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Friday, January 24
 
At midterm, Kings set the curve

ESPN.com

With the NBA's 2002-03 regular season reaching the halfway point, ESPN.com's NBA experts took a timeout to grade the performances of all 29 teams. It's no surprise the Kings -- having aced their biggest tests in L.A., New Jersey and at home against Dallas -- sit at the head of the class so far. Several teams need to apply themselves in the second half or risk flunking out, namely the defending champion Lakers.

Click on the links below for each team's report card, featuring comments by ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher, ESPN's Fred Carter, ESPN's Dr. Jack Ramsay, ESPN.com's Marc Stein and ESPN's Bill Walton. Also, take part in SportsNation's awards polls below.

  • Vote for: MVP | Coach | Rookie | Defensive | 6th Man | Improved

    EASTERN CONFERENCE
    Team W-L after 41 games GPA
    Indiana Pacers 29-12 3.9
    New Jersey Nets 28-13 3.8
    Detroit Pistons 27-14 3.7
    Boston Celtics 24-17 2.8
    Washington Wizards 21-20 2.5
    New Orleans Hornets 21-20 2.3
    Orlando Magic 20-21 2.2
    Philadelphia 76ers 21-20 2.0
    Milwaukee Bucks 20-21 1.3
    New York Knicks 17-23* 1.3
    Chicago Bulls 15-26 1.2
    Miami Heat 14-27 1.2
    Cleveland Cavaliers 8-33 0.9
    Toronto Raptors 10-31 0.7
    Atlanta Hawks 14-27 0.4
    WESTERN CONFERENCE
    Team W-L after 41 games GPA
    Sacramento Kings 30-11 4.0
    Dallas Mavericks 33-8 3.7
    Utah Jazz 25-16 3.6
    Phoenix Suns 25-16 3.5
    San Antonio Spurs 26-15 3.0
    Houston Rockets 23-17* 2.9
    Portland Trail Blazers 25-15* 2.8
    Minnesota Timberwolves 23-18 2.5
    Golden State Warriors 18-23 2.3
    Denver Nuggets 10-31 2.3
    Memphis Grizzlies 13-28 2.1
    Seattle SuperSonics 18-22* 1.9
    Los Angeles Lakers 19-22 1.5
    Los Angeles Clippers 16-25 1.1
    *Have played only 40 games






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