It's the second edition of the NBA Ratings. Now let's look at the Central Division.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Biggest Surprise - JJ Hickson. Upping his scoring averages from 4 to 7 ppg, from 2.7 boards to 3.7 per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. Not really the x-factor in the Cavs lineup yet, but his athleticism and high leaping ability makes him LeBron James' target for alley-oop passes.
Biggest Disappointment - Zydrunas Ilgauskas. I hate to put his name out there, heck I even considered putting none because it is unfair to put Z's name since Shaq is now the defacto starting center for the Cavs. But in the 6 games Z started, he only garnered 8 ppg and 7 boards in 28 minutes, while shooting 43% on the field, which is quite mediocre for a big man.
Team Grade - A-. They started slow, but they defeated the Magic and the Lakers away from home. They also played a lot of home games already and is now leading the East.
Chicago Bulls
Biggest Surprise - Joakim Noah. Who would have thought this kid from Florida will be one of the league rebounders this season? averaging 7.6 boards last season, he shot up his average this season to 12.2. The only player who was similarly able to garner such big gap in the boards this year is Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Biggest Disappointment - Brad Miller. I could have also put John Salmons here, but Salmons made it up for his defense and steals. Brad Miller's stats are down across the board, with his points from 11.8 a year ago to 7 ppg, 7.4 boards to 4.5 this year and 47% from the field to 41% this season.
Team Grade - B-. They somewhat looked lost in the middle of December, losing to the Nets, and letting the Kings win at home while leading by 35 points, and the rumours surfaced of Vinny Del Negro's firing, but now they are winning and is in the hunt for the playoffs and is starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be.
Milwaukee Bucks
Biggest Surprise - Brandon Jennings. Kudos to Ersan Ilyasova too, but the rookie will take the plum, as nobody expected a rookie to explode for 55 points, and that deserves recognition. Although he cooled off a bit in December, he is looking to fight at the Rookie of the Year honors.
Biggest Disappointment - Michael Redd. His points went down from 21 to 12 ppg this season, and he is not shooting the ball well, shooting 35% from the field, and more importantly, shooting 28% from 3 and 68.5% from the line! What happened to the shooting touch?
Team Grade - C. It is quite unbelievable how a month of time changed a lot of things. Early in the season, the Bucks are even leading the Central Division, now they are just in the bubble looking outside to make the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
Biggest Surprise - Ben Wallace. I thought this guy is retiring? Whatever retirement plans Wallace had in mind before, it is good that he didn't, as he is showing he can still play, especially on the defensive end, getting 9.6 boards, 1.3 steals and a block per game.
Biggest Disappointment - Richard Hamilton. Yes, he is still averaging 17 ppg, but he's taking 18.3 attempts! His field goal percentage are down by a lot, shooting 35.5% and his 3 point shooting is atrocious, shooting 19.2%.
Team Grade - C-. The acquisitions of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva is not translating as Joe Dumars hoped, but they are in the playoff hunt, and injuries to Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince may have had effects on team chemistry. They will look to bounce back now with a healthy lineup.
Indiana Pacers
Biggest Surprise - Dahntay Jones. Known more as a defensive stopper, nobody expected Jones to score a lot when he went to Indiana. Averaging 5.1 ppg, he is scoring 12.1 a game this season, and is taking it strong to the rim, averaging 4.2 attempts at the line.
Biggest Disappointment - Brandon Rush. This was supposed to be his breakout year, after averaging 16.3 points in April last season, Rush was given the opportunity to show that he's the real deal, but so far he has not been able too, averaging only 7.9 ppg while shooting 39% from the field, and more importantly, shooting only 48.4% at the line!
