NBA's Halfway Point: Where the Teams Stand

It's been an interesting first half to this NBA season, wouldn't you say? We've had surprise players and surprise teams; teams ravished by injuries, teams that flat out dominate, and teams that are flat out brutal.

Almost all of these teams have played somewhere near 40 games, and with the All-Star game fast approaching, I figure it's an appropriate time to analyze what has gone on in the first half of this season. Here is a team-by-team analysis (separated by division) of the season thus far.

Atlantic Division:

[B]Boston Celtics (26-9)[/B]
I don't think that anyone is surprised by the Celtics record at this point in the season. They were, are, and will continue to be a powerhouse until there "big three" retires.

Boston made a key offseason acquisition in getting Rasheed Wallace, who has been an invaluable asset considering the time Garnett has missed with injury. KG seems to be deteriorating with age, but Allen, Pierce, and Rondo are in full swing and the team is clicking on all cylinders. There defense is still spectacular, and they are getting great bench production from the likes of Eddie House and the aforementioned Wallace. As the season drags on, expect the age of their key guys to slow them down a bit, but this team is still a legitimate title contender at this point.

[B]Toronto Raptors (19-19)[/B]
Toronto has been on a bit of a tear of late, having won nine of their last 10 prior to yesterday's loss to the Celtics. They reeled off five in a row against slightly weaker opponents, and then upped the ante by offing San Antonio and Orlando on consecutive nights.

At the start of the season, it looked as if the Raptors were in for another long, 30-win season, what with their record setting bad defense and locker room division. However, after an important closed door meeting back in early December, the team has apparently cleared whatever animosity was bogging them down and is starting to work as a cohesive unit.

Since that meeting, they have gone from allowing 104 points a game to 94, and have found a temporary starting point guard in Jarrett Jack, who has proven to be not only a good defensive player, but a selfless, aggressive offensive force. They'll likely continue to be a middling playoff team, but anything to make Bosh want to stick past this year is a good thing.

[B]New York Knicks (15-21)[/B]
Let's be honest: this record is as shocking as any of the others you'll see in this article. After a predictably bad start, the team that everyone thought would just be going through the motions until the big free agent bonanza of 2010, the Knicks have compiled a neat little 6-4 record in their last 10 contests.

One of the main reasons for this is the improved play of PF/C David Lee, who has been putting on an absolute clinic in the art of rebounding this season. He's improved his offensive game with a consistent mid-range jumper, and appears to be detailing more effort on the defensive end. Combined with stellar play from guard Nate Robinson and a better-than-nothing type of season from long shot rookie Toney Douglas, it doesn't look like the Knicks are a playoff team quite yet, but in a not so competitive Eastern Conference, anything is possible if they keep this up.

[B]Philadelphia 76ers (11-25)[/B]
Most people predicted the 76ers to be bad; but nobody predicted them to be quite this awful. Following an offseason in which they, for some reason, undervalued point guard Andre Miller, the Sixers entered the season without anything resembling a point guard, and an injury prone power forward in the enigmatic Elton Brand, things looked bleak...and they have been. Young players like Marreesse Speights and Lou Williams have provided bright spots, but Thaddeus Young, a player who many thought to be a "stud" has disappointing, unable to find a consistent groove offensively and struggling on the other end as well. Young seems destined to a career as a dime-a-dozen swingman, a player who will likely peak at the 15/5 averages he finds himself flirting with.

The team’s best player, Andre Igoudala, is having a typical season, but it's become obvious to anyone with eyes he isn't cut out to be "the man" on any team with winning aspirations. Brand is showing the effects of his age and history of injuries, and signing Allen Iverson a few weeks ago was a nice move, it won't be enough to move this team out of the basement.

[B]New Jersey Nets (3-34)[/B]
Sigh. That's the collective sound the residents of New Jersey are making this season, as the team has reached all new levels of terrible. Hampered by injuries to point guard Devin Harris and center Brook Lopez early in the year, the Nets struggled to even put out an eight-man rotation for most games.

