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We're two months into the NBA season. Coaches are shaping their teams and the teams are shaping the races. Who's getting it done and who isn't? Here's a decidedly biased view of events:
|  | | Larry Brown has done great work with Philly, and gets the highest grade. |
Who gets an A
Larry Brown, 76ers: That the 76ers are playing better than anyone else only validates the opinion held in this corner that Larry Brown is the best coach currently working in the NBA. A committed teacher, his players do him proud.
Rick Adelman, Kings: They said his guys couldn't learn defense. He taught defense. He's got Jason Williams loosely under control and he's got Chris Webber playing to the best form of his career. Once tarnished, his career is in full bloom.
Jeff Van Gundy, Knicks: He's got the No. 2 team in the Atlantic with that roster? Let them complain about his offense; let them complain about his personality. Who cares. This guy can coach and the results are plain.
Scott Skiles, Suns: Tough-minded as a player, he's translated that philosophy to his team. Players go down, the Sun still rises because Skiles holds them together.
Paul Silas, Hornets: Suppose you're 18-4 without a certain guy and only 3-9 with him. What do you? Silas kept Derrick Coleman away from his Hornets as long as possible. When they straggle home after a miserable Western trip they'll still be first in their division.
Who gets a B
Pat Riley, Heat: Eddie Jones and Brian Grant are paid like superstars, but aren't. Tim Hardaway is playing on ruined legs. Still they're starting to win regularly and Riley's the guy responsible. In other hands a sub-.500 team.
Phil Jackson, Lakers: Gunning for a second title with the Lakers, Jackson wanted a higher degree of difficulty to he signed J.R. Rider. What with the Shaq-Kobe thing, this team really didn't need another distraction. Blazers are tough enough.
Mike Dunleavy, Blazers: Suppose they handed you an $87 million roster and basically what you have are a bunch of role players and one hugely talented, wildly combustible forward like Rasheed Wallace. His players told him, don't nag, they'll win; they do.
George Karl, Bucks: Complains about the way the game is played, about the Bucks' effort, their offense, their defense, their commitment. Best be careful George, you'll become another Larry Brown. Chapel Hill anyone?
Doc Rivers, Magic: Expectation and Grant Hill's surgery changed his team to no-Magic. Bright and engaging, Rivers had willing hands and they played hard a year ago. Now, he's pushing to keep that work ethic high and his team afloat.
Don Nelson, Mavs: Everyone knows Nellie ball's unique. Give him some talent he can make it work. Right now, he's in a bigger fight than whacko owner Mark Cuban. As he recuperates, nice to see that Nellie still has that golden touch.
Gregg Popovich, Spurs: A guy with a military demeanor and a team that wins by rote. They're not much fun to watch but they're in a three-way chase for first in the Midwest Division. Unflappable, Popp keeps 'em rolling along.
Flip Saunders, Wolves: They suspended his owner and his GM. One of his better players was taken away by the league. Another tragically died. Still, Saunders has kept his team focused. If he can get them to play defense they can survive.
Who gets a C
Jerry Sloan, Jazz: Handed John Starks a two-game suspension for not boarding the team bus after a loss in Los Angeles. Is somebody hiding something here or is Capt. Queeg really p.o.'d about that missing box of strawberries?
Isiah Thomas, Pacers: For a guy who played by instinct, Thomas appears mired in statistical minutia. He also changes his lineup the way some women change their shoes. He better restore Reggie Miller to a leadership position if he wants the playoffs.
Randy Wittman, Cavs: He and Rivers were Oscar and Felix as the Hawks' guard tandem. Wittman's still wound a little tight and as his roster losses mount he's going to either lighten up or run the risk of beating his boys into the boards at Gund Arena
Rudy Tomjanovich, Rockets: Even before they snapped a five-game losing streak, the Rockets were convinced that this train is bound for glory. The reality is they're in 10th place and old hand Rudy T. doesn't have a handle on up and down team.
Alvin Gentry, Clippers: As the L.A. Times noted with an exclamation point, the Clippers don't stink. Is this Gentry's work or did the Clips luck into so much talent they can't help winning a few games. Give Gentry his props. Now, can he keep Don Sterling away?
Dan Issel, Nuggets: Capt. Bligh overestimated the talent he brought aboard and he got a little tough with the guys. Imagine James Posey as Fletcher Christian. Nobody walked the plank, the Nuggets have responded. The next time they dip, let's see how Issel handles it.
George Irvine, Pistons: Pithy, demanding, Irvine didn't even know if he wanted this job, but appears to be enjoying the task of keeping the Pistons afloat until Joe Dumars can bring in some players. Jerry Stackhouse plays hard for him. And well.
Lon Kruger, Hawks: Nice man. Has the respect of his players and they work hard. So far, so good. The Hawks are 9-8 since a 3-13 November. He's deliberately kept it simple. Now, let's what happens when the first-year NBA coach elects to install a system.
Dave Cowens, Warriors: A good guy to drink beers with. A coach who will protect his players' backs. He also quits a lot. Two of his better big men lost to injury, his team isn't going anywhere in a particular hurry. You gotta wonder how long Cowens is going to hang around.
Nate McMillan, Sonics: After an early bounce, the Sonics have settled in to be who they are. They stink. Paul Westphal took the hit. Now, it's Nate's time with Vin Baker, Gary Payton and the ghost of Patrick Ewing.
Byron Scott, Nets: Here's a smart guy and here's a bad team. Not Red Auerbach, not even the great Lenny Wilkens could win in the swamps of Jersey. If Scott is going to move the Nets up quickly he needs to put on a uniform.
Who gets a D
Sidney Lowe, Grizzlies: Talks tough. Acts tough. Demands his guys play tough. But through Sunday his record in Minnesota and Vancouver is 43-106. This makes him the second coming of Pink Floyd (see below). How lowe can you go?
Lenny Wilkens, Raptors: So tell me, what he has he done for this team after three months of bonding? Where is the intensity and the smarts, the boost from a guy in the Hall of Fame only two losses from 1,000. Look out Bill Fitch (1,106), somebody's gaining on you.
Who gets an F
Rick Pitino, Celtics: With all the hoopla, he wasn't even a good coach. His players ignored him. His philosophy was helter-skelter and he tried to force it upon guys who wouldn't run and couldn't run it. Good riddance.
Leonard Hamilton, Wizards: He took a pass on the Rod Strickland benching, tossing the buck to the front office. When he did that he lost the respect of the players who know Strickland for what he is and would have backed their coach.
Tim Floyd, Bulls: Enough already with the Triangle. Run the Diagonal. Run the Box and One. Run the Quadrangle. For the love of the game, Pinkie, drop this fershtunkinah system and let the children play. Game for game, only poor Brian Winters in Vancouver was worse.
Jeffrey Denberg, who covers the NBA for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, is a regular contributor to ESPN.com.
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