NBA Report Cards: Grades for Every Team Through First Quarter of the Season

It's unbelievable, but we're already a quarter of the way through the 2011-2012 NBA season. With a shortened campaign this year, we're getting a pretty decent idea of just how good most of the teams in the league are. 

Some surprise contenders have emerged. Some supposedly elite teams have fallen fast. 

The following 30 slides, one for each team, contain five pieces of information: the team's projected record (taken from my preseason article titled "NBA Predictions 2011-2012: Complete Records, Playoff Seeds, All Major Awards"), the team's record through Sunday's games, the team's final projected record based on the current record, a brief description of the team's performance and the team's grade for the first quarter. 

Atlanta Hawks

Record Projection: 38-28

Current Record: 12-5

Current Pace: 47-19

The Atlanta Hawks don't really have a bad loss yet except for the torn pectoral muscle of All-Star forward Al Horford. They've beaten the teams they're supposed to have beaten, and they've lost to the teams they're supposed to lose to. 

Without Horford, even with the upcoming return of Kirk Hinrich, the Hawks will likely fall off this torrid pace. That said, they've been quite impressive through the first quarter of the season. 

Grade: A

Boston Celtics

Record Projection: 41-25

Current Record: 6-9

Current Pace: 26-40

Injuries have plagued this team throughout the young season, but that's to be expected when your "Big Three" consists of Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, all of whom are in the declining stages of their careers. That said, Allen has been terrific while Pierce and Rajon Rondo have been injured. 

In the last few years, we've become accustomed to seeing the C's near the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference. It's a little strange to see a losing record through the season's first quarter. 

Grade: C-

Charlotte Bobcats

Record Projection: 13-53

Current Record: 3-14

Current Pace: 12-54

We all knew that the Charlotte Bobcats weren't going to be very good. Isn't it nice to be correct?

D.J. Augusin and Kemba Walker have combined to form a formidable one-two punch at point guard, and Byron Mullens has come out of nowhere to become quite the contributor. 

Nothing has led to wins, though. 

Grade: B

Chicago Bulls

Record Projection: 50-16

Current Record: 15-3

Current Pace: 55-11

As good as the Chicago Bulls were last year, they weren't exactly the unquestioned favorite in the Eastern Conference this season. 

But behind the excellence of Derrick Rose and the incredible coaching of Tom Thibodeau, the Bulls have the best record in the league. 

Grade: A+

Cleveland Cavaliers

Record Projection: 13-53

Current Record: 6-9

Current Pace: 26-40

Would anyone have expected that the Cleveland Cavaliers would actually be slightly off the playoff pace a quarter of the way into the 2011-2012 season?

Kyrie Irving has been absolutely incredible, putting up terrific numbers in his quest to become the best player in a supposedly weak draft class. 

Grade: A+

Dallas Mavericks

Record Projection: 44-22

Current Record: 10-7

Current Pace: 39-27

There's always a little bit of a title hangover, but the Dallas Mavericks experienced one hell of a next morning to start the season. 

Dirk Nowitzki has struggled at times, and the aging lineup that lost Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea from the mix has been good but not great. In a tough Western Conference, the Mavs are going to have to play as hard as they can throughout the regular season to even make the playoffs. 

Grade: B-

Denver Nuggets

Record Projection: 24-42

Current Record: 12-5

Current Pace: 47-19

As you can see by my preseason projection and the Denver Nuggets' current pace, this team has been one of the biggest surprises in the league to me. 

Even without Carmelo Anthony and devoid of a single true star player on the roster, these Nuggets have proved that a balanced, deep team full of very good, but not great, players can win quite a few games. 

Grade: A+

Detroit Pistons

Record Projection: 23-43

Current Record: 4-13

Current Pace: 19-47

The Detroit Pistons have failed to live up to even the lowest expectations placed before them at the start of this season. 

Greg Monroe has been one of the few bright spots on an otherwise dim team. Brandon Knight, the team's top pick in the draft, has proven to be even rawer than originally expected and has struggled mightily. Other than Monroe, Rodney Stuckey and Vernon Macklin (who has appeared in a limited role in just nine games) have been the only players with a PER above 15. 

Grade: C

Golden State Warriors

Record Projection: 30-36

Current Record: 5-10

Current Pace: 22-44

A lot of the blame for this one lies on the balky ankles of Stephen Curry, but the Golden State Warriors have struggled far more than expected to start the season. 

Mark Jackson has come up with some questionable (errr, innovative?) strategies, but he's got the team trending in the right direction, and a healthy Curry will get this offense back on track. But so far, the new coach's first campaign has been a flop. 