This, combined with the fact that they traded away there only offensive wing threat in Vince Carter for, let’s face it, scraps, led to them going 0-18, setting an NBA record for the worst start in history. Harris, the team’s best player, has tailed off from his electrifying performance the past few seasons, showing a questionable shot selection which has caused his efficiency to drop quite a bit; he's also missed 10 games to various nagging injuries.

Lopez is one of the better centers in the league, but even he has been suckered into taking long jump shots and playing questionable defense as the team plods along at a record-breaking pace. New Jersey is banking on two things at this point; one, the fact that they will almost undoubtedly be the likeliest bidders for phenom and consensus 1st-overall pick John Wall, and the ridiculous amount of cap space they have to sign free agents in 2010. This begs the question, though, who will want to sign with a team that set records for mediocrity and has a dwindling fan base?

Central Division:

[B]Cleveland Cavaliers (29-10)[/B]
This is another team, like Boston, that most fans expected to be among the elite class in the NBA this year, and they haven't disappointing (well, not entirely). Despite holding the leagues third best record, the Cavs have shown some of the same weaknesses that got them an earlier than expected boot from last year’s Playoffs.

Despite adding some slight upgrades to the bench in Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, the Cavs still show a distinct lack of a supporting cast around Lebron, and the Shaq experiment hasn't exactly worked out, as the Big Aristotle has really started to show his age. That being said, though, they do have the best player (or second best) in the business on their team, and as long as counterpart Mo Williams continues to play well, the Cavs should have no problem winning the Central outright and finishing as one of the top five teams in the league.

[B]Milwaukee Bucks (15-19)[/B]
Like the Knicks, the fact that the Bucks are at this record is a victory in itself. They currently own the eighth playoff spot in the East, although that's more of a testament to the state of the conference than it is the team; but none the less, the Bucks have shown some impressive signs. Rookie guard Brandon Jennings has been a revelation, showing an innate ability to score the basketball and natural, smooth passing skills usually unheard of in a rookie. He even exploded for a 55-point game a few weeks back, becoming only the second rookie in NBA history to reach such a gaudy mark.

The teams best players, Andrew Bogut and Michael Redd, have both predictably battled injuries (Redd more-so, the guy must be made of glass), and so they have called upon the likes of Jennings, Hakim Warrick and pleasant surprise Ersan Ilyasova for support. Luke Ridnour is having somewhat of a comeback year, providing a burst of instant offense off the bench. No one is sure how long they can keep this up for, but for now, they've been a pleasant surprise.

[B]Chicago Bulls (15-20)[/B]
From hero to zero; that's the story of the Chicago Bulls this season. Last year, they were everyone's favorite darlings, scrapping their way to nearly defeating the Celtics in an epic seven-game playoff series, on the shoulders of an amazing performance from point guard Derrick Rose.

Almost a year later, scoring machine Ben Gordon is gone, and the Bulls are plodding along, currently sitting ninth in the East. One of last year’s heroes, John Salmons, has played absolutely terrible this year, causing a lot of fans to question if he is a one-season wonder (really, last year was the only time he's come close to putting up those stats in his career) and Rose had hit a bit of a sophomore slump until recently. A pleasant surprise has been Joakim Noah, showing he can quite capably be the starting center down the road for this team.

As of right now, though, the Bulls are a team that is going along by the skin of its teeth, playing decent defense but having a hell of a time putting the biscuit in the basket. Unless Rose ultimately takes the team on his shoulders, don't expect the Bulls to replicate the success they had last year.

[B]Detroit Pistons (11-24)[/B]
For a team that spent a lot of money this offseason, they haven't exactly proven that this was worthwhile spending. The Pistons shelled out over $100 million in signing free agent guard Ben Gordon and power forward Charlie Villanueva, two players who didn't, and don't, seem to fill any particular needs for Detroit. Gordon joins a clogged backcourt that includes Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton, and Will Bynum all deserving of minutes.

Villanueva does bring something they lack from the PF position which is offensive flare, but it appears the money would have been better spent on a center. Battling injuries and the increasing age of their key components, the Pistons defense has been passable, but there offense has been surprisingly anemic, ranking second to last in the NBA at 91 points per game.. This is pretty much the exact opposite of what fans would expect given the types of players they have, but either way it's simply not working.

