We left a few disappointed last week when we didn’t release a report card that could have gotten a coveted ‘A’ or ‘B,’ but just as many were relieved not to get their less than satisfactory grades. Love it or hate it, we are back at it again this week, with our second to last report card of the regular season:

John Stockton, the NBA all-time leader in steals and assists, was elected the the Basketball Hall of Fame this week.

A – The ‘09 Basketball Hall of Fame Class - One of the best parts about sports is honoring the greats is retiring their jerseys and even better,  enshrining them into their respective Halls of Fame. This year’s class is headlined by Michael Jordan, the greatest player of all time, if we forget about his two-year debacle with the Washingotn Wizards. Behind him is John Stockton, the greatest point guard of all time,  David Robinson and Jerry Sloan (some may forget he has his jersey retired by the Chicago Bulls). In the modern era of NBA marketing, there will be several players disappointed when they retire and aren’t enshrined into the Hall of Fame. Carmelo Anothony and Gilbert Arenas will headline the list of ones left out, but at least they will have their jerseys being worn by kids in third world countires around the globe.

B – The Billups Factor - The Denver Nuggets have their place in the Playoffs. it’s the seventh or eighth seed with implosion and dissappointment in their imminent future. At least they still have that one series they won over the #1 seed Seattle Supersonics back in 1994 was Dikembe Mutumbo was 20ish…maybe. The Nuggets had thought they had changed their fortune when they traded for Allen Iverson, but it was trading away A.I. that vaulted them to where they are now. Iverson was a scorer and a play-maker, but never a leader. When the Nuggets traded for Chauncey Billups early this season, they got everything they needed and are now sitting comfortably in the #2 seed. Lost in why the Nuggets are where they are is Chris “Birdman” Andersen. The tatooed, illegal drug-using, failure of dunking (refer to his tatoos, his being suspended a year for drug use, and him failing miserably in the ‘05 Dunk Contest) has contributed greatly this year in the posistion left vacant by Marcus Camby.

C – The NBA Green Week - In an effort to remain in good standing with the environmentalist and Al Gore, the NBA had it’s first “Green Week” to raise awareness of recycling and raising funds to improve the earth. As part of the week of festivities, players went around to their local communities planting trees, educating children on being green, and skipping in fields. The league also had every player wear  NBA Green tees over their jerseys on the bench (that you can buy on NBA.com for a very green price of $24.99), and a sleuth of teams sported green jerseys. Those teams with green jerseys included the Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics…imagine that.

D – The Sliding Sixers - If there is one way you don’t want to go into the Playoffs, it’s on a losing streak. Right now the Philadelphia 76ers are doing just that, having lost their last five games and dropping two spots in the Eastern Conference seedings. The Sixers had been more than impressive in their efforts to get a high seed on the Playoffs because they were doing it without Elton Brand, their huge offseason addition. Basically, the Sixers are now doing what they were expected to do, which isn’t as disappointing, but no more desirable.

F – The Offtune Jazz - The Utah Jazz did not play a single game with their full starting lineup until late February and went on a roll to win 12 straight. For whatever reason, the Jazz have fallen hard the last couple weeks. Their reputation of being a horrible road team has not changed, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a better road record than the Jazz this year. This past week the Jazz have dropped road contests to the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs (they have not won in San Antonio in 10 years), and home contests to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. For the Jazz’s pathetic effort of late, they will most likely win a first round butt whooping at the hands of the Los Angles Lakers. CONGRATUALTIONS!!!

Tags: NBA

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