This is the third edition of the NBA Ratings. We will check out the last Division in the Eastern Conference, the Southeast Division.
Orlando Magic
Biggest Surprise - Jason Williams. When Jameer Nelson went down, The White Chocolate made sure the Magic will stay afloat in the race for the top alongside the Cavs and the Celtics. Averaging 7.2 ppg, may not seem that much, but he is very efficient in the other categories, shooting 44.6% from the field, 42.6% from beyond the arc and more importantly, a 4:1 assist-turnover ratio.
Biggest Disappointment - Jameer Nelson. His season have been plague with injuries, and that affected his production, only scoring 12.1 ppg, down from 16.7 last season, while shooting only 41.6% from 50.3% last year and only 36.4% from three.
Team Grade - B+. Yes, they are still in the top 3, and they also added Vince Carter in the lineup, but things aren't really meshing that well with the Magic. They lost to the Celtics at Christmas day, and Dwight Howard is not really as dominant down low. Despite that, they are still in the hunt for the best record in the East, and when Nelson and Howard assert themselves, this team will be tough to beat come start of April.
Atlanta Hawks
Biggest Surprise - Jamal Crawford. Being the spark plug of the offense from the bench, Crawford looks to have accepted the role of being the primary weapon from the bench, and it is showing dividends, scoring 16.5 per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, the second time in his career he broke the 45% mark.
Biggest Disappointment - Mike Bibby. For the first time in his career, he is averaging in single digits with 9.7 ppg, way below his 16.2 career average.he is also shooting 41.6%, down from 43.5% last season.
Team Grade - B+. The Hawks are making a statement, trying to make the East's Big 3 into a Big 4. The acquisition of Jamal Crawford last summer, it seems that the Hawks will try to pull off a surprise and may even make a run to the Finals come playoff time.
Miami HEAT
Biggest Surprise - Quentin Richardson. Q has been shooting quite well for the HEAT, hitting 45.5% of his shots, and 42.3% from the 3-point line. He seems to have found his rhythm to his shots in South Beach, as Q is a career 39.9% shooter.
Biggest Disappointment - Mario Chalmers. He was supposed to pick-up his success from his rookie season, but now he is relegated at the second unit in the meantime, for being late in practice. His scoring is down from 10 ppg to 8.6 and more importantly, his steals and dimes are down, from 2 to 1.5 and 4.9 to 3.8 respectively.
Team Grade - B-. This Miami HEAT team is where they want to be, in the playoff hunt just behind the top 4 teams in the East. But they have played a lot of home games now, and they must win their assignments at home to ensure they will be above .500 for the season.
Charlotte Bobcats
Biggest Surprise - Gerald Wallace. Just when you thought his rebounding average peaked last year, Wallace brings it up even further, averaging a career-high 11.9 boards a game, while maintaining his stat-filling averages of 17.9 ppg, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
Biggest Disappointment - Boris Diaw. After averaging 15.1 ppg last season for the 'Cats, his scoring is now down to 9.9 per game, and more importantly, his dimes and boards are down too, from 4.9 to 3.4 and 5.9 to 4.1 respectively.
Team Grade - C+. Things did not look so good early in the season, with the whole team struggling to score, but when Stephen Jackson was traded to the Bobcats, the offensive problems were resolved, and now looking to be in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Washington Wizards
Biggest Surprise - Brendan Haywood. Haywood is averaging 9.5 ppg while getting a career-high 10.3 boards a game, with 2.3 blocks to boot! for the first time in his career, Haywood is looking to end the season averaging a double-double.
Biggest Disappointment - Gilbert Arenas and Caron Bulter. Arenas maybe returning from such a long lay-off and is now picking his pace up there, but when you put your team in the spotlight because of wrongdoings, you're not doing your team any favors. As to Butler, his scoring is down from 20.8 last year to 17.2, and his shooting percentage from 45.3% last season to 43.1 this season.
Team Grade - D-. This Wizards team is expected by many to challenge for the 4th spot in the playoffs, with the Big 3 now healthy and playing together, and they even hired Flip Saunders to help them make their run, but team issues and not making plays down the stretch have cost this team a lot, and things are starting to look bleak now for the future.
