Golden State WARRIORS A+
2015-16 Record (as of Jan. 16)
W-L 37-3
PCT .925
DIV 11-0
CONF 24-2
HOME 19-0
ROAD 18-3
Frontcourt B+
Now everyone knows what Draymond Green will do for an encore: He has gone from a breakthrough season a year ago to no-brainer All-Star. Andrew Bogut is a valuable center. Harrison Barnes’ sprained ankle has been the downside.
Backcourt A
Stephen Curry is the first-half MVP, in addition to the reigning Kia MVP, and Klay Thompson is one of the best two-way guards and has been shooting better with every month. All good.
Defense A-
It remains an area of strength, as it has been for years, despite the offense getting the attention. The Warriors love to push the pace, yet don’t take possessions off at the other end. Defensive rebounding can be better.
Bench A
Festus Ezeli has been a big lift at center, also a personal success after two seasons dominated by a knee injury. Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston keep making an impact. Brandon Rush has done well filling in for Barnes.
Coaching A
Luke Walton has, at the very worst, stayed the course, an accomplishment in itself considering he didn’t expect to have the job and didn’t have the experience. Steve Kerr officially gets the wins, but Walton gets the credit.
Summary
The magical start to the title defense comes with the disclaimer that the Warriors haven’t even played their best yet. They have not been healthy for any long stretch, an answer to whatever questions remained about their ability to handle injuries, and yet no team has ever had a better start.
Now to see about whether any team will ever have a better regular season. Golden State is ahead of record pace and clearly likes the idea of going after the Bulls of 1995-96, just as players and coaches grew to embrace the challenge of setting the mark for best opening to a season.
The Warriors can get there. With or without that place in the record book, they can win another title. Curry can win another MVP. Green can win Defensive Player of the Year. Nothing is out of reach.
— Scott Howard-Cooper
2015-16 Team Rating
Offense – 112.4 (1st Overall)
Defense – 98.7 (4th Overall)
Los Angeles CLIPPERS B+
2015-16 Record (as of Jan. 16)
W-L 26-13
PCT .667
DIV 4-3
CONF 15-10
HOME 14-6
ROAD 12-7
Frontcourt B+
Blake Griffin was among the Best of the Rest (non-Stephen Curry) in the MVP conversation before a leg injury forced him to the sideline. DeAndre Jordan delivered on defense and the boards. The search for a small forward continued.
Backcourt A
Chris Paul is in that Best of the Rest as well, playing well most of the way but especially asserting himself during the 10-game winning streak. J.J. Redick’s 3-point game has been a big contribution without much publicity.
Defense B+
The Clippers have done well and could finish in the top 10 in defensive efficiency, shooting defense and 3-point defense, all important indicators. Jordan is the obvious factor, but Luc Mbah a Moute, among others, has been important.
Bench C+
Jamal Crawford, seemingly an annual contender for Sixth Man of the Year, has struggled with his shot, but continues to get big minutes. The same goes for Paul Pierce. Part-time starter Mbah a Moute has been the biggest factor.
Coaching B
A bad start raised concerns about the direction of the Clippers, before the winning streak as midseason approached took some of the heat off Doc Rivers. As much as any coach, the playoffs will determine the final grade.
Summary
Good luck predicting where the Clippers end up. A case could be made for both ends of the spectrum — bad ending or long playoff run — after the conflicted first half of cause for concern and reason for optimism.
The mood of the moment is good, though. To be rolling like this would be promising no matter what, but to be going good and knowing they can get even better once Griffin returns is especially encouraging. Now to see what the bench delivers in the postseason.
While not the closest challenger to the Warriors, at least not on the map, the Clips remain a threat to the best anywhere. They have offense in the backcourt and up front, they have the defense and have the experience. They just aren’t dependable.
— Scott Howard-Cooper
2015-16 Team Rating
Offense – 105.6 (4th Overall)
Defense – 100.6 (9th Overall)
Los Angeles LAKERS D-
2015-16 Record (as of Jan. 16)
W-L 9-32
PCT .220
DIV 1-7
CONF 3-22
HOME 5-12
ROAD 4-20
Frontcourt C-
The Kobe Bryant Farewell Tour has included enough respectable moments for Bryant to be leaving on a good note. The play of Larry Nance Jr. at power forward has been encouraging, albeit also at the expense of Julius Randle.
Backcourt C-
Jordan Clarkson has backed up his 2014-15 of exceeding expectations with a good second season. The other young guard, No. 2 pick D’Angelo Russell, has not found the same stability and lost the starting job to Lou Williams.
Defense F
Bad. On some nights, kids-point-and-laugh bad. On a team with a lot of problems, this area is a priority to address as the roster of the future takes shape.
Bench D
Randle and Russell didn’t expect to be there, but also have to fight through the disappointment now that they are. Being inexperienced is hard enough. They’re both shooting about 40 percent, and Nick Young is no help.