Grade: B-

Houston Rockets

Record Projection: 32-34

Current Record: 9-7

Current Pace: 37-29

Even after the Houston Rockets' failure of an offseason, this team is winning more games than they're losing, and that's really all that matters. 

Kyle Lowry has been one of the surprises of the early season, and Kevin Martin has been predictably solid. An unexpectedly big contribution from Samuel Dalembert of late has this team surging right now and winning six straight games. 

Grade: A-

Indiana Pacers

Record Projection: 37-29

Current Record: 11-4

Current Pace: 48-18

After the acquisition of David West, the Indiana Pacers were supposed to elevate their status into the top tier of near contenders. They weren't actually supposed to be real contenders. 

But thanks to the terrific play of almost all the Pacers' rotation members, with the exception of the constantly slumping Danny Granger, Indiana has the third best record in the Eastern Conference. 

Grade: A+

Los Angeles Clippers

Record Projection: 39-27

Current Record: 9-5

Current Pace: 42-24

The Los Angeles Clippers have had to overcome a lot in this brief season. 

They've dealt with the heightened expectations (really for the first time in the franchise's history), constant media attention, an injury to Chris Paul and the coaching of Vinny Del Negro. 

So far, the Clippers have passed with flying colors. 

Grade: A-

Los Angeles Lakers

Record Projection: 43-23

Current Record: 10-8

Current Pace: 37-29

If the playoff seedings were based only on the exploits of the first quarter of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers would be on the outside looking in. After all, Kobe Bryant and company (which is really exactly what this team has become) is a team just above .500 thus far.

Kobe has been sensational and the frontcourt duo of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum has performed admirably, but that's it. Matt Barnes has been the fourth best player in purple and gold, and that's never a good thing.

Grade: C+ 

Memphis Grizzlies

Record Projection: 34-32

Current Record: 9-6

Current Pace: 40-26

After six straight wins, the Memphis Grizzlies are back on pace to make it into the playoffs once more. 

Rudy Gay struggled to start the season in his return from a season-ending shoulder injury last year, but he's picking up his game, and the wins are starting to fall accordingly. The biggest news so far, though, has been the devestating loss of Zach Randolph, the team's best player. 

Although they've been winning without him, there's no telling how long that'll last. 

Grade: A-

Miami Heat

Record Projection: 56-10

Current Record: 11-5

Current Pace: 45-21

The Miami Heat are still first in the NBA when it comes to points per game, and they definitely get props for their all black jerseys and the Miami Floridians throwbacks.

I still wouldn't bet against this team, but they definitely aren't living up to expectations quite yet.  

And here's the interesting stat of the day: The Heat are 6-1 when Dwyane Wade hasn't played. 

Grade: B-

Milwaukee Bucks

Record Projection: 33-33

Current Record: 6-9

Current Pace: 26-40

The Milwaukee Bucks have won just one game on the road so far this season, and they haven't exactly been stellar on their home court either. 

For a team that was supposed to squeeze its way into the playoffs, the Bucks haven't exactly looked the part quite yet. 

Brandon Jennings has actually been a solid player this year, and he's starting to make me re-evaluate my labeling him as an overrated player. 

Grade: B

Minnesota Timberwolves

Record Projection: 17-49

Current Record: 7-9

Current Pace: 29-37

I was excited to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves to start the season, but I didn't expect them to win games. 

Now, I'm excited to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves and I expect them to win games. 

Ricky Rubio has been absolutely sensational in his first season in the States, and Kevin Love has continued his ascent to the top of the power forward ranks in the NBA. 

Grade: A+

New Jersey Nets

Record Projection: 27-39

Current Record: 5-12

Current Pace: 19-47

The New Jersey Nets were at least supposed to be decent this season, not so bad that we've gone from thinking Deron Williams will stay to thinking that Deron Williams will go. 

Speaking of Williams, it would probably help if the All-Star point guard could at least learn how to shoot the basketball again. He's made just 36.4 percent of his shots so far. 

MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries have been excellent, but the same can't really be said for many other people on this squad. 

Grade: C

New Orleans Hornets

Record Projection: 31-35

Current Record: 3-13

Current Pace: 12-54

We'll get a true assessment of this team once Eric Gordon is healthy and ready to resume his All-Star caliber ways, but this team just isn't any good without him. 

Jarret Jack has done his best to replace Chris Paul, but as surprisingly good as he's been, it's not really possible to replace a point guard like CP3. 

