| Halfway Home NBA Report Cards Authored by Scott Shniderman - January 27, 2007 - 10:56 am
January 27, 2007
By Scott Shniderman
Basketball fans, most teams are halfway through the NBA season. There are some surprises, some busts, and some teams are right where we thought they would be. First, I am going to run down the Eastern Conference, by division, in order of actual record, and give out my “Halfway Home” report cards.
If the playoffs started today the matchups in the East would look like this:
(8) New Jersey Nets at (1) Washington Wizards
(5) Chicago Bulls at (4) Toronto Raptors
(6) Indiana Pacers at (3) Cleveland Cavaliers
(7) Orlando Magic at (2) Detroit Pistons
Let’s start with the Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division.
It’s fitting that we start with the absolute worst division in the NBA. There is nowhere to go but up. The team sitting in first is actually under .500. Hard to believe that if the playoffs started today, the Toronto Raptors would be the four seed in the East.
TORONTO RAPTORS (22-22) B
I Raptors get a B because they are actually in first place in this horrific division. The 2006-2007 Atlantic might be the first division in the history of the NBA where a team with a sub-.500 record could win it. In my preseason predictions, I actually had the Raps with 31 wins, and Toronto is well ahead of that pace, but some of their young pups might hit the rookie wall. Bargnani and Garbajosa have been solid, both averaging right around 10 PPG. Bosh missed two weeks with a sore left knee, but has returned strong and leads the team in both points and rebounds at 21 PPG and 11 RPG.
Fantasy Surprise: T.J. Ford has averaged 15+ PPG and just under 8 APG. If he can stay healthy, he will be a solid #1 PG this season.
NEW JERSEY NETS (20-23) D+
How is a team that has Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson not running away with this division? Losing Nenad Krstic and his 16.8 PPG and 8.6 RPG for the year with a torn ACL obviously hasn’t helped. New Jersey is an annual slow starter, and they hope that this is just their usual sluggish start. RJ had been dinged up with a sore right ankle and just hadn’t been the same this year. He finally decided to go under the knife this week and will be out for six weeks while recovering. I had the Nets pegged for 50 wins, but if they continue at this pace, as they like to say in the Jersey swamps, fuggedaboudit.
Fantasy Surprise: Hardly a complete surprise, but Jason Kidd leads the team in rebounds (8.3), assists (9.1), and steals (1.9) per game, while also contributing 14.5 PPG. Additionally, he already has six triple doubles on the season. One of the best all around fantasy picks of the season so far.
NEW YORK KNICKS (19-26) C+
While 19 wins is nothing to get too excited about, they are actually playing much better than expected. New York has had some very impressive wins over Utah, Denver, Miami, Chicago and Cleveland. The David Lee tip-in against Charlotte in December with 0.1 on the clock in double OT was one of the most exciting plays the Garden has seen in long time. The fact the Bobcats part-owner Michael Jordan was in the house for the fans to taunt made it even sweeter for Knicks backers.
Fantasy Surprise: This is the Eddy Curry Isiah Thomas thought he was trading for when he offered up two (!) first round picks to Chicago. He leads the team with 19.1 PPG and is also chipping in 7.2 RPG. Very solid fantasy C thus far.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (13-31) F
After starting 3-0, the Sixers have been in a total free fall. Things have gotten so bad that the team traded its icon, Allen Iverson and released Chris Webber. If they were in fact going to trade AI, the Sixers should have moved him over the summer when they could have gotten a lot more value for the disgruntled superstar. Their return for a first ballot Hall of Famer? A good, not great point guard (Andre Miller), an expiring contract (Joe Smith) and two late first rounders. Not exactly great work. But that’s why Billy King is one of the worst GMs in the league. This team is going nowhere fast and I would be surprised if they reached twenty wins on the season.
Fantasy Surprise: With the original AI gone, AI2, Andre Iguodala, is ready to step up. But the surprise beneficiary might be Kyle Korver. He is averaging 14.3 PPG and with a real point running the show, he can spot up and shoot the three more often.