Orlando Magic
Biggest Surprise - Jason Williams. When Jameer Nelson went down, The White Chocolate made sure the Magic will stay afloat in the race for the top alongside the Cavs and the Celtics. Averaging 7.2 ppg, may not seem that much, but he is very efficient in the other categories, shooting 44.6% from the field, 42.6% from beyond the arc and more importantly, a 4:1 assist-turnover ratio.
Biggest Disappointment - Jameer Nelson. His season have been plague with injuries, and that affected his production, only scoring 12.1 ppg, down from 16.7 last season, while shooting only 41.6% from 50.3% last year and only 36.4% from three.
Team Grade - B+. Yes, they are still in the top 3, and they also added Vince Carter in the lineup, but things aren't really meshing that well with the Magic. They lost to the Celtics at Christmas day, and Dwight Howard is not really as dominant down low. Despite that, they are still in the hunt for the best record in the East, and when Nelson and Howard assert themselves, this team will be tough to beat come start of April.
Atlanta Hawks
Biggest Surprise - Jamal Crawford. Being the spark plug of the offense from the bench, Crawford looks to have accepted the role of being the primary weapon from the bench, and it is showing dividends, scoring 16.5 per game while shooting 45.6% from the field, the second time in his career he broke the 45% mark.
Biggest Disappointment - Mike Bibby. For the first time in his career, he is averaging in single digits with 9.7 ppg, way below his 16.2 career average.he is also shooting 41.6%, down from 43.5% last season.
Team Grade - B+. The Hawks are making a statement, trying to make the East's Big 3 into a Big 4. The acquisition of Jamal Crawford last summer, it seems that the Hawks will try to pull off a surprise and may even make a run to the Finals come playoff time.
Miami HEAT
Biggest Surprise - Quentin Richardson. Q has been shooting quite well for the HEAT, hitting 45.5% of his shots, and 42.3% from the 3-point line. He seems to have found his rhythm to his shots in South Beach, as Q is a career 39.9% shooter.
Biggest Disappointment - Mario Chalmers. He was supposed to pick-up his success from his rookie season, but now he is relegated at the second unit in the meantime, for being late in practice. His scoring is down from 10 ppg to 8.6 and more importantly, his steals and dimes are down, from 2 to 1.5 and 4.9 to 3.8 respectively.
Team Grade - B-. This Miami HEAT team is where they want to be, in the playoff hunt just behind the top 4 teams in the East. But they have played a lot of home games now, and they must win their assignments at home to ensure they will be above .500 for the season.
Charlotte Bobcats
Biggest Surprise - Gerald Wallace. Just when you thought his rebounding average peaked last year, Wallace brings it up even further, averaging a career-high 11.9 boards a game, while maintaining his stat-filling averages of 17.9 ppg, 1.7 steals and 0.9 blocks per game.
Biggest Disappointment - Boris Diaw. After averaging 15.1 ppg last season for the 'Cats, his scoring is now down to 9.9 per game, and more importantly, his dimes and boards are down too, from 4.9 to 3.4 and 5.9 to 4.1 respectively.
Team Grade - C+. Things did not look so good early in the season, with the whole team struggling to score, but when Stephen Jackson was traded to the Bobcats, the offensive problems were resolved, and now looking to be in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Washington Wizards
Biggest Surprise - Brendan Haywood. Haywood is averaging 9.5 ppg while getting a career-high 10.3 boards a game, with 2.3 blocks to boot! for the first time in his career, Haywood is looking to end the season averaging a double-double.
Biggest Disappointment - Gilbert Arenas and Caron Bulter. Arenas maybe returning from such a long lay-off and is now picking his pace up there, but when you put your team in the spotlight because of wrongdoings, you're not doing your team any favors. As to Butler, his scoring is down from 20.8 last year to 17.2, and his shooting percentage from 45.3% last season to 43.1 this season.
Team Grade - D-. This Wizards team is expected by many to challenge for the 4th spot in the playoffs, with the Big 3 now healthy and playing together, and they even hired Flip Saunders to help them make their run, but team issues and not making plays down the stretch have cost this team a lot, and things are starting to look bleak now for the future.
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