Ok, it's been a while since I last posted here. To start the New Year off, I'll make a series of blogs on rating the NBA teams this past 2009 in the 2009-10 season. Let's start off at the Atlantic Division
Boston Celtics
Biggest Surprise : Kendrick Perkins. He upped his scoring average from 8.5 to 12 per game while maintaining the 8 boards he gets and 2 blocks per game. He is starting to help light the load on the Celtics offense if he keeps maintaining his efficiency.
Biggest Disappointment : Rasheed Wallace. He was supposed to be Kevin Garnett's insurance if KG goes down, but what did Sheed do? Jack up technicals and threes. He is shooting a career-low 38.8% from the field and 28% from behind the arc, while averaging 9 ppg, another career-low and the first time in his career to average in single digits.
Team Grade : B. This Celtics team plays the big teams at their level. However, they also play the struggling teams at their level, which is a big problem if they keep on thinking they can just flip the switch and play at a high level.
Toronto Raptors
Biggest Surprise : Jarrett Jack. Yes, his scoring average from last season went down, but when Jose Calderon went out with a hip injury, Jack played efficiently as the starting point guard and helped anchor the defense of the Raptors in the wing, as they are winning games now and beating teams they are supposed to beat.
Biggest Disappointment : Jose Calderon. The Raptors were struggling to win with Jose Calderon as their point guard. Also, his numbers are down, from 8.9 assists to 6.2 and more importantly, his free throw shooting suffered a lot, from 98% to 78.7% this season.
Team Grade : B-. They were struggling early in the season, and now they are picking their pace up and beating teams below .500 which they are supposed to do if they want to get into the playoffs.
New York Knicks
Biggest Surprise : Danilo Gallinari. He wasn't able to showcase what he could do last season, and now he is doing things that he can do, which is shooting the lights out from beyond the arc. His scoring went up from 6.1 to 14.4, and more importantly, he is part of the main rotation of the Knicks now.
Biggest Disappointment : Larry Hughes. Yes, he started the season well when he was called to play, but now he is struggling and is shooting 37% from the field while shooting 30% from beyond the arc.
Team Grade : C. They did struggle early in the season, and there was the Mike D' Antoni - Nate Robinson drama, but now they are winning and is on the playoff bubble now.
Philadelphia 76ers
Biggest Surprise : Lou Williams. Before he went down with injury, Lou is posting efficient numbers, scoring more than 16 per game and 5.1 assist while shooting above 46% and snatching 1.7 steals a ball game. Now that he's playing with AI, his shots are reduced but is playing quite well alongside the Answer.
Biggest Disappointment : Elton Brand. No question. This guy is supposed to be the guy that will get the 76ers over the hump, but now he is on the team's second unit. Averaging 13.7 pts per game, which is well below his 19.7 ppg average, while grabbing only 7 boards.
Team Grade : D. They struggled a lot, and is the second worst team in the East right now. The acquisition of Allen Iverson may have helped them get some wins, but still not the way some expected to be.
New Jersey Nets
Biggest Surprise : Chris Douglas-Roberts. His scoring went up a lot, from 4.9 ppg last season to 16.4 this year. He is more aggresive on the court right now and even calling out the team for not giving an effort when they were at a big losing streak.
Biggest Disappointment : Courtney Lee. He was supposed to be the go to guy now that Vince Carter was traded to Orlando. Yes his scoring average went from 8.4 to 11.5, but his efficiency took down a lot, with his fg% down from 45% to 39.5 and his 3fg% down from 40.4% to 24%!
Team Grade : F. Yeah they suffered injuries and all that, but to lose an NBA-record 18 straight games? That is a big disappointment and nobody expected that to happen. Now the Clippers and the HEAT can enjoy themselves.
Boston Celtics
Biggest Surprise : Kendrick Perkins. He upped his scoring average from 8.5 to 12 per game while maintaining the 8 boards he gets and 2 blocks per game. He is starting to help light the load on the Celtics offense if he keeps maintaining his efficiency.
Biggest Disappointment : Rasheed Wallace. He was supposed to be Kevin Garnett's insurance if KG goes down, but what did Sheed do? Jack up technicals and threes. He is shooting a career-low 38.8% from the field and 28% from behind the arc, while averaging 9 ppg, another career-low and the first time in his career to average in single digits.
Team Grade : B. This Celtics team plays the big teams at their level. However, they also play the struggling teams at their level, which is a big problem if they keep on thinking they can just flip the switch and play at a high level.
Toronto Raptors
Biggest Surprise : Jarrett Jack. Yes, his scoring average from last season went down, but when Jose Calderon went out with a hip injury, Jack played efficiently as the starting point guard and helped anchor the defense of the Raptors in the wing, as they are winning games now and beating teams they are supposed to beat.
Biggest Disappointment : Jose Calderon. The Raptors were struggling to win with Jose Calderon as their point guard. Also, his numbers are down, from 8.9 assists to 6.2 and more importantly, his free throw shooting suffered a lot, from 98% to 78.7% this season.
Team Grade : B-. They were struggling early in the season, and now they are picking their pace up and beating teams below .500 which they are supposed to do if they want to get into the playoffs.
New York Knicks
Biggest Surprise : Danilo Gallinari. He wasn't able to showcase what he could do last season, and now he is doing things that he can do, which is shooting the lights out from beyond the arc. His scoring went up from 6.1 to 14.4, and more importantly, he is part of the main rotation of the Knicks now.
Biggest Disappointment : Larry Hughes. Yes, he started the season well when he was called to play, but now he is struggling and is shooting 37% from the field while shooting 30% from beyond the arc.
Team Grade : C. They did struggle early in the season, and there was the Mike D' Antoni - Nate Robinson drama, but now they are winning and is on the playoff bubble now.
Philadelphia 76ers
Biggest Surprise : Lou Williams. Before he went down with injury, Lou is posting efficient numbers, scoring more than 16 per game and 5.1 assist while shooting above 46% and snatching 1.7 steals a ball game. Now that he's playing with AI, his shots are reduced but is playing quite well alongside the Answer.
Biggest Disappointment : Elton Brand. No question. This guy is supposed to be the guy that will get the 76ers over the hump, but now he is on the team's second unit. Averaging 13.7 pts per game, which is well below his 19.7 ppg average, while grabbing only 7 boards.
Team Grade : D. They struggled a lot, and is the second worst team in the East right now. The acquisition of Allen Iverson may have helped them get some wins, but still not the way some expected to be.
New Jersey Nets
Biggest Surprise : Chris Douglas-Roberts. His scoring went up a lot, from 4.9 ppg last season to 16.4 this year. He is more aggresive on the court right now and even calling out the team for not giving an effort when they were at a big losing streak.
Biggest Disappointment : Courtney Lee. He was supposed to be the go to guy now that Vince Carter was traded to Orlando. Yes his scoring average went from 8.4 to 11.5, but his efficiency took down a lot, with his fg% down from 45% to 39.5 and his 3fg% down from 40.4% to 24%!
Team Grade : F. Yeah they suffered injuries and all that, but to lose an NBA-record 18 straight games? That is a big disappointment and nobody expected that to happen. Now the Clippers and the HEAT can enjoy themselves.
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