[B]Indiana Pacers (11-25)[/B]
The Pacers were somewhat of a surprise team last year, despite not finishing near a playoff berth, they showed some surprising flare in knocking off a number of the league’s best teams throughout the season. This year, they don't appear to be as fortunate. Mired in a bit of a one main point guard controversy, unsurprisingly involving T.J Ford and his less than stellar play, the Pacer shave had to rely on the likes of Earl Watson and Luther head as prominent backcourt players.

The teams best player, Danny Granger, is scoring at will but at a much less efficient clip than he did last year, while center Roy Hibbert has proven he's more than capable, but still has trouble keeping his foul rate down (ranking fifth in the league with 131 felonies thus far). The Pacers are a team assembled of veteran role players and centered on a not-quite-a-star wing player in Granger, as GM Larry Bird appears to be content with falling just short of a playoff birth and picking up a middling draft pick from year to year. Indy needs to make a move, and they'll need to make it soon.

Southeast Division:

[B]Orlando Magic (25-12)[/B]
Last season’s runners-up have overcome some inconsistent performances from some key players to maintain one of the top records in the league. Despite point guard Jameer Nelson missing a chunk of games due to injury (and not exactly lighting up the games he has played), and off-season acquisition Vince Carter looking like the same player who mailed it in back in his Toronto days, the Magic have received solid play from star center Dwight Howard and various other role players, such as Matt Barnes and Mikeal Pietrus and have been able to ride there solid defense so far. One has to wonder, though, if they'll be able to keep it up in the second half if there big names continue to play below the level they're capable of.

[B]Atlanta Hawks (23-13)[/B]
The Hawks have cooled down considerably since getting off to an extremely hot start, and have faltered to a 4-6 record in their last 10 games. However, they are showing they are a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference. They have the sixth best offense in the league, and look like a more cohesive unit than last year; they're fast, athletic, and play an in-your-face style that most teams have a hard time keeping up with.

This, of course, leads to some errors on the defensive end, which has been the problem in their recent mini slump. They don't seem too bothered by injury problems, though, and they have a pretty young group, so expect the Hawks to maintain the same style of play throughout the rest of the year as they battle with Orlando (whom they currently sit one and a half games behind) for the division.

[B]Miami Heat (18-17)[/B]
Despite being in virtually the exact same spot they were last season, the Heat can be viewed as a bit of a disappointment so far. Despite continuing to put up gaudy statistics and doing what he can, star guard Dwyane Wade doesn't appear to have the same "when I play good, the team plays good" effect he's had on them the past couple years.

Second year forward Michael Beasley has been once again solid if unspectacular, but they haven't been getting good production from point guard Mario Chalmers or from their bench, such a key part of what mild success they had last year. The Heat continue to be one of the better defensive teams in the league, though, and this combined with having Dwyane Wade on your team will always keep you in the playoff hunt; barring an injury to the somewhat injury prone Wade, the Heat should end up in the fourth or fifth playoff seed in the East once again.

[B]Charlotte Bobcats (16-19)[/B]
The Bobcats are simultaneously one of the best defensive teams in the league, and one of the worst defensive teams; they allow an impressive 92 points per game, but only score the same amount themselves.

This bizarre combination has them floating around .500, and currently holding down the seventh playoff seed in the East, two games ahead of the Bucks and three ahead of the Bulls. Small forward Gerald Wallace is fifth overall in rebounds per game, tallying 11.6 which is an incredible number for someone at his position; this combined with an early trade with Golden State that saw them receive Stephen Jackson in exchange for defensive specialist Raja Bell and seldom-used Vladimir Radmonovic, has set the team somewhat into motion.

Jackson has proved to be the other offensive wing threat the team so desperately needed, while next to Wallace they combine to make a formidable defensive duo. Don't expect the world from them, but at this rate it's quite possible we could see the Cats in the playoffs this year.