BOSTON CELTICS (12-30) INC.
This team is the definition of streaky, already having three long losing streaks of five, six and five, while also having a five game winning streak. Boston took a huge blow to their division hopes when Paul Pierce sustained a foot injury, which is expected to sideline him into February. Tony Allen is also lost for the year with a ACL injury and Wally’s World has suffered through injuries almost all season. Since PP went down, the C’s are 2-16. Ouch.
Fantasy Surprise: While many have been skeptical, in a turn of events I thought was very possible, Al Jefferson is having a great season so far. He is averaging 14.2 PPG and 10.4 RPG. Ride him while he is hot, and he could be even better with Pierce and Allen out.
Let’s now move onto the Eastern Conference’s Central Division, probably the strongest from top to bottom in the NBA this year.
DETROIT PISTONS (24-17) A-
Many pundits were ready to write off the Pistons after losing Ben Wallace. Their time in the Central penthouse was supposed to be over with the improved Bulls and Cavs, right? Wrong. Detroit’s defense has barely missed a beat and the Pistons are percentage points ahead of Cleveland for first in the division. They recently signed Detroit native Chris Webber to help their offense. He is going to play the 5 and is a great passing big man. Billups has missed nine games with a hamstring injury, but has stepped up his game big time and the team has four players (Hamilton, Billups, R. Wallace, Prince) averaging over 12 PPG.
Fantasy Surprise: Nazr Mohammed actually started pretty decently in place of Ben Wallace, averaging 6.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1 BPG. However, now that the Pistons have landed Chris Webber, Nazr’s minutes have been non-existent. He’s recently been chalking up the DNP-CD’s and is on the trading block.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (25-18) A-
This team is tied for first and might be the most consistent team in the Central. Larry Hughes has already missed 11 games, and unless he can stay healthy (highly doubtful) and really step up his game in the second half of the season, LeBron will need to take this team on his back in the playoffs. The Cavs have three players averaging over 12 PPG (James, Hughes, Ilgauskas) with a fourth just under at 11.6 (Gooden).
Fantasy Surprise: Drew Gooden faces stiff competition each year and every time he seems to fight them off to keep his job and maintain his surprising stats. He has fought off Marshall and Varejao for minutes at the 4 and has a very respectable 11.6 PPG and 8.6 RPG.
CHICAGO BULLS (25-19) B+
This Bulls team is a very hard one to figure out. Their inconsistency is the only thing preventing me from giving them an A. They started out 3-9, recovered with a very impressive 14-3 record in December, but then followed it up by losing 5 of their first 6 in January. This team has the talent to do some major damage in the playoffs. If they can add a star scorer before the trade deadline (Gasol? Garnett? Pierce?), they will probably be the favorite coming out of the East. If not, it’s a wide open race.
Fantasy Surprise: Andres Nocioni has led the team in scoring in six games to date and is averaging over 15.6 PPG and 6.2 RPG. Pretty good for a guy that went in the last few rounds of most fantasy drafts.
INDIANA PACERS (22-20) B+
The Indiana Pacers are finding ways to hang with the “Big 3” in the Central. Jermaine O’Neal has been an absolute monster, leading the team and averaging 19+ PPG, 10 RPG and 3 BPG. The Pacers decided to make a major move last week trading away their top 2 scorers after O’Neal in Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. GM Larry Legend had become tired of the off-the-court incidents with Jackson and would trade just about anyone besides JO in a package to move Jackson. Bird and the Pacers got back two former lottery picks from the Golden State Warriors in Mike Dunleavy and Troy Murphy. They lost some athleticism and scoring in the deal, but gained some rebounding and height back. The Pacers want to see what the new guys can bring to the table as they ready for the second half of the season.
Fantasy Surprise: Jamaal Tinsley has stayed healthy and played in every game so far this season. This by itself could be considered the fantasy surprise, but the fact that he has also led the team with 6+ APG and chipped in 12+ PPG is also a huge help to the Pacers. He has emerged as a solid #2 fantasy PG.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (17-26) INC.