Grade: C

New York Knicks

Record Projection: 42-24

Current Record: 6-10

Current Pace: 25-41

When there are "We want Phil Jackson!" chants ringing through the rafters of Madison Square Garden, you aren't living up to expectations. 

Grade: F

Oklahoma City Thunder

Record Projection: 49-17

Current Record: 13-3

Current Pace: 54-12

Despite the overly-publicized struggles and growths of Russell Westbrook, the Oklahoma City Thunder have by far the best record in the Western Conference. 

Kevin Durant has been sensational, and James Harden has come into his own as the Thunder's sixth-man supreme, putting up a 21.6 PER thus far, which incredibly, is just the third best number on the team. 

Grade: A

Orlando Magic

Record Projection: 39-27

Current Record: 11-4

Current Pace: 48-18

Even though the Orlando Magic are on pace to exceed my projection, that projection was predicated on the thought that Dwight Howard will not end up in an Orlando Magic uniform. 

Assuming that still happens, the Magic's early season dominance doesn't matter too much. 

Grade: A

Philadelphia 76ers

Record Projection: 36-30

Current Record: 11-5

Current Pace: 45-21

OK, so I screwed up on this one. 

The success of Spencer Hawes is a bit flukey, and he'll come back to earth, but Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams, Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala are all legitimately playing like they will in the future. 

Although the Philadelphia 76ers won't be hanging out with the conference's elite teams throughout the year, they'll remain in the tier of contenders. 

Grade: A+

Phoenix Suns

Record Projection: 23-43

Current Record: 6-9

Current Pace: 26-40

Despite his ever-advancing age, Steve Nash is still the best player on his team and averaging a double-double in points and assists. 

Unfortunately for the Phoenix Suns, though, Marci Gortat and Markieff Morris have been the only other bright spots. 

Grade: B+

Portland Trail Blazers

Record Projection: 38-28

Current Record: 9-7

Current Pace: 37-29

The Portland Trail Blazers haver overcome the unfortunately premature retirement of Brandon Roy and the injury problems of Greg Oden to remain a solid, albeit unspectacular, team in the Western Conference. 

Most of the members of the team have been solid, but LaMarcus Aldridge has been absolutely sensational, averaging 23.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game thus far. 

Grade: B

Sacramento Kings

Record Projection: 21-45

Current Record: 6-11

Current Pace: 23-43

This team has lived up to my modest expectations, but it's been a tumultuous ride. 

DeMarcus Cousins has dominated while on the court, but caused major problems, ones that eventually led to the dismissal of former head coach Paul Westphal. 

Now if only he could somehow inspire Jimmer Fredette to greatness...

Grade: B

San Antonio Spurs

Record Projection: 45-21

Current Record: 10-7

Current Pace: 39-27

Manu Ginobili's broken hand hurt this team quite a bit, but the great play of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and DeJaun Blair, the surprising play of Daniel Green and the re-emergence of Richard Jefferson has allowed the San Antonio Spurs to remain contenders. 

We can't ever expect the Spurs to be bad. Always remember that. 

Grade: B

Toronto Raptors

Record Projection: 15-51

Current Record: 4-12

Current Pace: 17-49

The Toronto Raptors have only one quality win, a 90-85 win over the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, but then again, they weren't exactly expected to be good. 

Andrea Bargnani has actually emerged as a very good player and not a one-dimensional threat, while Jose Calderon has proven to be a viable threat from the point guard position. 

Now, if only DeMar DeRozan would actually be useful. 

Grade: B+

Utah Jazz

Record Projection: 27-39

Current Record: 10-5

Current Pace: 44-22

And now, we come to my worst pick of all. 

The Utah Jazz still don't have a bad loss this season, as their five poor performances came against the Los Angeles Lakers (twice), Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks. They've been incredibly balanced with the 13th-best offense and defense this season in terms of points per game.  

When you have a frontcourt made up of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, you're going to win games. 

Grade: A+

Washington Wizards

Record Projection: 32-34

Current Record: 2-14

Current Pace: 8-58

The Washington Wizards were a trendy sleeper pick to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference thanks to the expected breakouts of John Wall, JaVale McGee, Nick Young and Jordan Crawford. Those players now have respective PERs of 15.4, 19.1, 14.8 and 13.2. 

McGee has been the team's only bright spot, and even he has been prone to difficulties, both in terms of inconsistency and immaturity (see the overblown off-the-backboard-self-alley-oop). 

With the worst record in the NBA and their former No. 1 pick looking like a bust, the Wizards have been one of the most disappointing teams in the league. 

Grade: F