[B]Washington Wizards (12-23)[/B]
OK, I'll get the obvious corny joke out of the way: Washington has been gunned down this season. Yeah, that's the best I got. Before the whole Gilbert Arenas gun fiasco, the Wizards weren't exactly firing on all cylinders (OK, I'm done now, promise). They addressed none of their defensive woes this offseason and continue to be a team loaded with streaky scorers and low on defensive toughness, or any sort of reliable interior presence.

Players constantly viewed as "projects" such as Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee continue to prove they are just that and nothing more, and other key components such as Antawn Jamison and newly acquired Mike Miller have suffered from injury problems. They're getting quality production from Nick Young which is a long time coming, but with the Arenas situation on their minds and not many assets to use as trade bait, the Wizards don't appear to be headed in any significant direction, although they are on pace to eclipse the 19-win total they amassed last year.

Northwest Division:

[B]Denver Nuggets (23-14)[/B]
To quote football coach Dennis Green, "we are who we thought they were." Denver is pretty much in the exact same position they were last year, in a tight race with the Trailblazers for Northwest supremacy; they are one of the hottest offensive teams in the league once again, and there defense still leaves some to be desired.

They only made minimal changes in the offseason, losing defensive stalwart Dahntay Jones and replacing him with Aaron Afflalo has worked out relatively well, and almost all of their core players are on pace for similar statistical outputs to last year. Carmelo Anthony continues to improve, though, and with some injury problems creeping onto point guard Chauncey Billups, his continued attention to detail on the defensive end as well as his already potent offensive arsenal is vital if this team wants to keep their record intact.

[B]Portland Trailblazers (23-16)[/B]
2010: The Year of the Injury. At least that's how it's been for the Blazers this year, at one point having four of their five starters out to injury. The Blazers have lost centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla for the remainder of the season, swingman Travis Outlaw for at least two more months, and also lost guards Martell Webster and Steve Blake for extended periods.

The team has been relying on leader and best player Brandon Roy to bring a group of rookies and D-League callups to respectability, and boy has he delivered. Roy is putting up one heck of an efficient season, putting up 23 points per game on 47 percent shooting, while committing only two turnovers per contest despite playing 40 minutes almost nightly. It is unknown how long a team hit this hard by freak injuries can maintain, but they'll need this continued effort from Roy and a more inspired one from power forward Lamarcus Aldridge in order to maintain there current 6th position in an ever improving Western Conference.

[B]Oklahoma City Thunder (20-16)[/B]
I'm not sure one franchise could go from being so hated to so loved in such rapid succession, but the Thunder have done it. First viewed as a band of castoffs, the product of an ugly blemish on the NBA's skin, Seattle fans particularly miffed; since then, though, they have done their best to win over fans. Compiling a core of electrifying young talent including Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder have put together a formidable, if inexperienced, squad that seems primed to at the very least fight for a playoff spot.

They are a surprisingly good defensive team for such a young squad, and they have gotten solid contributions from the likes of Nenad Krstic and even rookie guard James Harden has proven himself a capable playmaker, if not much else yet. For the time being, they are a borderline playoff team but in the not so distant future, this team will be one to watch for.

[B]Utah Jazz (20-17)[/B]
Always consistent winning teams, the Jazz are starting to finally show how much it is hurting them not to have a capable wing scorer next to Deron Williams. They have one of the best young point guards in the league, and a capable, albeit somewhat soft, frontcourt that a lot of teams would kill for. They have decent young talent in the likes of Ronnie Brewer and pleasant surprise Wes Matthews, but they really lack a player they can give the ball to on the perimeter and have him create for himself (even in his best years, Kirilenko wasn't this player).

The Jazz sit smack dab in the middle of the league in both defensive and offensive output, which is exactly what they are; an average team. And in an ever improving Western Conference, that is quite simply not going to be enough to compete for the playoffs like they are so used to doing. I would assume they'll be using some of their young talent and expiring contracts at the deadline to try and bring in some help for a late season push.