The Bucks have been ravaged by injuries during the first half of the season.. They lost Michael Redd at the beginning of January for 4-6 weeks to a knee injury, lost Bobby Simmons for the season to a heel injury and Mo Williams for 2 weeks to a sprained shoulder. Charlie Villanueva was out for 4-6 weeks as well. The Bucks decided to be proactive and go get a scorer, acquiring Earl Boykins from Denver for Steve Blake, and he has not disappointed averaging 18 PPG since arriving in Brew City.
Fantasy Surprise: Andrew Bogut has taken it upon himself to become the go-to guy for Milwaukee with all of their injuries. His 12+ PPG and 8.9 RPG have been sorely needed and even chipped in a 20/20 (pts/rebs) game along the way. Bogut has emerged into a solid #1 fantasy C and will only get better as the season progresses.
Lastly in the East, let’s discuss the Southeast Division.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (25-17) A
Hibachi! It’s almost as fun to type as to watch and hear Agent Zero yell it at the Verizon Center after a game winner. Gilbert already has three 50+ point games (including one 60 point outburst vs. Kobe and the Lakers) and two game winning 3’s at the buzzer. He also has hit 9 other shots with 3 or less seconds left in a game, half or quarter. In the history of the franchise coming into this year the Bullets/Wizards have had seven 50+ point performances, and Arenas already has 3 this season! If GA doesn’t get major MVP votes this season, something is wrong. If you take away Nash from the Suns, they are still a playoff team. If you take away Dirk from the Mavs, they are still a playoff team. If you take away Arenas from the Wiz, Washington would be a lottery lock instead of first place in the conference.
Fantasy Surprise: Caron Butler is averaging 21 PPG, 8 RPG and 4 APG. Those are All-Star numbers. Butler has been a perfect #2 option for the Wiz as a complement to Gilbert’s breakout season this year, and because of Arenas’ clutch shots no one until recently outside of DC seems to have noticed the season Caron’s been having. If you were able to snag Butler in the mid to late rounds of your fantasy draft give yourself a big pat on the back. He has been a bonafide fantasy stud this season.
ORLANDO MAGIC (23-21) B-
Dwight Howard is a man-child. Many “experts” scolded the Orlando franchise for passing on All-American Emeka Okafor for Howard with the #1 pick in 2004, but the Magic are quite happy with Mr. Howard thank you very much. He leads the team with 17.0 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 1.9 BPG. He also had a 30 point, 25 point explosion vs. Golden State this month. If anyone in the league can put up a 30-30, it will be Howard. The only thing missing with this guy is a catchy nickname. I guess it will be coined in due time.
Fantasy Surprise: Grant Hill has been able to stay relatively healthy, playing in 37 of 44 games so far. He has been able to chip in with almost 15 PPG and shooting 53% from the field. He has also provided veteran leadership to a young team contending quicker than expected.
MIAMI HEAT (19-24) D
The only thing saving the Heat from an F grade is the fact that they lost the heart and soul of their team, The Big Aristotle, Shaquille O’Neal, in the first week of the season. After Shaq went down, Pat Riley decided it was time for a medical leave of absence, and Ron Rothstein has been filling in. With The Diesel out for all but four games, the team has been in a funk. Wade is having an MVP type season averaging over 28 PPG, just under 8 RPG and just under 2 SPG. The problem for Miami is that no one else has stepped up. They do have the most players any Eastern Conference team averaging over 10 PPG with six players up to the task (Wade, O’Neal, Haslem, Williams, Mourning and Kapono).
