Team Report
The Stealth continued their magical run this season by staying undefeated for the month of January. Their last win was against the New Jersey Nets in a matchup billed as a potential NBA Finals series. Not only did Seattle demonstrate their superior credentials; they also won their twenty eighth win in a row.
The team’s unprecedented winning streak has made league on-lookers wonder whether any team, including the Sacramento Kings, will be able to slow them down when the playoffs roll around. Kevin Durant’s top-form game has peaked and he looks set on winning another scoring title as well as a league MVP. It has been all smooth sailing for the Stealth as a clean bill of health has allowed Coach George Karl to play his starters and Allen Iverson for the majority of court time.
Mid-Season Player GradesSF Kevin Durant: (29.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.5 bpg, .576 FG%, .472 3PT%, .901 FT%)
This could well be one of the finest offensive displays in the modern era of the NBA and especially from an NBA wing player. Durant’s numbers are out of this world as no player has shot with such accuracy from all areas of the NBA floor and average 29.7 points a game at the same time. Even Michael Jordan never shot 90% from the charity stripe although he has gotten close to the 57.6% for the field. His defence has also gotten better too and his team’s performance has him in position for his first truly credible MVP campaign.
Grade: A+
SG Reshawn Tyson: (24.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.7 apg, 1.6 spg, .548 FG%)
An underrated member of the squad who was demanding a trade earlier on in the season and disrupted team play by going for his own individual numbers rather than team wins. The team struggled when Tyson tried to do it all on his own but after an injury sidelined him for five games, he came back with a better attitude and quietly rescinded his trade request before Seattle began their 28 game romp. Tyson is regarded by many as the team’s second best player but his attitude has required a bit of fine-tuning before he is to be accepted by the majority of the Stealth’s fan base.
Grade: A-
C Andrew Bogut: (15.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 5.7 apg, 1.0 spg, 2.2 bpg, .538 FG%)
What many do not appreciate is that we are watching one of the best passing big men in history. Bogut is a joy to watch and although the numbers aren’t eye-catching (apart from that assists average), he is top notch quality and a surprisingly relevant player in the whole scheme of things. Take Bogut out of the team and Durant/Tyson would not get as many looks and open lanes to try and score. Sure – Bogut’s rebounding numbers could be higher but he plays next to David Lee who is a pretty good player on the boards too. With that said, Bogut could be considered the Stealth’s MVP.
Grade: A
SG Allen Iverson: (13.2 ppg, 1.0 apg, 0.9 spg, .439 3PT%)
Iverson’s three point accuracy is at a career high level this season. He can still put up buckets in a hurry and if given full time minutes, he’d be able to push that 20 point mark. He is in a perfect situation here in Seattle by sharing minutes with fellow veteran Jason Kidd. Iverson has been less disruptive this season but there was a stage where many were worried about whether that would continue. He played well in Tyson’s absence due to injury and pundits wondered aloud whether the proud former All-Star could hack being sent back to the bench. So far so good and Iverson’s quest for a Sixth Man of the Year trophy continues.
Grade: A-
PF David Lee: (9.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.7 apg, .522 FG%)
David Lee could always be better. It’s hard to grade a former All-Star caliber player when he is just a bit player alongside three actual All-Stars. Ever since his first season in Seattle, Lee has been underwhelming. However, this season, he has shown flashes of brilliance and the talent that the Stealth based their decision to sign him on a few years ago. Lee could have had a much better career elsewhere and he knows it. It will be interesting to see whether he will stay in Seattle once his contract ends.
Grade: B
SF Adam Morrison: (9.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, .470 FG%, .414 3PT%)
Ammo is a crowd favorite and one of the only players that Head Coach George Karl trusts to let off the bench to replace Kevin Durant. He’s a deadeye shooter who could improve his three point range but has done a sufficient job in spot minutes for Seattle. Morrison cannot be compared to the talent that Seattle lost in Trevor Ariza (15 ppg as a starter with the Lakers) as Ariza did not want to stay anymore resulting in a forced a sign and trade. Ammo has been a solid player but lacks a lot in the defense department.
Grade: B
PG Jason Kidd: (8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9.7 apg, 1.1 spg)
As amazing as Kidd is at age 40/41, his decline has been quite steep this season. At one stage he was flirting with averaging a double double in points and assists but recently, he has seemed to hit a proverbial wall. His shooting percentages are down to significant lows and it is quite evident that he cannot keep up with the league’s elite point guards. Since Iverson isn’t the defensive type either, it is never surprising to see even the league’s mediocre point men having great nights against the Stealth. With that said, Kidd is still averaging 9 points and 10 assists a night. His impact on the team is also measured intangibly and that impact is rated pretty high.
Grade: B+
PF Mingyu Li: (4.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.0 apg, .509 FG%, .491 3PT%, .842 FT%)
The 7 foot forward from China has been a gem in the rough for the team. Arriving in the trade that brought Seattle disgraced guard Aaron Karl (now out of the league), Li has emerged as the major asset of that deal. A Wang Zhizhi clone; Li has shot from downtown with insane accuracy. Li could be the league’s best 7-foot shooter and that’s ahead of Dirk Nowitzki. So far, he has not played significant minutes but Karl is beginning to warm up to Li not only thanks to his shooting ability but also because of his aggressiveness in the post and around the glass (rare in a Chinese player if you look at the likes of Wang, Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian).
Grade: A-
PG Jao Wu: (4.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, .425 FG%, .375 3PT%, .836 FT%)
The first overall pick of the last NBA Draft has gotten a bit more of a role and is just unlucky he has to play behind both Jason Kidd and Allen Iverson. Karl does not trust Iverson and Wu to play in the same backcourt; otherwise they could combine to be the most exciting bench duo in the game. Wu has a modest following of fans and you will see him play during garbage time. He has not been that impressive though due to his poor shot selection and high turnover rate. Unfortunately, the electrifying play does not offset the aforementioned. One is to ponder though whether it’s a waste of a pick if Wu is to rot away on the bench.
Grade: B-
C Rocky Akonnor: (1.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.6 bpg, 8.0 mpg)
This guy is a monster. He has been a project since being drafted in the second round and this season is showing why Seattle have not let go of him since then. He averages 2.4 rebounds and 0.6 blocks at 8 minutes per game. When converted to 36 minutes, those numbers jump to 10.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks. Akonnor could be a big part of the Stealth’s team in the near future as their star frontcourt of Bogut/Lee start to slow with age. And that is closer than you would think.
Grade: B
SG Senso Rancati: (0.5 ppg, 0.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 3.4 mpg)
The Italian is just happy to be playing in the main team now. He’s a great shooter who just has not had the chance to get into a rhythm and show it.
Grade: C
D-League Assignees: Peter Carpenter, Jamaal Garrett, Rich Tyler
Garrett has had the chance to play the most games for the Stealth and has been effective as a body to clog the lane for the team. Garrett is also playing great in the D-League. Carpenter has been underwhelming in the D-League while Rich Tyler is unlikely to be re-signed after this season.
Grade: N/A
AmMo!
Hope you can win it all this time 
