This is the fourth edition of the NBA Ratings. This time, let's check out the Western Conference, starting out with the Southwest Division.
Dallas Mavericks
Biggest Surprise - Erick Dampier. Contract Year Phenomenon perhaps? Maybe, but Damp is crashing it on the boards, getting 9.2 a game while scoring 8.2 ppg, up from 5.7 last year, and more importantly, shooting 68% from the field!
Biggest Disappointment - Josh Howard. He's just not the same player anymore, well at least for now. He is only scoring 13.1 ppg on 40.3% shooting and his stats across the board are down from his usual production.
Team Grade - B+. Considering where they were last year, they improved quite well, and they have 2nd place in the West to show it. Dirk is playing his hearts out and is having another MVP year, while Kidd has been steady for the team and Shawn Marion helps them maintain their depth and production despite Josh Howard's limited playing time this season.
San Antonio Spurs
Biggest Surprise - DeJuan Blair. The kid from Pittsburgh is showing he can play with the big boys, and with the energy he brings to this somewhat aging Spurs team helps. Averaging 6.7 ppg and 5.6 boards may not sound like a lot, but he is doing it in only 16 1/2 minutes!
Biggest Disappointment - Tony Parker. His scoring is down, from 22 ppg last season to 16.8 this year, and crucially, 3 turnovers a game for only the second time in his NBA career.
Team Grade - B. They started somewhat slow again, which seems to become a Spurs tradition, and is now picking their pace up. Richard Jefferson's acquisition did not mesh as quickly as most have expected, but come playoff time, this is still a dangerous squad to face.
Houston Rockets
Biggest Surprise - Carl Landry. A spark off the bench, Landry is averaging 16.9 ppg while shooting 57.2% and making 86.5% at the line with 6 boards. He is so efficient offensively for the Rockets that he became an offensive threat for them this season.
Biggest Disappointment - Tracy McGrady. His ego is still there, as with most NBA Superstars, but you can't deny the fact that he was still somewhat expected to bring something to this Rockets team, but all he was able to bring to the table are headlines of his bickering with Rick Adelman and his playing time.
Team Grade - A-. Seriously, nobody would thought this Rockets team will be in the playoff hunt. With Yao Ming out for the season and Tracy McGrady coming back from surgery, losing two starters, and both All-Stars at that makes this Rockets team winning games in the tough Western Conference even more surprising. Playing their hearts out every game, they will surely give the opposing team headaches everytime they face this Rockets team.
New Orleans Hornets
Biggest Surprise - Devin Brown. Not really known as a three-point specialist, Brown is shooting a career high 41.4% from downtown, and is averaging 10.8 ppg this season. Maybe playing with Chris Paul unlocks his potential from downtown and his offensive prowess, as for his 2nd stint with the Hornets is averaging in double-figures again.
Biggest Disappointment - James Posey. Posey was taken so that the Hornets will have someone who performs during crunch time and for his defense. But this season, Posey has been nothing but a disappointment, scoring only 5.5 ppg while shooting 36.4%, down from career averages of 9 ppg and 41.4%.
Team Grade - B-. They started off really slow, and with Byron Scott's firing and CP3's injury early, things are not looking good for the Hornets. Luckily for them, their rookies stepped-up and now the Hornets are two games above .500 and is in the playoff hunt.
Memphis Grizzlies
Biggest Surprise - Marc Gasol. The NBA Sophomore is making the Pau Gasol trade to the Lakers less lopsided with his performance this season, averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage with 14.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 61.9% from the field.
Biggest Disappointment - Hasheem Tahbeet. The 2nd pick of the 2009 draft is still a project for Memphis, but for a 2nd draft pick, his season averages are still somewhat of a disappointment, with only 2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.1 bpg. While quite disappointing stats for a 2nd pick, he is still getting those numbers in only 11 minutes a game, so he is still developing his game and could be a force in the future.
Team Grade - B+. Who would have thought that the Memphis Grizzlies will be in the playoff hunt? Nobody. Even with the acquisition of Zach Randolph from the Clippers and Allen Iverson, most considered them a lottery team. But now they are above .500 after a 1-8 start, and when Iverson left the team, wins started to pile up for the Griz.
