NBA Midseason Report (Part 6)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Sacramento Kings

The 11-22 record the Kings carry is an indication of the turmoil that continues to ravage Sacramento and its fans. A coaching change, inconsistent play, and lack of faith from the city has been a cause of concern for the Kings. Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins, better grow up fast.

San Antonio Spurs

Old what? The Spurs showed that they still have enough fuel left, as seen in their Southwest-leading 24-10 record at the midway point. Tony Parker has emerged as the de facto leader with Tim Duncan entering the twilight zone. But Manu Ginobili's health will be a big concern. It remains to be seen whether their aging legs will be up to the task in the playoffs.

Toronto Raptors

Perhaps they need Jose Bautista and Phil Kessel to resurrect the team. The Raptors are stuck at 10-23 and not even their new 3-D court would please their fans. Enough of that. It will be another rebuilding year for Bargnani, DeRozan and company.

Utah Jazz

Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap were underrated stars in a city famous for raising the decibel levels during home games. They may not be in the mold of Karl Malone, but they aren't bad either in holding court inside. The Jazz, with a 15-17 mark, hope to ride the shoulders of their two main cogs if they were to return to the playoffs. 

Washington Wizards

Do we need explanations for their 7-26 record? Whether it was the 0-8 record to begin with, the Flip Saunders dismissal, the Andray Blatche Twitter bash, or the lack of chemistry, the Wizards are so darn bad. Period. Trade Blatche, please?

So there you have it. We've wrapped up the first half. Now we'll see how teams respond, improve, and sustain their level of performance in the second half, in the hopes of a better finish. Good luck.

NBA Midseason Report (Part 5)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Only two names to remember: Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. And the Thunder have rumbled with a 27-7 mark in midseason. Add the names Serge Ibaka, James Harden and Kendrick Perkins, and you have an unstoppable juggernaut in OKC eager for a breakout year.

Orlando Magic

While Dwight Howard awaits a verdict on his future, the Magic sat comfortably with a 22-13 mark midway to the season. Howard seems unaffected with the trade rumors, as he continued to lead the league in rebounds with 15 ppg. Ryan Anderson and Glen Davis will fill the void in case Howard leaves during the season, if only he does the unthinkable.

Philadelphia 76ers

Great second year for Doug Collins, as the 76ers sat comfortably at 20-14 at the break. Andre Iguodala emerged as an All-Star, while Lou Williams provides the much-needed points. Elton Brand has turned back the clock, while Spencer Hawes have been impressive. The Sixers are now in a prime position to clinch home-court in at least the first round if their strong play continues.

Phoenix Suns

The Suns are at the crossroads. At 14-20, age has caught up with the uptempo Suns, and even if Steve Nash continues to perform at a high level at 38, the Suns are thinking of finally rebuilding the team for the future. At least with Marcin Gortat's emergence, they now have a cornerstone to build upon.

Portland Trail Blazers

Brandon Roy's sudden retirement didn't affect the Blazers, as LaMarcus Aldridge finally emerged from the shadows to earn his first All-Star call-up. They are at 18-16, still good enough for the eighth playoff seed in the midway point. Plus with Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum and Jamal Crawford contributing, the Blazers may be hard to miss in the playoff conversation.

NBA Midseason Report (Part 4)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 


Milwaukee Bucks

A 13-20 mark isn't bad at all for the Bucks, as they sit comfortably within inches of the playoffs. However, they need more from Brandon Jennings, Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova to tow the Bucks back to the playoffs, especially now that Andrew Bogut's injury problems have returned.

Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are the undisputed lead dogs in the Twin Cities. With a 17-17 mark, the Timberwolves have essentially improved from last season's dismal showing. A playoff berth is within sight, and they may only get better from here.

New Jersey Nets

Same ol' problems for the departing New Jersey Nets. Their 10-25 mark is not what Nets fans want to see as they move from Jersey to Brooklyn at season's end. The loss of Brook Lopez was huge for the Nets, and it may have essentially ended their season here. 

New Orleans Hornets

The moment Chris Paul packed his bags from Bayou to Hollywood, Monty Williams knew a tough season would come. And it did. The 8-25 Hornets suffered from empty seats, injuries and a lack of confidence. Winning no longer exists in NOLA, and the Hornets have to rebuild from hereon.

New York Knicks

If not for Jeremy Lin's emergence, the Knicks may have never entered the playoff conversation. A seven-game winning streak have them flirt with a winning record for the first time since early in the season, and a part of it was from a Taiwanese-American benchwarmer turned full-time starter. Linsanity is on a roll, baby.

