Mid-term Coaching Grades - EAST

Atlanta: Mike Woodson (D+)
The Hawks have the worst record in the league. The only thing that keeps Woodson from an F is his roster of duplicated positions.

Boston: Doc Rivers (C-)
I like Doc. One of my favorite Knicks. He’d make a better GM than coach.

Charlotte: Bernie Bickerstaff (C)
Second worst record in the league, but lowest payroll. Bickerstaff isn’t a top coach but he’s got his young guys competing.

Chicago: Scott Skiles (F)
Dumbest rotation in the NBA. Stick with a few guys and let them play Scooter.

Cleveland: Mike Brown (B+)
With LeBron you should win the division, unless Detroit is ahead of you. So-so talent, but good results so far for the 1st year coach.

Detroit: Flip Saunders (A+)
Credit to Larry Brown for toughening this group up, but more credit to Flip for keeping them loose enough to take it to the next level. Coach of the Year.

Indiana: Rick Carlisle (A)
He’s another coach in the control freak mold, but I actually like him. He keeps his team at the top even with distractions (Artest) and injuries (Tinsley/O’Neal).

Miami: Pat Riley (B)
Pat hasn’t been around long enough to fairly grade him as a coach, but he’s put to rest the talk about playing time and ball-sharing. Reputation alone gets him a B.

Milwaukee: Terry Stotts (B)
The season is still young and this roster of mediocre talent may just yet collapse, but in fairness to Stotts, he’s coached his team to a playoff position so far.

New Jersey: Lawrence Frank (B+)
If you’d asked me two weeks ago, I’d have given him a C-, but the recent win streak has the Nets on top and patience has seemed to pay off. (and a healthier Kidd).

New York: Larry Brown (C-)
In my pre-season prediction for this team, I said that the best runs would be with the younger guys playing. It’s taken LB too long to figure that out. Free Channing Frye!

Orlando: Brian Hill (D+)
I don’t know why Orlando wanted a second go around with this career sub-.500 coach, but they’re getting what they paid for. No Hill, and a shit Steve Francis hurts him.

Philadelphia: Mo Cheeks (C)
Poor Mo. He’s inherited a tough coaching job. Allen Iverson is as good as it gets, but he dominates his team so much. With Webber available most of the year, they should be over .500. Sorry Mo.

Toronto: Sam Mitchell (F)
Losing to Maccabi Tel Aviv in the pre-season and allowing Kobe 81 points should qualify him for an F- or a G, but he is coaching the worst franchise outside Atlanta after all.

Washington: Eddie Jordan (B-)
Everyone says he’s on the hot seat, but this roster just isn’t that good. Outside Arenas, and Jamison on some nights, this team sucks. Name one other guy you’d want playing minutes on your team.