Coaching D
This sure feels like the Lakers are having Byron Scott take one for the team, aware no other coach could deliver results that would get the Lakers close enough to the playoff pack to make a difference.
Summary
Putting as much attention on Bryant’s final tour of the NBA is deserved recognition for one of the special players in history, but it is also spinning hard. It’s the positive amid a season of mounting losses, disastrous play and growing pains for the young players trying to find the bridge to a post-Kobe Lakers world.
The future remains hopeful despite. Making a decision about Randle off essentially the first half season of his career or Russell off what is definitely his first half season, either alone or in their ability to work together, is too knee jerk. There is still reason to believe both will have long and successful careers. Clarkson continues to produce.
While Bryant’s final game is the big moment ahead — April 13 against the Jazz in Los Angeles — the May 17 lottery is the one that will have the big say in the direction of the franchise. The Lakers keep the pick if it lands in the top three. Four or beyond, it goes to the 76ers.
— Scott Howard-Cooper
2015-16 Team Rating
Offense – 97.2 (29th Overall)
Defense – 107.5 (30th Overall)
Phoenix SUNS D
2015-16 Record (as of Jan. 16)
W-L 13-28
PCT .317
DIV 3-5
CONF 9-17
HOME 9-11
ROAD 4-17
Frontcourt C
It’s been a grab bag, with almost constant change, some by choice and some dictated by injury. Tyson Chandler and P.J. Tucker are still getting most of the starts, but prospects Alex Len and T.J. Warren are getting minutes.
Backcourt C+
Eric Bledsoe’s season-ending knee injury was a blow during what was already a bad time for the Suns, but did create an opening for Devin Booker that Booker has not wasted. Brandon Knight is playing 36 minutes a night.
Defense F
It’s bad, period, but especially bad for a team that made big investments in Chandler and Tucker largely for their defense. Instead, the Suns reach midseason last in shooting defense and near the bottom in other areas.
Bench B-
The key question: Can they get anything from Markieff Morris or is the relationship a lost cause? Beyond that, Warren is developing, Len has had good moments, and Booker spent most of the first half as a reserve.
Coaching C-
Jeff Hornacek has become a sympathetic figure as the Suns go under — the front office and some players are taking the hits — but he is hardly blameless either. The defense simply has to be much better.
Summary
Expect the Suns to be active around the trade deadline, aware that all is not lost when it’s possible to have a bad season and still make the playoffs in the West. That would be one way, one very big way, of salvaging what so far has been a disappointing 2015-16, not to mention get a start on the offseason moves sure to follow.
This is another season of failing to meet expectations — their own — and it cannot continue. Phoenix has trade assets, from veterans to prospects, and likely two first-round picks in June. Even if management does deal, it will be difficult to assess the Suns moving forward until seeing when Bledsoe comes back healthy, but at least there could be some sorting out of the roster by the end of February.
— Scott Howard-Cooper
2015-16 Team Rating
Offense – 100.8 (25th Overall)
Defense – 105.9 (26th Overall)
Sacramento KINGS C
2015-16 Record (as of Jan. 16)
W-L 16-23
PCT .410
DIV 3-7
CONF 8-17
HOME 10-11
ROAD 6-12
Frontcourt B
DeMarcus Cousins has become an occasional 3-point threat while also in the top five in scoring and rebounding. Rudy Gay has accepted his role as a secondary option. Willie Cauley-Stein’s injury has slowed the early read.
Backcourt B
Not even the Kings would have imagined Rajon Rondo leading the league in assists, and by a wide margin, while also taking care of the ball on a team with big turnover problems. But shooting guard Ben McLemore remains undependable.
Defense D
The forever problem remains in Sacramento. The Kings are still too often a pleasure for teams to face, failing to get back in transition and allowing easy baskets in general. A healthy Cauley-Stein the second half will help.
Bench B-
Omri Casspi has been a standout, starter or reserve, especially in giving the Kings needed help in 3-point shooting. Marco Belinelli has not helped from the perimeter, after being signed for that role. Kosta Koufos has contributed up front.
Coaching B-
George Karl came under management pressure to show more energy, but has done well amid key injuries and a combustible roster. The locker room did not go up in flames, and that’s an accomplishment.
Summary
The Kings are headed to another losing season, based on the midseason projection, yet look up to inexplicably find themselves very much in the playoff conversation. They have the rest of the conference to thank, the way some team, maybe Sacramento, will make the postseason despite not topping 40 wins.
Breaking 30 would be something new, actually. But getting to the playoffs, hopping an unusually low bar or not, would satisfy one of the preseason goals and become another sign of progress just before the Kings move into a new building. It would be another dose of energy.
The problems are still impossible to avoid either way, with a spot in the postseason or the lottery and the potential of losing the Draft pick to either the 76ers (if it is better than Philadelphia’s spot) or the Bulls (if it’s 11 or worse). It sets up as a very interesting second half in Sacramento.
— Scott Howard-Cooper
2015-16 Team Rating
Offense – 102.8 (12th Overall)
Defense – 106.0 (27th Overall)
