West Grades

(Records differ slightly from the East due to a two day delay on my half.)

West

San Antonio Spurs (44-9) - The best team in the NBA as far as records go, the Spurs are defying logic and their age by playing some of the best team ball in the league. The Spurs play as a unit and no single person is the focal point of their offense. The defense has taken a step back, but teamwork and an improved synergy level has created a very potent offense to compensate. They certainly are one of the few surprise teams this season. A+

LA Lakers (38-16) - The defending champs are collecting more scrutiny then anyone else in the NBA. Kobe and the gang aren't playing bad, but they have a losing record versus the best teams in the NBA. Ron Artest needs to step his game up, and if Andrew Bynum can stay healthy the two time champs could look to three-peat. B

Dallas Mavericks (37-16) - Another team I can't stand. Even with Corran Butler gone for the year, the Mavs are staying consistent. Dirk is playing with a great supporting cast and Dallas has one of the best benches in the league. B

Oklahoma City Thunder (33-18) - The Thunder are a fun team to watch. Kevin Durant is explosive and leads the league in total scoring. Westbrook has emerged as one of the brightest young guards around. The team has dropped off a bit since last year, but they are still controlling their division. B-

New Orleans Hornets (33-22) - This team has to find its identity. They haven't been able to stay hot at all. They go through these great winning periods and then just fall off the radar. Sometimes they look unstoppable, and sometimes they stop themselves. Before this win against Orlando they had dropped four in a row and seemed lost. Chris Paul needs to take over or this team is looking at an early exit in the playoffs. C+

Denver Nuggets (31-23) - The Melo-drama continues. I'd prefer Carmelo to stay right where he is. Denver is a great team with him, but if he goes to New York or LA he makes them that much better. This is another team with a deep bench. Melo has also been playing his best basketball during all this trade speculation. B-

Utah Jazz (31-24) - The Sloan-less Jazz need to figure out their problems and fast. The West is a lot more competitive then the East as far as bottom seeds go. If the Jazz continue this downward spiral they could be fighting just to make a playoff berth. As a team with Deron Williams as their point guard, that is a very sad stat. D+

Portland Trailblazers (29-24) - Crazy how this team manages to stay in the hunt despite key injuries to some of its best players. Greg Oden has yet to show if he can stay healthy and be reliable throughout a single season. I bet they are smacking themselves about picking him over Durant now, huh? On the plus side, Brandon Roy is coming back and LaMarcus Aldridge is the biggest snub in this years All-Star game. He should have made it over Duncan. B-

Memphis Grizzlies (39-26) - All I know about them is they have Rudy Gay, who is a beast, and Pau's younger brother. They also sit right outside the eight spot. C-

Phoenix Suns (26-25) - Another team looking at the playoffs from the outside. I like the Gortat trade a lot, but Vincanity is not the same. C

Houston Rockets (25-29) - Now the teams start to dip under 500! All offense, no defense. D-

Golden State Warriors (23-29) - Curry and Ellis make for some good basketball to watch, but David Lee hasn't looked as dominant as they wanted him too. The warriors lack the big presence in the middle and their defense is horrible. Still, the team is going through a youth movement and could make a push into the playoffs should they get hot. Trading Curry away would be a bad thing. C

LA Clippers (20-33) - Yes, they beat Miami. Yes, they have the rookie of the year. Yes, they are fun to watch......BUT their record is horrible, they aren't going to make the playoffs AND they just lost to the Cavaliers. Fail, thy name is Clippers. F

Minnesota Timberwolves (13-40) - Micheal Beasley was wrong. He said that he was on the worst team in the league. That title belongs to the Cavs, but he wasn't far off. I bet Love would trade all those Double-doubles for wins any day. F+

Sacramento Kings (12-37) - Eh. they suck. F