Fantasy Surprise: Jason Kapono is averaging double digit scoring for the first time in his career coming in at 10 PPG in just 24 MPG. Throw in the 64 3PM and almost 2.5 APG on the season and he has been a serviceable end of the rotation player for your fantasy squad. If he got any more tick, he could push into the very respectable 13-15 PPG range.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (15-27) C-
After starting 5-16, the ‘Cats have gone a respectable 10-11 as the team is going through some expected growing pains. They have had some quality wins beating Detroit (twice) Cleveland, Utah and the L.A. Lakers. Emeka Okafor is really starting to show his potential averaging just under 15 PPG, 11 RPG and just under 3 BPG. Let’s see what Michael Jordan can do with this team with a full regular and off-season under his belt.
Fantasy Surprise: Ray Felton has been everything the Bobcats could have asked since they drafted the UNC hometown hero last season. This year he is averaging 14.2 PPG and 7.6 SPG, while chipping in 1.46 SPG. Very solid #2 option at the guard position for your fantasy squad.
ATLANTA HAWKS (15-26) F
While no one really expected the Hawks to be very good this year it’s hard to give them anything but an F. Joe Johnson has been all-everything for this squad averaging 24.8 PPG and just under 4 RPG and 4 APG. Besides JJ, there is nothing dyno-mite about the Hawks. The Speedy Claxton off-season signing has been a bust. Many were expecting big things from last year’s #2 overall pick, Marvin Williams. He has scored 12.4 PPG and 4.7 RPG, but only has missed the first six weeks after breaking a finger in the preseason. The Hawks passed over all-everything point guard Chris Paul to take the North Carolina product last season, so Williams better step it up in the second half.
Fantasy Surprise: Josh Childress has averaged 13.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 1 BPG while not starting a single game for the Hawks this season. He could provide some numbers for you as a fill-in if one of your big guns goes down.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Anyone who follows hoops knows that the Western Conference is much stronger than the Eastern Conference this year. Some say all eight playoff teams in the West are better than any playoff team in the East. They still need to play out the second half before we can crown a champ, so here are the Western Conference “Halfway Home” report cards.
If the playoffs started today in the West the matchups would look like this:
(8) Los Angeles Clippers at (1) Phoenix Suns
(5) Los Angeles Lakers at (4) Utah Jazz
(6) Houston Rockets at (3) San Antonio Spurs
(7) Denver Nuggets at (2) Dallas Mavericks
Let’s start with the division that many believe to have three NBA title contenders, the Western Conference’s Southwest Division.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (35-9) A
This team was up 2-0 in the Finals last year and was ready to provide a knockout blow in Game 3, when Dwyane Wade took over and led the Heat to four straight wins and their first NBA title. Perhaps the near miss has made the Mavericks hungrier, because this team is on a mission this year. After starting 0-4, Dallas is a remarkable 35-5 since. They also have had thirteen, twelve and eight game win streaks, and we are only halfway through the season! When Dirk Nowitzki is on his game this team is nearly unstoppable and they have a legit budding superstar in Josh Howard. The team has other scoring options as well. After Dirk and J-Ho, the Mavs have three other players scoring in double digits (Jason Terry 15.7, Jerry Stackhouse 10.7 and Devin Harris 10.5). If Dallas and Phoenix do meet up in the Western Conference Finals, the ball will be falling through the nets at a furious pace.
Fantasy Surprise: I think everyone has been waiting for Josh Howard to emerge as the #2 option on the team after The Big German. But it is how well rounded Howard’s game is that surprises. Josh has averaged nearly 20 PPG while chipping in 7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.26 SPG and 1 BPG. This guy is a fantasy commodity. Congrats to those who snagged him in their fantasy drafts.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (31-14) A
The Spurs might be getting older, but don’t count them out just yet. Tim Duncan looks rejuvenated leading the team in PPG (19.8), RPG (10.5) and BPG (2.2). Throw in another stellar year from Eva’s fiancée Tony Parker (19 PPG, 5+ APG) and a relatively healthy Manu Ginobili, and this team can hang with anyone in the playoffs. The team is very well balanced and has a lot of veteran leaders ready to help the squad make another playoff run. I’m just not sure this team can knock off either of the top dogs in the West. The team does know what it takes to get to the Finals winning the NBA’s Larry O’Brien Trophy twice in the last seven years and that has to count for something.
