http://www.realgm.com/src_feature_p...09_midseason_report_cards_southwest_division/ The third part of this six-piece Midseason Report Card series spotlights the Southwest Division. The Southwest has been extremely competitive this season and houses four of the West’s top playoff contenders. The Texas Trio is having its usual expected success, the Hornets continue their ascent to the top of the league, and the Grizzlies have fared far better than anticipated. Click here to read Part One of the series on the Northwest Division Click here to read Part One of the series on the Pacific Division Dallas The Mavs came into this season feeling like they had made a mistake by dealing Devin Harris to the Nets for Jason Kidd. Kidd was dominated by the speedy Chris Paul in the first round of the playoffs last year, when the only guy who can really slow him down defensively is none other than Devin Harris. To make matters worse, now Devin Harris is pouring it on in New Jersey. Team MVP: Dirk Nowitzki Dirk has been his standard awesome self this season, leading the team in scoring (25.9 ppg) and rebounding (8.7 rpg). He has continually been the go-to player for the Mavs and has kept them in the hunt for one of the final playoff spots out West. Needs Improvement: As Shaq would say, “Erica Dampier” Despite starting 40 of Dallas’ first 41 games, Erick Dampier has been showing signs that his career as a starting big man might be coming to a close. He is averaging only 5.5 points per game and 22.9 minutes per game, his lowest numbers since his rookie year in 1996-97 (5.1 ppg, 14.6 mpg). His time on the floor is diminishing, as Brandon Bass continues to impress down low. Best Move: Unloading Diop’s absurd contract The Mavs were ridiculous for giving DeSagana Diop a contract that extends to and will pay him $7.3M in 2012-13. Thanks to the fiscally irresponsible Bobcats organization, they no longer have to worry about that problem. They dealt him to Charlotte for Matt Carroll and Ryan Hollins. For those scoring at home, yes, the Bobcats will be paying Emeka Okafor, Nazr Mohammad, Boris Diaw, and Diop a combined $34.5M in 2010-11. Biggest Surprise: Jason Terry Jason Terry has taken this Sixth Man role to a new level. Terry has been electric this season, averaging a career high 20.6 points per game in the first half. He has been a clutch performer for this team for the past five years and seems to be elevating his game even more in the backcourt along with J-Kidd. First Half Grade: B The Mavs have kept their head above water thus far this season, but there is a not as strong a feeling that they will continue their relative success into the playoffs. Many predict they might be the ninth horse in this eight team race. Houston The Rockets made a big splash this summer when they acquired the troubled Ron Artest to add to their talented team. Is he the last piece that gets them over the first-round hump? Team MVP: Houston’s Bench The onslaught off the bench has been key to the Rockets hanging around at the top of the West. Aaron Brooks, Carl Landry, and Von Wafer have sparked this team over the first half-season. Without this crew coming in for the oft-injured starters (Yao, Shane Battier, Artest, Tracy McGrady), they wouldn’t be sitting so pretty in the Southwest. Needs Improvement: Luther Head Head is looking at his worst season statistically and is watching on the sidelines with a host of minor injuries as Brooks and Wafer continue to bring the heat on his playing time. Head’s 4.8 ppg and 1.6 apg are not going to cut it for this incredibly deep team. Best Move: Trading for Artest Artest gives the Rockets two lockdown defenders when on the floor with Battier. More importantly, Artest gives Houston a true sense of toughness stuck in the middle of their soft star players. Artest’s true value will speak loud words once they enter the playoffs. Biggest Surprise: Von Wafer Wafer could barely find a job this offseason and all of a sudden he’s lighting it up for the Rockets. Wafer is averaging 16.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in the month of January and is hitting on 38.6% from downtown. First Half Grade: A Despite the customary onslaught of injuries, these guys are sticking around with the rest of Texas in the upper echelon of the West…and we may have not seen their best ball just yet. Memphis The Memphis Grizzlies made a big splash on Draft Night to continue their roster overhaul and it appears they are headed in the right direction. Now equipped with a franchise player, the Grizzlies are showing signs of improvement across the board this season. Team MVP: Rudy Gay It’s too soon to be calling O.J. Mayo the team MVP, but he’s not far behind Gay. Gay has been the face of this franchise for the past couple of seasons and continues to mature each year. While his numbers are slightly down from last year, he has provided leadership beyond his years (he’s still only 22) for a team full of young 20-somethings. Needs Improvement: Darko Milicic It’s still hilarious to think that the Pistons drafted this guy over Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Chris Kaman, etc. But seriously, it happened. Darko continues to regress as a player, averaging only 6.