[B]Minnesota Timberwolves (8-30)[/B]
Let’s face it, nobody expected anything from the Timberwolves this season. They overloaded themselves at the point guard position and failed to address their most pressing need, a wing player with a semblance of offensive skill. They have a frontcourt combination of offense and rebounding that a lot of teams don't have in Kevin Love and Al Jefferson, but they haven't come close to surrounding them with the right type of players. Aside from the always consistent Ryan Gomes, they don't have any wing players capable of putting up double digits in scoring.

They are a god awful defensive team, but on the bright side they do have that frontcourt intact and a fair amount of young talent (including one player, Ricky Rubio, who is still playing in Europe) and expiring contracts that they can put to good use. This season is really just a going through the motions type of year for the Wolves, although I'm sure there fans are tired of such questionable management decisions.

Pacific Division:

[B]Los Angeles Lakers (29-8)[/B]
The defending champions are up to their usual tricks again, but it hasn't been without a few bumps along the way. Kobe Bryant has had to kick it up a notch as his team has been marred by shoddy point guard play and injuries to both Pau Gasol and Ron Artest, leading a couple of their eight losses to come against questionable teams such as the Sacramento Kings.

However, it speaks volumes about the state of the team that in spite of all this, they have the best record in the league and are quite obviously favorites to repeat as champions. The only problem plaguing the Lakers currently is the play of their bench; they don't really have one. Usually, there starting five is incredible enough to be able to rectify this issue, but it has nearly cost them some close games and it's something they may want to look into at the trade deadline, but there's no pressing issues at this time for the champs; all is running smoothly in La La Land.

[B]Phoenix Suns (23-14)[/B]
Look at the Suns as the antithesis of the Charlotte Bobcats, in that they are the best offensive team in the league and one of the worst defensive teams at the same time. This has been the Suns mantra for years, and for the most part it has been moderately successful. They got off to a really hot start but have cooled off some, a tough chunk of schedule and a less than stellar road record probably the greatest reasons for this.

Steve Nash is having another MVP like season and he's getting great help from the likes of Jason Richardson and surprise bench players Goran Dragic and Jared Dudley. Amare Stoudamire is still his usual self, failing to fully utilize his god given physical gifts to become the dominant force we all know he can be, but he's putting up efficient, respectable numbers none the less. There is no reason for the Suns to fall out of the playoff race as long as even some of their offensive cylinders are clicking, it's what they do when they get there which will be the most pressing issue.

[B]Los Angeles Clippers (17-18)[/B]
In most divisions in the NBA, there are three to four playoff teams; not this one. Despite exceeding some expectations, the Clippers for the most part are there usual self’s, although to be fair they are awaiting prize rookie and first overall pick Blake Griffin to hit the court for the first time.

They've improved on their defense from last year, but they seem to be having issues putting the ball in the hoop. Once promising wingman Al Thornton has been pushed out of his starting spot in favor of Rasual Butler, and point guard Baron Davis is up to his usual tricks, those being questionable shot selection and mediocre defense. To be honest, where these 17 wins have come from, I'll never know, but the Clippers don't really seem primed as a squad to make a playoff run, unless Griffin can come in and give them a 15 and eight type of rookie year, but given their history of bad luck, that seems unlikely.

[B]Sacramento Kings (15-21)[/B]
Another team that has exceeded expectations, considering how awful they were last year. The Kings are a rebuilding team with a ton of young talent, and some of that young talent has exploded onto the scene this year, which has helped them stay somewhat competitive so far.

The most notable example here is rookie guard Tyreke Evans, who is having a sublime first year averaging 20, five, and five while being efficient in the process. Another one of these players is Omri Casspi, another rookie who has been a great surprise, showing a sweet shooting stroke and decent rebounding instincts as well. Star guard Kevin Martin has played in only five contests this year and both these players are taking full advantage of the opportunity.

They aren't a playoff team, but they are fun to watch and have certainly built a solid foundation for the future with the likes of Evans, Casspi, and frontcourt partners Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes.

[B]Golden State Warriors (11-24) [/B]
Golden State continues to be one of the most exciting teams to watch and one of the worst teams in the league. There defense is by far the worst in the league, allowing opponents to shoot a scintillating 50 percent from the field and allowing over 111 points per contest. They rattle off wins every now and then due to their offensive firepower, but this is largely a team stocked up with score-first guards and overpaid swingmen, who really lack a direction.