Fantasy Surprise: While Tony Parker had a great year last season, some thought it might have been a career year. Mr. Longoria is proving everyone wrong by posting tremendous numbers for the second year in a row. He leads the team in assists (5.6) and is averaging his career high in points at 19 per game.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (27-16) B
This team can never seem to keep all of its superstars on the court at the same time. Houston looked to be ready to step it up to the elite status of the league when Yao Ming started the first 27 games as a legitimate MVP candidate. Yao was having the best season of his career averaging 25.9 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG and 2.2 BPG. He went down with a broken foot in December and is expected out until at least late February. You’ve all read the record of their games where the Rockets have both Yao and T-Mac on the floor and games without their Big Two. I will spare you the exact numbers, but let’s just say this team’s Finals chances rely on their M&M combo to be healthy and ready for the playoffs.
Fantasy Surprise: The one silver lining for the Rockets when Yao went down seemed to be the fountain of youth found by Old Man Dikembe Mutombo. In one of the biggest non-stories of the NBA this season, the former Hoya has made public pleas to the media and others to stop calling him old. I say get over it Deke. While he might take offense to me (or anyone else calling him) Old Man, he has led the team in rebounding for thirteen straight games and can provide some rebounding for your fantasy squad grabbing double digit rebounds in 11 of them.
NEW ORLEANS/OKLAHOMA CITY HORNETS (17-25) C
Yes, I know that their three best players have been injured for most of the year, but this team showed such great strides last season. I think every hoop head saw the Peja Stojakovic injury coming from a mile away. It’s a shame that Chris Paul and David West had to also go down so early for this team. West returned on Friday and has not wasted any time averaging over 22 PPG and 11 RPG in his first four games back. The Hornets are expecting CP3 back in the first or second week of February, so maybe brighter things are on the horizon for the NO/OKC squad.
Fantasy Surprise: Tyson Chandler has tons of talent. He was never able to effectively showcase his skills in Chicago, but now that he has moved onto the Crescent City, Chandler is a rebounding machine. He leads the team with 11.1 RPG and 1.6 BPG and also chips in 6.8 PPG as well. You could do a lot worse for your #2 fantasy C.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (11-33) F
This team is an utter mess on the road, winning only 3 of their first 22 away from FedEx Forum. Yes, they were without their best player to start the season, Pau Gasol, but this team was a playoff squad last season. To fall this far from grace is embarrassing. The Czar of the Telestrator, ex-head coach Mike Fratello, is back in television after being fired earlier this season. Now that Gasol is finally healthy, the team is talking about trading him and rebuilding. This team is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.
Fantasy Surprise: Chucky Atkins is the team’s third leading scorer at 13.3 per game. He also dishes out 4+ assists per game and already has 56 3PM on the season. The wily veteran has found a way to carve out a niche for himself in this league.
Let’s move out to the Pacific division of the Western Conference.
PHOENIX SUNS (35-8) A
The Suns also started out slow, winning their first game, but then losing 4 in a row to drop to 1-4. They took another 37 games to lose their next four games. They currently stand at 35-8, good for the best overall record in the NBA. Their amazing stretch of basketball now includes two (!) 15 game winning streaks. Many believe the Finals are the Suns’ to lose at this point. Steve Nash is absolutely amazing to watch, making everyone around him better. An NBA best six players on Phoenix average over 10 PPG (Nash 19.5, Marion 18.9, Stoudemire 18.4, Barbosa 16.4, Bell 15.1 and Diaw 10.3).