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game. Best Move: Quietly getting Marc Gasol thrown into the Pau Gasol trade…and then convincing him to come to the NBA Marc is not Pau, but Marc is the only Gasol brother who boldly wore his first name on his Team Spain Olympic jersey – and that’s got to count for something! The Younger Gasol has been a boost down low for the Grizz, and is in top-5 consideration for the Rookie of the Year award with his solid 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Biggest Surprise: O.J. Mayo’s instant offense Mayo was a superstar in high school, a star in college, and in the NBA. Many scouts predicted that he would sink to role player level in the NBA, but he has thrived in the driver’s seat of the Memphis franchise. They gave up a lot for this talented shooting guard and he has rewarded them by leading the team in scoring with 19.3 ppg on 37.6% shooting from three. First Half Grade: C Not much has been expected of the Grizz, but they have some very nice young pieces on their roster. Look out for them if they can keep this core together for a couple of seasons. New Orleans The Hornets were the talk of the league last year as they surprisingly surged to the forefront of the elite Western Conference. Returning nearly the same team, the Hornets entered 2008-09 with high expectations and a cocky attitude to go along with it. Team MVP: Chris Paul Without a doubt, this team stops and goes with CP3. Paul leads the team in scoring with 20.9 points and is destroying the entire league in assists (11.1 apg) and steals (2.71 spg). He has done it all for the Hornets this year and will continue to be the focal point throughout his career. Needs Improvement: Julian Wright Last year’s talented spark plug rookie has been suffering under the sophomore slump. He is averaging a dismal 8.3 minutes and only producing 2.7 points and 1.2 rebounds for New Orleans. Best Move: Stealing James Posey from the Champs The Hornets needed a defensive stopper who could hit clutch shots and play with moxie in the worst way. James Posey fit their biggest needs and has done well thus far in his new home. Biggest Surprise: Rasual Butler Butler came into camp this year ready to return to his 2006-07 form when he averaged a career high 10.1 points per game. Now, he’s learned how to stroke the deep ball and is putting up 9.5 points on 42.5% shooting from deep. First Half Grade: B+ The Hornets expected more out of this team that is basically the same as last season plus Posey. Being a game out of first place in their division at the midway point is somewhat disappointing for this young crew. San Antonio The Spurs love odd-numbered years. Love them. They have won titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and would just love to add another one here in 2009. After a rough 1-4 start to the season, they have gotten back on track and are once again battling for the Southwest crown. Team MVP: Tim Duncan When Tony Parker went down early in November and Manu Ginobili was still injured on the sideline, “Tim” (as the FSN South guys call him repeatedly on every single touch) guided this team to wins in 7 of 9 games before Parker’s return. “Tim” is the Spurs. Thus, The Spurs are “Tim.” Needs Improvement: Bruce Bowen I am giddy writing about the fact that Bruce Bowen is only averaging 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds this season despite playing a healthy 20.4 minutes per game. Perhaps those 37 year old legs are finally unable to linger under the legs of opposing jump shooters. Best Move: Adding Roger Mason Roger Mason was highly underappreciated in Washington and now he is thriving in the Alamo. Mason is fourth on the team in scoring (behind the San Antonio Big Three) with 12.0 points per game and has shown impressive toughness and intelligence that the Spurs seem to breed in San Antonio. Biggest Surprise: George Hill An afterthought in the first round, Hill has proven that he fits into this Spurs environment much like Mason has. Hill is lightning fast and extremely long in the passing lanes and with further development could resemble Rajon Rondo with a better shot. Almost went with Big Red Matt Bonner here, but couldn’t pass on the new G-Hill. First Half Grade: A Injuries tried to slow down Popovich’s Spur machine, but couldn’t. “Tim” will find another way to add to his odd-numbered-year title collection. Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.
i dont get why he lists yao as a part of often-injured group. He missed just one game and has consistently been the best player for this team.
He gave us an A and our bench has been incredible. Without said bench we would be a 15 win team right now. Although the same could be said about Yao. Point is that I won't disagree that our depth is what is saving us this year.