Team Grade - D. This team is very lucky to be that they are in the East, else, they would be out of playoff contention already. They are without Danny Granger, and now Troy Murphy is out. It does not look good for the Pacers and they are looking lost out there. They better turn things around now or they would be in the lottery again.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Biggest Surprise - JJ Hickson. Upping his scoring averages from 4 to 7 ppg, from 2.7 boards to 3.7 per game while shooting 53.7% from the field. Not really the x-factor in the Cavs lineup yet, but his athleticism and high leaping ability makes him LeBron James' target for alley-oop passes.
Biggest Disappointment - Zydrunas Ilgauskas. I hate to put his name out there, heck I even considered putting none because it is unfair to put Z's name since Shaq is now the defacto starting center for the Cavs. But in the 6 games Z started, he only garnered 8 ppg and 7 boards in 28 minutes, while shooting 43% on the field, which is quite mediocre for a big man.
Team Grade - A-. They started slow, but they defeated the Magic and the Lakers away from home. They also played a lot of home games already and is now leading the East.
Chicago Bulls
Biggest Surprise - Joakim Noah. Who would have thought this kid from Florida will be one of the league rebounders this season? averaging 7.6 boards last season, he shot up his average this season to 12.2. The only player who was similarly able to garner such big gap in the boards this year is Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Biggest Disappointment - Brad Miller. I could have also put John Salmons here, but Salmons made it up for his defense and steals. Brad Miller's stats are down across the board, with his points from 11.8 a year ago to 7 ppg, 7.4 boards to 4.5 this year and 47% from the field to 41% this season.
Team Grade - B-. They somewhat looked lost in the middle of December, losing to the Nets, and letting the Kings win at home while leading by 35 points, and the rumours surfaced of Vinny Del Negro's firing, but now they are winning and is in the hunt for the playoffs and is starting to look like the team everyone expected them to be.
Milwaukee Bucks
Biggest Surprise - Brandon Jennings. Kudos to Ersan Ilyasova too, but the rookie will take the plum, as nobody expected a rookie to explode for 55 points, and that deserves recognition. Although he cooled off a bit in December, he is looking to fight at the Rookie of the Year honors.
Biggest Disappointment - Michael Redd. His points went down from 21 to 12 ppg this season, and he is not shooting the ball well, shooting 35% from the field, and more importantly, shooting 28% from 3 and 68.5% from the line! What happened to the shooting touch?
Team Grade - C. It is quite unbelievable how a month of time changed a lot of things. Early in the season, the Bucks are even leading the Central Division, now they are just in the bubble looking outside to make the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
Biggest Surprise - Ben Wallace. I thought this guy is retiring? Whatever retirement plans Wallace had in mind before, it is good that he didn't, as he is showing he can still play, especially on the defensive end, getting 9.6 boards, 1.3 steals and a block per game.
Biggest Disappointment - Richard Hamilton. Yes, he is still averaging 17 ppg, but he's taking 18.3 attempts! His field goal percentage are down by a lot, shooting 35.5% and his 3 point shooting is atrocious, shooting 19.2%.
Team Grade - C-. The acquisitions of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva is not translating as Joe Dumars hoped, but they are in the playoff hunt, and injuries to Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince may have had effects on team chemistry. They will look to bounce back now with a healthy lineup.
Indiana Pacers
Biggest Surprise - Dahntay Jones. Known more as a defensive stopper, nobody expected Jones to score a lot when he went to Indiana. Averaging 5.1 ppg, he is scoring 12.1 a game this season, and is taking it strong to the rim, averaging 4.2 attempts at the line.
Biggest Disappointment - Brandon Rush. This was supposed to be his breakout year, after averaging 16.3 points in April last season, Rush was given the opportunity to show that he's the real deal, but so far he has not been able too, averaging only 7.9 ppg while shooting 39% from the field, and more importantly, shooting only 48.4% at the line!
Team Grade - D. This team is very lucky to be that they are in the East, else, they would be out of playoff contention already. They are without Danny Granger, and now Troy Murphy is out. It does not look good for the Pacers and they are looking lost out there. They better turn things around now or they would be in the lottery again.
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