Fantasy Surprise: Leandro Barbosa is averaging 16.4 PPG. When you throw in his 4.3 APG, 2.5 RPG and 1.0 SPG this guy is pretty darn good. Not bad stats for a guy who doesn’t even start! Barbosa would be the best shooting guard on at least five NBA teams. That’s how deep this Suns team is.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (27-16) A-
What makes the Lakers solid first half record is that they have done this without their second best player, Lamar Odom. Odom missed 21 games with a knee injury before returning on Friday in a loss to the Jazz. Kobe has been Kobe, but others on the Lake Show have stepped up as well. Andrew Bynum and Brian Cook have shown flashes of brilliance, but are really too inconsistent to be counted on.
Fantasy Surprise: To this point in his career Luke Walton has been mostly known as Bill Walton’s son. This could be the year that changes. Luke has averaged almost 12 PPG, just under 5 RPG, 4 APG and 1 SPG. Very solid all around numbers for a guy who was probably a free agent after your fantasy draft.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (21-21) D
This team is supremely frustrating to watch and even more puzzling to follow. They had a very nice playoff run last season, but if you looked up “underachievers” in the dictionary you would find a picture of this Clips squad next to it. Chris Kaman has regressed after his breakout season last year. Shaun Livingston lost his opportunity to take over the starting point job by only averaging 9.6 PPG and 5.5 APG, disappointing so many who were expecting big things from him this year. Even Elton Brand’s numbers are down this year across the board. Sammy Cassell is ready to take back his old gig and seems to have lit a fire under this team as they’ve won four straight. Not sure what is wrong with this team, but it has the talent to do some damage in the playoffs if they can somehow get it together in the second half.
Fantasy Surprise: Even though he’s started less then half the Clippers games, Sam Cassell is averaging 14.4 PPG and 5.5 APG. This guy is ready to take his old job back and run with it. I see a big second half coming for Cassell, if you can somehow trade for him in your league go do it now.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (10-23) C
This team decided to shake it up last week trading two former lottery picks, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy, to get a little more athletic and acquired Stephen Jackson and Al Harrington. S-Jack needs a new city to clean up his image and Harrington is having a good season after getting out of the NBA purgatory known as Atlanta as a free agent this off-season. Both players jumped right into the mix in Oaktown averaging over 20 PPG each in their first two games as Warriors. Jason Richardson has only played in 23 games because of a broken hand, but is due back for the first game after the All-Star Game.
Fantasy Surprise: Monta Ellis was on some fantasy websites’ sleeper lists, but I don’t think anyone could have predicted what the former straight from high school to the NBA second round draft pick has done this year. Ellis has averaged 17.7 PPG and 4.2 APG and has provided a huge spark for this feisty Warriors squad and has a solid NBA career ahead of him.
SACRAMENTO KINGS (17-24) F
Another playoff team from last year that has been entirely disappointing. There has already been the predictable Artest drama. The Kings are usually a fantastic team at home, but not this year, hanging around the .500 mark at Arco. Brad Miller missed 11 games with an injury and the Kings have also not been helped by disappointing seasons from other bigs Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Kenny Thomas.
Fantasy Surprise: Kevin Martin leads Sacramento in scoring pouring in over 20 PPG. He also contributes 4.5 RPG, 1+ SPG and 2+ APG. Tremendous numbers for a guy who you picked in the last few rounds of your fantasy draft. He is a very serviceable #2 or #3 guard on your fantasy team.
Finally, let’s discuss the West’s Pacific Division.
UTAH JAZZ (29-15) A
The fact that this team is fives games ahead of anyone else in the division is a testament to Jerry Sloan’s ability to get the best of the talent he has. This team didn’t even make the playoffs last season, and now they are frontrunners in the Pacific at the halfway mark. Carlos Boozer is an absolute machine this year, averaging an insane 22.1 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 3.2 APG. Andrei Kirilenko has actually been a bust this year (only 9 PPG, 5.2 RPG), but Utah’s front line is still very formidable with Mehmet Okur contributing 17+ PPG and 7+ RPG.
Fantasy Surprise: Deron Williams has had a breakout first half in his second year in the Association. 17 PPG and 8.8 APG, those are All-Star numbers folks. He probably won’t be going to Sin City, but Williams is a huge reason why the Jazz are in first place right now.