Agreed, the bench has stepped up big time. But let's not forget our guy, Rick Adelman. He's done a hell of a job working with the hand he's been dealt. Without him, we'd barely be pushing .500.
Isn't that laying the praise a litte too thick? I won't argue that RA isn't a good coach (since he is), but you have to agree he hasn't exactly been channeling his inner Phil Jackson or Popovich either. Ra's substitution patterns sometimes leave me scratching my head, and he IS partly responsible for the Tmac melodrama that happened a while back, and we STILL don't know how to execute plays coming out of a time out. A lot of our wins have come of the talent in the roster more than the coaching IMHO, and that's certainly on RA. As for the article I agree that the bench is the MVP. Yao Ming has been playing like the MVp the past few games, however he also had a stretch where he played horribly, getting blocked by the rim and stripped by puny little guards. The bench on the other hand has been rock solid since day 1. With Wafer's emergence and Deke back into the fold, I'd say we have absolutely the deepest bench in the league and I'd take Ab0, Shane Battier/Ron Artest, Brent Barry, Landry, Deke, Hayes, Wafer and Head over the Laker's and Celtic's bench any day. The trick is for Adelman to be more adventurous and creative when it comes to substitutions. We have the talent to win any given game in our roster; RA just needs to discover what the right combination is for that particular game.
Thanks for posting this, I give the Rockets a B-.....if they can get their chemistry worked out, and everyone healthy....a BIG IF !!!! They can compete......and make a run. GAWD I HOPE SO.. DD
Agree with the B- rating. Rox are better than I expected but worse than I hoped for. I think the worst is behind us now though...
Give Popovich or Philip this roster, and you'd have similar results. I'd still call Adelman a top-5 coach in the league. This team has come a long way since the Van Gundy days, where young guys would ride the pine in lieu of some washed up retread like Clarence Weatherspoon. You have to think Adelman is at least partially responsible for the development of guys like Brooks, Landry, and Wafer.
injuries are responsible for the development of guys like Brooks, Landry, and Wafer. JVG played head his rookie year out of necessity as well...
Landry had Hayes on the bench last year; he didn't need an injury to play. Brooks got time also, the org just preferred a vet going into the playoffs. And who do you think made the decision to keep Wafer on the roster to begin with?
Adelman is nowhere close to Pop. Don't even go there. If Pop coached this team, McGrady moving without the ball or being a ball-stopper wouldn't even be an issue. The first unit not running the offense wouldn't be either. Do I even need to mention late game decision-making and play-calling? Or player accountability? Where the team has come a long way from JVG is talent. And when talking about not playing or developing young players, how stupid was it of Adelman to play dead-man Rafer down the stretch of games when AB was sizzling and Rafer was playing like trash? Talk about some missed opportunities for "development". Last year, how long did it take Landry to finally get the dust blown off to show his stuff thanks to Rick Adelman? That's really a open-minded coach that develops younger players, uh huh.
Screw that. Remember Van Gundy's un-natural obsession with washed up has beens like Rod Strickland, Charlie Ward, C-Spoon, and Juwan "valtrex" Howard? That '04 team had a lot of talent with guys like Mike James and Jim Jackson in their prime, combined with Bobby Sura and Jon Barry.
Jim Jackson was part of the problem. When he was dumped for the aged David Wesley, the Rockets actually got better. In the 2005 playoffs, the Mavs were just better, especially after Sura and Wesley got dinged up. And you don't have to explain to me the sting of losing a 2-0 lead to that franchise and the blowout in game 7. Unforgettable stuff. I'm not arguing that JVG the GM was anything but terrible. That caused his demise. But as a coach, he got the most he could have from the players he had. Adelman isn't much (if any) better and Adelman definitely doesn't develop young players. That's a joke.
If the Spurs never lucked into getting Duncan no one would even know who Greg Poppovich was today. He hasn't accomplished one thing without Tim Duncan. Nothing. Adelman's had success with three completely different teams. You're right, they're not really in the same league. And coaches don't prevent players from being great. That's nuts. That's what you're suggesting if you think McGrady has something in him that is being held back by an all-time great coach like Adelman. If you can't play and play well for Adelman, you have a serious problem.
This is one of the reasons why I choose to stay positive. For all we've been through, we're still right up there with the top dogs and like the article says, our "best ball" has yet to be played. And we know Houston, we always turn it up late. Check out the Astros, the Rockets these past few years and even the Texans played better in the 2nd half.
