There are no adjustments made for injuries, since virtually every ball club has had key players unavailable for various periods.

DALLAS' run with the leaders of the posse has come to a screeching halt. But who's to blame? J-Kidd's obsolescence? Or the usual miscreants — Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Jason Terry, et al? In any event, it's time to back up the stagecoach.Grade: D

DENVER's big trades have transformed them into a solid contender. Absent A.I.'s me-first game and Marcus Camby's less-than-meets-the-eye defense, all the pieces are starting to fit. Nene is blossoming and Chauncey Billups is a model citizen. Now if only J. R. Smith can get his head together.Grade: B

GOLDEN STATE is a dysfunctional group of players who are either terminally selfish, severely limited, or unforgivably young. Pull the curtain back on the mighty Wizard of Oz to reveal Big Belly Nellie making lots of noise and lots of smoke —but little else.Grade: F

HOUSTON resembles a traveling M.A.S.H. unit more than it does a basketball team with championship aspirations. Even worse, Ron-Ron's presence has been as disruptive, albeit more subtly so, as advertised. Perhaps the one step back that the Rockets have taken lately is necessary before they can take two steps forward.Grade: C-minus

The LA CLIPPERS's bad karma has come home to roost. A roster clogged with players who are overrated, uncoachable, or both, led by an overrated, overbearing coach. Incredible as it seems, these guys are even worse than they were last year.Grade: D-plus

The LA LAKERS remain overreliant on finesse, especially since Andrew Bynum has become much more enamored with scoring than with rebounding. Yes, they can score in bunches and their bench is deep — but they have a habit of coming up short in the clutch. Despite their gaudy record, changes are assuredly afoot. Say good-bye to V-Rad? Luke Walton? And/or Lamar Odom? As good as they are, this is not a championship-caliber squad.Grade: B

MEMPHIS is a smidgeon better than they've been in recent memory. However, the Grizz remain so toothless as to frighten opponents only when the moon is full. Still, there's nothing wrong with the franchise that a bona fide Elvis sighting wouldn't fix.Grade: C

MINNESOTA is actually starting to win some games. Al Jefferson and Rudy Gay are Minny's version of a dynamic duo, and even Kevin Love is converting more than a occasional shot. Too bad they still lack another wing scorer and a dependable playmaker/defender/decision-maker at the point.Grade: C-plus

NEW ORLEANS has become somewhat soft around the edges, and downright viscid in the middle. Ty Chandler is stuck in the past. Defenses are jamming up CP3's screen/roll efficiency. And if D-West isn't on top of his game, the Hornets struggle mightily to beat lesser teams. Not that they're bums, but they certainly don't look to be nearly as unstoppable as they were last season — or at least until the Spurs rallied from a 3-2 deficit to eliminate the Hornets in the conference semis.Grade: C-minus

OKLAHOMA CITY is showing some signs of life. That's because their young players have not yet gotten overly used to losing. And because Scott Brooks has more living brain cells than P. J. Carelisimo. Still, there remains a huge distance between where this team is and where they should be.Grade: F

PHOENIX isn't quite the high-flying, highly-entertaining crew that they were under Mike D'Antoni's direction. But with Shaq experiencing a renaissance, with Amare Stoudemire keeping his complaining to a minimum, and with Steve Nash grudgingly accepting the new regime, Steve Kerr's retooling of the game plan is starting to bear dividends. The biggest question, however, involves the continued effectiveness of the Biggest Question.Grade: C-plus

PORTLAND's growth spurt has been hindered by Greg Oden's painfully-slow learning curve. Meanwhile, B-Roy, T-Outlaw, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Steve Blake are doing just fine. And Joel Pryzbilla is doing all the things that Oden can't — like rebounding, defending, blocking shots, and avoiding crippling foul trouble.Grade: B

SACRAMENTO is paying the price for paying a backup point guard (Beno Udrih) All-Star money. For not trading Brad Miller during the summer before his wear-and-tear became more noticeable. For paying too much for Mikki Moore. And for having too much dead wood cluttering up their roster.Grade: F

After being left for dead at the starting gate, SAN ANTONIO is sneaking up on everybody, but they seem to do this at least every other year. TD, TP, Manu G, and even Mike Finley keep on keeping on — and Roger Mason has been a miracle. Just another guy who knows how to win. Bet on the Spurs to have their game plan sharpened to a deadly edge come the playoffs.Grade: C-minus

UTAH continues to be more patient on offense than opponents are on defense. But D-Will is still not 100 percent, and with so many subs being forced to start, the Jazz's bench is flatter than a flatted 5th note. Whatever success they've enjoyed thus far is due to the team's precision, discipline, toughness, and unselfishness — qualities that can take a team a long way, but not far enough into the playoffs to make Jerry Sloan smile.Grade: D-plus