NBA Eastern Conference Grades

We're through three weeks of the NBA season and that means we've got enough basketball behind us to start giving out grades. Here's how the East has played out so far:

New York Knicks (5-0): A+
The Big Apple finally has something to rejoice about. The Knicks are turning their fans' lofty expectations into reality. We won't know how good they really are until they get Stat back but for now, they are putting on one hell of a show at the Garden.

Miami Heat (6-3): A-
The Heat seem to have picked up where they left off last June with the exception of a few hiccups. Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis have worked their way seamlessly into the Heat's "positionless' offense and LeBron is, well, LeBron. They still need to work out some kinks in their defense and Dwyane Wade needs to get back into form, but so far the Heat have been the elite team that we all know they are.

Milwaukee Bucks (5-2): A-
Thus far, the Bucks have been playing exactly the sort of basketball they need to play. They have feasted on weak teams and distributed the ball very efficiently. They rank third in the league in assists and Monta Ellis has led them to the tune of 20 ppg. Look for them to take a small step back but for now, the Bucks are turning their chemistry into wins.

Chicago Bulls (5-3): B+
The Bulls playing without Derrick Rose is kind of like a car trying to run without an engine. They've played relatively well in has absence, however. Luol Deng is proving to be a very good weapon on both sides of the ball and they've played solid team ball without their superstar. The Bulls have had a pretty easy schedule so far so don't expect them to be a .600 team for much longer.

Brooklyn Nets (4-2): B
The Nets have probably had the easiest schedule in basketball over the last three weeks. They've played Orlando twice, the Raptors and the Cavaliers so a 4-2 record is hardly extraordinary. Joe Johnson has pulled off a a disappearing act and Deron Williams is ruining his case for best pg in the east. If there has been a bright spot so far, it's the solid play of the former Mr. Kardashian.

Boston Celtics (5-3): B-
The Celtics, quite simply, have been bad. Their decent record to date is undoubtedly the result of a laughably easy schedule. They had the good fortune of getting matched up against the Wizards in back to back games (otherwise known as the holy grail). Their other wins came against the Bucks, Derrick Rose-less Bulls, and a Jazz team that took three overtimes to dispatch the Raptors. If the Celtics are to find a groove in a post big-3 world, it's going to be on the shoulders of Rajon Rondo.

Charlotte Bobcats (4-3): A
Michael Jordan's team may not be anywhere near greatness; they may not even be good, but right now they can say they have a winning record. Since opening the season with a one-point win over the playoff-bound Indiana Pacers, the Bobcats have followed Kemba Walker to wins over the T-Wolves, Mavericks and Wizards (alright, that last one isn't a huge feat). Following Kemba's lead, the Bobcats should be able to dig their way out of the crater that was last season.

Philadelphia 76ers (4-4): B
The Sixers aren't exactly to blame for their .500 record, as Andrew Bynum has yet to hit the hardwood. We won't know what kind of team they are until we see them with their best player, but this offense has looked about as bad as any in the league. The silver lining is that even without their 7 foot behemoth in the paint, the 76ers' defense ranks fifth in points allowed per game.

Atlanta Hawks (3-4): B
The Hawks may sport a sub-500 record but that is the result of an absolutely grueling schedule. Despite this, they have risen to the occasion in their three wins coming against the Heat, Thunder and Pacers. Their rebounding is deplorable and their scoring anemic, but they show heart when it counts and with better individual performances could be a real team again.

Indiana Pacers (3-6): C+
The team that almost booted the Heat from the playoffs last year has seen a sharp regression. They've suffered losses at the hands of the Bobcats, Raptors and Bucks and their offense ranks dead last in points per game. On the bright side, their offense couldn't possibly get any worse and their rebounding has been phenomenal.

Orlando Magic (2-5): B-
Make no mistake, the Orlando Magic are bad, but they get credit for putting up any points in the post-Superman era. After opening the season 2-0, Orlando has seen a 5 game slide, albeit against pretty strong opposition. There will be a time when the Magic can forget about Dwight Howard, unfortunately, that time is looking very very long off.

Toronto Raptors (2-6): C+
The Raptors really don't have much going for them so expectations weren't too high; unfortunately, neither is their winning percentage. Toronto is another team that experienced a big slide since a decent first week and is now the proud owner of the 26th worst defense by opposing scoring. With some young talent, success may only be a few years away for Toronto, but thus far it has been a bad showing up north.

Cleveland Cavaliers (2-6): C-
Another team that is soon going to be on the other side of a rebuild, the Cavs are living and dying by Kyrie Irving and the transcendent play of Anderson Verejao. The mop-topped Brazilian has been putting up ridiculous numbers including a 23 rebound campaign in the opening game of the season. Cavaliers fans can be very pleased with the development of Kyrie Irving who is becoming a premier guard before our eyes.

Detroit Pistons (1-8): D
They may not have much going for them, but no team should play as badly as Detroit has so far this year. With Greg Monroe building on his monstrous play from last year, the Pistons have at least one weapon and that should be enough to put up a fight against the Suns to whom they lost earlier this month.

Washington Wizards (0-7): F
The boys from our nations capital have put together an opening stretch worthy of last years Bobcats (to whom they have already suffered a loss this year). With a terrible offense and a pretty bad defense, the Wizards' main problem has been their lack of any individual performers. They can move the ball pretty well but it is starting to look like they couldn't score on a team of mannequins.