NBA Midseason Report (Part 3)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Indiana Pacers

At 21-12, the Pacers have surprised the league with their strong defense and excellent rebounding. Roy Hibbert has blossomed into an All-Star, while David West has influenced the team's play with his leadership. Provided they keep this play at a high level, they may afford themselves of home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The 20-11 Clippers have so far supplanted the legendary Lakers as the darlings of L.A. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have forged a successful on-court partnership with Paul's brilliant passing and Griffin's electrifying dunks drawing oohs and ahhs all over America. The Clippers hope to nail their first division title in team history if they continue their strong, magnificent play.

Los Angeles Lakers

They may be at 20-14, but the road hasn't been kind for the Lakers, chalking up a 6-12 mark away. Not even Kobe Bryant's 40-point games will help, and neither will Andrew Bynum's breakout season. It is clear the Lakers were utterly distracted by Pau Gasol trade rumors, and if it continues, it may be the end of the road for the purple and gold.

Memphis Grizzlies

They sit at 19-15 during the break, a similar pace from last season. Again a key injury (Zach Randolph's knee) brought the team together, and they have responded to the challenge. Marc Gasol is having an All-Star year, while Rudy Gay has bounced back well from a shoulder injury. Still, anything can happen, so hope the Grizzlies continue their strong play towards the end of the season.

Miami Heat

The way the trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh have played seem to infect the entire Heat roster. And it did, resulting in a 27-7 mark at the break. Trust a rookie like Norris Cole, play hard like Udonis Haslem, Joel Anthony and Shane Battier, and find a way to shoot like Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller and James Jones, and you find a Heat team that seems to get even hotter with every game. The second half will be a big test on how far they've come as a team.

NBA Midseason Report (Part 2)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been. 

Dallas Mavericks

A slow start may have derailed their campaign but the defending champions have found a way to bounce back, ending the season's first half at 21-13. Dirk Nowitzki may be struggling, but don't discount the Mavs yet, as their defense continues to be strong despite the loss of Tyson Chandler. Lamar Odom has finally found the groove, which is good news for Dallas.

Denver Nuggets

After a promising start, the Nuggets went on a tailspin. The loss of Danilo Gallinari for perhaps the season affected the team's play, which led to an 18-17 mark at the break and ninth in the West. However, anything can happen in the rough-and-tumble West, so expect the Nuggets to turn things around.

Detroit Pistons

At 11-24, the Pistons are in a good spot to challenge for at least the eighth playoff spot, but only if luck and better play prevailed. Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe are the team's future, so the Pistons hope the two learn quickly in their new role as franchise leaders. 

Golden State Warriors

If the Golden State Warriors were in the Eastern Conference, they may as well snap a four-year playoff drought. But at 13-17 and with stronger competition out West, the Warriors may have to wait a few more years. Stephen Curry's injury problems have affected the team's chemistry, and despite coach Mark Jackson's promise of improving the defense, the Warriors remain a 'shoot first, defend second' team, a trademark of the 90s teams under Don Nelson.

Houston Rockets

Kevin McHale must have redeemed himself after a pair of unsuccessful coaching tenures in Minnesota. The Rockets are sitting comfortably with a 20-14 mark, and provided they maintain their strong play, they may sneak into the playoffs for the first time since Yao Ming's last healthy season. The 'SML' line (Scola, Martin, Lowry) have performed well for the Rockets, and with Samuel Dalembert playing as if he never left Philly, the Rockets were in a good position to challenge for a playoff berth. 

NBA Midseason Report (Part 1)

We've reached the All-Star Break aka the midpoint of the NBA season. Some teams have so far exceeded expectations, others didn't. We look at all 30 teams at a glance on how the first half of the season has been.

Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford went down with a shoulder injury that ended his season, yet the Hawks have adapted to his absence, with a 20-14 record at the break. Joe Johnson remains an All-Star player, while Josh Smith stepped up his game. Then again, are they ready to take it to the next level?

Boston Celtics

Aging team whose days were numbered. A fragile bench, injuries and creaky legs led to an uninspiring 15-17 record at the break. No longer championship contenders at this point, so expect Danny Ainge to pull the plug at season's end.

Charlotte Bobcats

Sixteen straight losses led to a mediocre 4-28 mark. Nothing to say. Michael Jordan is not a good executive.  The Bobcats are too young and too immature, and no effort has been made to add All-Star talent to keep Bobcats fans happy. 

Chicago Bulls

Not even Derrick Rose's extended absences have prevented the Bulls from surging to a 27-8 mark at the break. Luol Deng finally broke out, while Richard Hamilton fulfilled the Bulls' needs of an shooter. Defense remains a Bulls hallmark of success, and should continue so until the season's end.

Cleveland Cavaliers

After a frustrating rookie debut, Kyrie Irving started to make his mark in Cleveland. The Cavs are 13-18 at the break, on the cusp of the top eight. Irving and Tristan Thompson are the future of the franchise in transition, as they look to move on from LeBron.