Dallas Mavericks
Biggest Surprise - Erick Dampier. Contract Year Phenomenon perhaps? Maybe, but Damp is crashing it on the boards, getting 9.2 a game while scoring 8.2 ppg, up from 5.7 last year, and more importantly, shooting 68% from the field!
Biggest Disappointment - Josh Howard. He's just not the same player anymore, well at least for now. He is only scoring 13.1 ppg on 40.3% shooting and his stats across the board are down from his usual production.
Team Grade - B+. Considering where they were last year, they improved quite well, and they have 2nd place in the West to show it. Dirk is playing his hearts out and is having another MVP year, while Kidd has been steady for the team and Shawn Marion helps them maintain their depth and production despite Josh Howard's limited playing time this season.
San Antonio Spurs
Biggest Surprise - DeJuan Blair. The kid from Pittsburgh is showing he can play with the big boys, and with the energy he brings to this somewhat aging Spurs team helps. Averaging 6.7 ppg and 5.6 boards may not sound like a lot, but he is doing it in only 16 1/2 minutes!
Biggest Disappointment - Tony Parker. His scoring is down, from 22 ppg last season to 16.8 this year, and crucially, 3 turnovers a game for only the second time in his NBA career.
Team Grade - B. They started somewhat slow again, which seems to become a Spurs tradition, and is now picking their pace up. Richard Jefferson's acquisition did not mesh as quickly as most have expected, but come playoff time, this is still a dangerous squad to face.
Houston Rockets
Biggest Surprise - Carl Landry. A spark off the bench, Landry is averaging 16.9 ppg while shooting 57.2% and making 86.5% at the line with 6 boards. He is so efficient offensively for the Rockets that he became an offensive threat for them this season.
Biggest Disappointment - Tracy McGrady. His ego is still there, as with most NBA Superstars, but you can't deny the fact that he was still somewhat expected to bring something to this Rockets team, but all he was able to bring to the table are headlines of his bickering with Rick Adelman and his playing time.
Team Grade - A-. Seriously, nobody would thought this Rockets team will be in the playoff hunt. With Yao Ming out for the season and Tracy McGrady coming back from surgery, losing two starters, and both All-Stars at that makes this Rockets team winning games in the tough Western Conference even more surprising. Playing their hearts out every game, they will surely give the opposing team headaches everytime they face this Rockets team.
New Orleans Hornets
Biggest Surprise - Devin Brown. Not really known as a three-point specialist, Brown is shooting a career high 41.4% from downtown, and is averaging 10.8 ppg this season. Maybe playing with Chris Paul unlocks his potential from downtown and his offensive prowess, as for his 2nd stint with the Hornets is averaging in double-figures again.
Biggest Disappointment - James Posey. Posey was taken so that the Hornets will have someone who performs during crunch time and for his defense. But this season, Posey has been nothing but a disappointment, scoring only 5.5 ppg while shooting 36.4%, down from career averages of 9 ppg and 41.4%.
Team Grade - B-. They started off really slow, and with Byron Scott's firing and CP3's injury early, things are not looking good for the Hornets. Luckily for them, their rookies stepped-up and now the Hornets are two games above .500 and is in the playoff hunt.
Memphis Grizzlies
Biggest Surprise - Marc Gasol. The NBA Sophomore is making the Pau Gasol trade to the Lakers less lopsided with his performance this season, averaging career-highs in points, rebounds, blocks and field goal percentage with 14.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 61.9% from the field.
Biggest Disappointment - Hasheem Tahbeet. The 2nd pick of the 2009 draft is still a project for Memphis, but for a 2nd draft pick, his season averages are still somewhat of a disappointment, with only 2.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 1.1 bpg. While quite disappointing stats for a 2nd pick, he is still getting those numbers in only 11 minutes a game, so he is still developing his game and could be a force in the future.
Team Grade - B+. Who would have thought that the Memphis Grizzlies will be in the playoff hunt? Nobody. Even with the acquisition of Zach Randolph from the Clippers and Allen Iverson, most considered them a lottery team. But now they are above .500 after a 1-8 start, and when Iverson left the team, wins started to pile up for the Griz.
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