Before George O'Leary gets the vacant Warriors job -- it says right there on his resume that he coached the Celtics to three championships and was an assistant under Red Holzman and John Kundla -- we pause to reflect on the first quarter of the season. But this isn't football. This is basketball and it's the mellow Left Coast, so no throwing things ... unless it's a coach out the door (Golden State), caution to the wind (Penny Hardaway is still standing) or conventional wisdom (Shaquille O'Neal is having trouble with Phil Jackson. No, now he says he will never play for another coach. Talk about a 350-pounder with impossible-to-handle spin moves).

SECOND-QUARTER FOCUS

1. Chris Webber and the Kings. Everyone knows they play differently without Webber. But they need to show they can play just as good with him. For starters, though, he needs to show the ankle is ready for a long season. 2. The Lakers and the record. They are clearly the best of this regular season. Can they challenge to become the best of any regular season? 3. Gary Payton and the SuperSonics. Nothing is happening this season, so can they really let another trade deadline pass without turning him into important pieces for the future? 4. The Warriors and their coach. A good finish, and not only in terms of wins and losses, would be a major boost for Brian Winters to keep the job. But that shouldn't preclude management from considering options. — Scott Howard-Cooper

Everyone in the Pacific Division is about where expected. The Lakers are powerful, even with a rattle in the engine, the Kings are in close pursuit, the Clippers are emerging, the Warriors are fading after an encouraging start and the SuperSonics, Suns and Trail Blazers are trying to find their footing. Along the way, Dave Cowens found his on a banana peel and Elton Brand stepped to the top of the mountain -- he's finally above .500 for the first time as a pro!

Predictable yes, boring no. Besides, we're just getting warmed up in the West for a big finish. Preferrably using plastic cups to celebrate or drown sorrows.

Here's a look at the Pacific after the first quarter (records through games of Dec. 19):

Los Angeles Lakers (18-3)
Everyone around the league sees the winning percentage and swallows hard, wondering what will happen once the Lakers actually start to play well. O'Neal and Derek Fisher have been mending, newcomers Samaki Walker and Mitch Richmond are learning a new system, and Jackson is the first to say this mind-melding yoga class isn't close to where it needs to be. Proving it isn't just another PJ motivational tactic, the players agree.

If they get better, they may challenge the record for wins, the 72-10 set by Jackson's Bulls in 1995-96. If they don't, they may have to settle for the disappointment of 70. But at least their legendary announcer, Chick Hearn, will be back for the stretch run and the postseason. The start to his next run of 3,338 consecutive games.
Grade: A. Not against their own standards, but against the league.

Sacramento Kings (19-8)
The record is not the accomplishment. That came in doing it without their best player, Chris Webber, for the first 20 games and maybe beyond since he had to sit out Wednesday at Seattle because of continued problems. They need the start of the season to linger, not the injury.

Webber's absence created the platform for Peja Stojakovic, already impressive last season as a first-time starter, to become an All-Star. The challenge will be to see how/if the ball continues to move when Webber returns for good. The addition of Mike Bibby has brought a much-needed calming influence to the offense and the depth has been good as expected, with Bobby Jackson, Scot Pollard and Hedo Turkoglu all having major roles.
Grade: A. Against their own standards and against the league.

Los Angeles Clippers (14-11)
The suspension of popular Lamar Odom could have sidetracked a young team, but they played through it admirably, continuing to win and gaining confidence in the process. Brand -- as stable and mature as he is talented -- has had a big part in that, and beyond his impressive scoring and rebounding numbers. Big decisions on potential free agents loom, but so do the possibilities of the more positive variety.
Grade: B-. On course to make the playoffs, which would make it a successful season.

Phoenix Suns (14-12)
That plan to shake the "malaise" by trading Jason Kidd for Stephon Marbury, among others? It worked. In New Jersey.

In Phoenix, the defense and rebounding that had propelled the Suns to the playoffs last season and changed an image from the fun-and-run Suns have taken a beating with the loss of Kidd and Clifford Robinson. On the plus side, they're shooting very well -- Rodney Rogers, Shawn Marion, Marbury -- and ranking among the leaders again in scoring.
Grade: C+. Early read: The faces have changed, the chances for a decent playoff run have not.

Portland Trail Blazers (12-12)
Injuries have been a problem, but how understanding will Paul Allen be if this massive payroll finishes around .500 and Jeff Van Gundy, the coach he wanted last summer, or at least wanted the chance to interview before the Knicks declined the request, is available? It's much too soon to start clocking the Maurice Cheeks era with a stopwatch, but not too soon to start to wonder about making a bold move with the roster.
Grade: C. Especially bad for a team that won 50 games last season and was supposed to be better with Derek Anderson.

Seattle SuperSonics (12-15)
The discouraging part is that it has come, by all indications, with Gary Payton mostly following through on his preseason pledge to be a better soldier and fit into the team in the name of developing the future with Rashard Lewis and Desmond Mason. Payton's still a force, but he can't defend every position, and the Sonics have been dreadful in that regard. Injury problems to Calvin Booth have been a setback to the interior defense.
Grade: C-. The possibility of a sub-.500 finish for the first time time 1986-87 is a very real possibility.

Golden State Warriors (10-16)
They should all be made to stand in the end zone in Cleveland. Players griping about minutes and touches even during the early success -- so much for hating losing so much that you'd do anything to erase the memories of last season, huh guys? Cowens losing the players (or maybe not wanting to have them anymore?). Management botching the Mark Jackson free agency to turn what should have been an asset into a headache and a positive mood in the locker room at the start of camp disintegrate.

It should be especially disappointing because the potential is there for more. Danny Fortson has led a very good group of rebounders. Antawn Jamison is off to a bad start, saying he feels lost, but still dangerous. Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy have had some moments as rookies. But it's become a downhill slide for a team that can't shoot straight, and doesn't have very good direction either.
Grade: D. The first couple weeks and the work on the boards keep it from being worse.

Scott Howard-Cooper covers the NBA for the Sacramento Bee and is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.