DENVER NUGGETS (22-18) B
I debated giving this team in incomplete grade because we haven’t really seen the real Nuggets yet. After the Brawl in the Big Apple, the NBA’s leading scorer Carmelo Anthony was suspended 15 games and J.R. Smith also served a 10 game suspension. Both of those players are finally back for the Nuggs, but the team has had a major overhaul in the time that the team’s top two scorers were out. So much so that Smith is no longer the team’s #2 scorer. Denver made the biggest trade splash this year to date acquiring superstar Allen Iverson from Philadelphia for their starting point guard (Andre Miller) and spare parts. Many thought that Earl Boykins might have been in line for more minutes, but they decided to move him as well, shipping him to Milwaukee for Steve Blake. When the dust settled the new staring five for Denver looks like Blake and AI in the backcourt with Anthony, Reggie Evans and Marcus Camby in the front court. This team could be very dangerous once everyone learns their teammates’ strengths and weaknesses.
Fantasy Surprise: Marcus Camby is averaging over 12 PPG and over 12 RPG to go along with 2.9 BPG. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Camby’s season is that he has only missed 5 games due to injury. If Cambyman can stay healthy this team will be very dangerous come playoff time.
Minnesota Timberwolves (20-22) B
The Timberwolves have actually been the team I believe is the biggest overachiever this season so far, when considering the talent on this team outside of KG. KG leads the team in points per game, (22+) rebounds per game (12.7), steals per game (1) and blocks per game (2). He averages 4.3 assists per game is only 0.1 behind Ricky Davis per game, or else he would be the only player in the league to lead his team in all five statistical categories. Think about that for a second…sick. The Wolves just fired their coach, Dwayne Casey and replaced him with Randy Wittman. It is yet to be seen if Wittman will be able to continue to get this team to overachieve as well as Casey did.
Fantasy Surprise: Mark Blount has been nothing but a bust in his entire NBA career. This is, until this season. He is averaging a very solid 13.2 PPG and 6.6 RPG so far this season. I’m not sure he can continue on this pace, but if you have him on your fantasy squad enjoy him now and ride out his hot streak.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (18-26) C+
The Blazers were another team I thought would be one of the worst in the NBA this year, but they are finding ways to win more games than expected. Zach Randolph is showing the reasons why Portland gave him a long contract extension by being one of only a few to average a 20/10 (23.6 PPG and 10.2 APG) for the first half of the season. It’s really too bad Brandon Roy missed 20 games with a heel injury because this kid can really play. In only 22 NBA games, he is averaging almost 17 PPG and will only get better with time.
Fantasy Surprise: Jarrett Jack was handed the starting point guard role to start the season and has done pretty much everything Coach McMillan could have asked of him by scoring 12.5 PPG and 5.5 APG. Very serviceable #4 guard for your fantasy squad.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (17-26) D+
Seattle is a respectable at home in the Emerald City. But they are a horrendous 4-16 on the road. That’s just not going to get it done in the NBA. This team has talent. Ray Allen is having a typical great season averaging 26.1 PPG and Rashard Lewis is having a nice year pouring in just under 22 PPG. Ridnour and Wilcox add 13 PPG. This team needs to tighten up its defense and settle on a starting five. This team has changed their lineup too many times this season to develop any consistency.
Fantasy Surprise: Nick Collison is finally getting the staring C job to himself and has taken advantage of it. Over his last five games he is averaging 18.2 PPG and 7.6 RPG. If Bob Hill would let him stay in the lineup this kid could be a very solid power forward for your fantasy team in the second half of the year. If he is available in your league, it’s time to go get him and hope he can keep it up.
Well, there you have it. The “Halfway Home” report cards for all 32 NBA teams. Here’s hoping for an amazing NBA All-Star Weekend from Las Vegas in February and to an exciting second half to the NBA season.
Scott can be reached directly at scottx2000@yahoo.com with any comments, questions, or musings.
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