Toronto Raptors <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/TOR>: Our
> neighbors to the north are another team that fits under famine in our
> feast-or-famine league. The Raptors fired GM Glen Grunwald and there
> seems little hope for coach Kevin O'Neill. All-Star Vince Carter played
> more than 70 games this season, which is monumental for him these days.
> Rookie Chris Bosh struggled with an ankle problem but is a superb talent
> and even better person. Jalen Rose came with Donyell Marshall in
> Grunwald's last trade, and they helped, but this team is lacking the
> interior wherewithal to win consistently. Whoever they hire to piece
> this back together might even take a look at moving Carter. Grade: D

> Utah Jazz <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/UTA>: When John
> Stockton retired and Karl Malone left as a free agent, it was the end of
> an era and the end of 20 consecutive seasons in the playoffs. But not
> before Jerry Sloan proved that he is as good a coach as we have seen in
> the past 20 years. Building the team around defense, effort and valuing
> possessions, the Jazz came within a game of making the playoffs behind
> the superb all-around play of forward Andrei Kirilenko. Once they lost
> Matt Harpring to knee surgery in January, it was left up to the likes of
> Raja Bell, Carlos Arroyo, Tom Gugliotta and Aleksandar Pavlovic, among
> others. They didn't make it. But it wasn't for lack of effort. Grade:
> A-minus

> Washington Wizards <http://www.sportsline.com/nba/teams/page/WAS>: When
> you consider the two best veterans on the Wizards -- Jerry Stackhouse
> and Larry Hughes -- were hurt most of the season, then you can
> understand why this very young team struggled as it did. Even free-agent
> star Gilbert Arenas played only about half the season thanks to an
> abdominal strain. But in the process, they found out that Kwame Brown
> really is a player, Steve Blake was a steal in the second round and
> Jarvis Hayes was the right rookie to take in the lottery. Etan Thomas
> will bang heads inside when he's healthy, and yes, they have another
> lottery pick coming as coach Eddie Jordan heads into his second season.
> They can choose to be optimistic ... unless you consider history. Grade:
> D-plus