Don Nelson seems to have found a gem in Stephen Curry, but one wonders if he was really the type of player the Warriors needed; what they need is a big man who can play with Biedrins down low and play some defense, block some shots, and they really need to move Corey Maggette and his ridiculous contract for a couple of defensive role players. They have enough offensive flare from the likes of Monta Ellis, Curry, and Anthony Randolph, but they have to tighten up there defense and get a more definitive rotation. Then again, nobody has ever really understood the way Don Nelson's mind works, so who knows what's in store in the Bay.

Southwest Division:

[B]Dallas Mavericks (25-12)[/B]
By and large the truest and most talented thread to the Lakers in the West, the Mavericks have proven so far that there offseason acquisitions were among some of the smartest in the league. Adding the likes of Shawn Marion and Drew Gooden to what was already a stellar cast, the Mavericks have proven to be a formidable foe on both ends of the court, even if they have trouble trotting out a true centre night in and night out. Dirk Nowitzki is having an MVP-caliber year, and Jason Terry is once again proving invaluable as a sixth man and will likely win that award again this year. Dallas should be in for a tough race for the division with San Antonio, but thus far Dallas has been a little more consistent and seems primed to make some more noise in the playoffs than they did last year.

[B]San Antonio Spurs (22-13)[/B]
This was supposed to be bounce back year for the Spurs after getting pummeled in the playoffs by Dallas. As of late, the Spurs are rolling, having won seven of 10, after a pretty slow and unexpected start. It took a while for offseason acquisition Richard Jefferson, brought into provide another scoring option next to Duncan, to get into the flow of the Spurs offense.

Their other significant addition, Antonio McDyess, is looking a little slowed by age and rookie Dejuan Blair has started to pick up more minutes. The Spurs traditionally are a team that kicks it into high gear come the season’s second half and with the new parts getting integrated smoothly, things should get back to normal in San Antonio.

[B]Houston Rockets (21-16)[/B]
After losing center and franchise player Yao Ming to a potentially career ending injury, things appeared glum for the Rockets heading into this year. However, despite not having a true first option type of offensive player, the Rockets have shown a scrappiness and willingness to play defense that has won them a lot of big games this year.

They are getting great production from 6th man forward Carl Landry and another solid season from Luis Scola. Free agent signing Trevor Ariza seems a little out of his element as a main option on offense, but he's still a very good defensive player who can also get on the glass. A good majority of these players were key components in the playoffs last year for Houston and they are a team that cannot be underestimated going into the stretch run.

[B]New Orleans Hornets (19-16)[/B]
For lack of a better word, the Hornets are hot. After a disappointing start to the season in which Chris Paul missed a good chunk of action due to injury, the Hornets as of late have reeled off six straight victories and, although likely playing better than the sum of their parts, are starting to get their act together. The Hornets have an absolutely abysmal road record at 5-13, and this is something they will definitely need to rectify if they are to make a push for the playoffs.

They'll also need David West to have a much better second half of the season, after seeming lost and pretty inconsistent in the first half. Emeka Okafor has been a bit of a letdown, finding it hard to get himself involved in the offense, although his presence on the other end is undeniable. As long as Paul is healthy and clicking, the Hornets should be floating around above .500 for the remainder of the year.

[B]Memphis Grizzlies (18-18)[/B]
Thought to be a more dysfunctional version of the Warriors heading into the season, the Grizzlies have hit a bit of a stride lately and surprising teams with their ability to score quickly and even more surprising, efficiently. Rudy Gay is having his best season as a pro, getting to the line six times a game which is a marked improvement for a player who was primary a jump shooter last season.

However, the real revelation this year has been Zach Randolph, a player often associated with dysfunction and for having a bad attitude. He's scoring more efficiently and rebounding better than he ever has, and showing some tenacity that before has seemed absent. The Grizz aren't quite a playoff team, but they are wholly capable of playing spoiler to a lot of the conferences bigger guns.