The sixth and final part of this six-piece Midseason Report Card series spotlights the Atlantic Division.  The Atlantic is currently home to the defending champion Celtics and a crew of underachievers currently resting below the .500 line.  While the Knicks and Nets have shown progress this season, the Sixers and Raptors have taken a step back.

Click here to read Part One of the series on the Northwest Division

Click here to read Part Two of the series on the Pacific Division

Click here to read Part Three of the series on the Southwest Division

Click here to read Part Four of the series on the Southeast Division

Click here to read Part Five of the series on the Central Division

Boston Celtics

Coming off their remarkable championship run that saw them overcome two Game 7?s and a dominant title-capping rout of the Lakers, Boston came into this season focused on a repeat.  And it sure looks extremely possible so far.

Team MVP: Paul Pierce

As PP fearlessly admitted this offseason, he is one of the world?s greatest players.  His emotion and competitiveness have led this team when others haven?t been able to produce.  The Celtic franchise stuck with The Truth all these years and now that he has capable teammates (see: not Antoine Walker), they are finally starting to reap the rewards.

Needs Improvement:  Bill Walker

Entering the Draft, Walker was one of those first round talents with injury written all over him.  The Celtics made a nifty trade getting him for nothing in the second round and I fully expected KG and Co. to mold him into a dynamic force for this team.  However, he?s only played in 7 games thus far and has more fans in the NBDL than he does in Beantown.

Best Move: Freeing more time for Scalabrine

There?s nothing better in life than seeing Brian Scalabrine rain three?s from the corner.  Nothing.  Big Red only played in 48 games last season and has already played in 36 this year.  His Will Ferrell-like body is a joy to watch come crunch time, and his 37% from downtown always seems to come at crucial junctions of each game he graces.

Biggest Surprise:  Ability to sustain long winning streaks

The Celtics are a deep team, and that has lead to their ability to sustain the long streak.  But it?s not often a defending champion has the same desire to put together such impressive win streaks, as some of the will to perform in the regular season diminishes.  Last season, their longest win streak was 10, which only happened once.  This season, they earlier won 19-straight and are currently working on a 12-game streak.

First Half Grade: A+

They?ve won it before.  And they can win it again.  They are that good.

New Jersey

The Nets entered this season as one of the teams nobody expected to do anything.  But a rejuvenated Vince, a flourishing Brook, and a breakout from Devin have this team thinking playoffs at the All-Star Break.

Team MVP: Devin Harris

Basically the trade that sent Jason Kidd to Dallas for Devin Harris and scraps last year was a huge coup for the Nets.  Wow.  Harris leads the team in scoring (21.5), assists (6.4), and steals (1.64) and has been invaluable leading this team of youngsters (and VC).

Needs Improvement:  Sean Williams

After seeing the skill set of this talented big man in person, I once wrote that ?The 2007 NBA Draft could eventually be known as The Sean Williams Draft.?  Obviously, he must be trying to shatter my reputation.  

Best Move: Not being stupid like 5-8 teams and taking Brook Lopez

As one of the best big men in the nation, it should have been obvious to teams that he would be a good selection.  Instead, he dropped into the Nets lap and they gladly picked him to be their center of the future.  Already, he?s averaging 11.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.92 blocks with 9 double-doubles.

Biggest Surprise: The fact Vince Carter hasn?t mailed it in yet

Vince is notorious for not giving his all in the tail end of his Toronto days.  So naturally, everyone and their mother expected Vince to put up a stout 12.3 point, 1.1 rebound, 0.7 assist season until they traded him to the Cavs for Wally?s expiring deal at the deadline, which of course would prompt him to a 28.9 point, 6.5 rebound, 5.9 assist month of April and potentially a Finals MVP.  But no, Vince has maintained his numbers from last season and helped this team fight into the race for the eighth seed.

First Half Grade: B-

Let?s be honest, you expected the Nets to be terrible.  A rotation featuring Bobby Simmons, Yi, Ryan Anderson, Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, Eduardo Najera, Trenton Hassell, and Mo Ager on the outskirts couldn?t possible win many games.  But they have won some.

New York

The Knicks have been a disgrace ever since the turn of the millennium.  They have suffered through the Isiah Era, but seemed confident that they could turn it around under the new Mafioso leadership of Donnie Walsh and Mike D?Antoni.  So far, things are definitely better than anticipated.

Team MVP:  Chris Duhon

While many pundits like to claim that Duhon is only succeeding because he is in D?Antoni?s speedball offense, they obviously have not been watching much Knick basketball on MSG network.  Duhon is more of a fit in the mold of Chauncey Billups (+ defense) than he is fit to be a Nash heir-apparent.  Duhon gets his teammates involved first and then looks to shoot in big spots.  Duhon is a defender in its truest form and can be counted on to deliver the clutch bucket driving to the hoop as he has done all season.

Needs Improvement:  Management handling of roster spots

While Donnie Walsh will forever (until July 1, 2010) be given a standing ovation for turning Jamal Crawford and Zach Randolph into Al Harrington, Tim Thomas, and $27M in cap space for LeBron and friends, he must be somewhat scolded for his stubborn handling of key roster spots.  Entering the season he chose to keep Anthony Roberson over Patrick Ewing Jr.  Roberson has been an afterthought this season, while Ewing would have provided energy.  What is more shocking is the number of spots being taken up by absolutely no value:  Stephon Marbury, Eddy Curry, Jerome James, Malik Rose, and Roberson.  Even worse, he still has Cuttino Mobley on the roster and refuses to drop any of these guys to fill the spot with Ewing or a better shooter (see: Gerry McNamara) despite their being a major glaring hole at 2-guard.

Best Move: Getting Al Harrington with the cap room

This could have been taking a flier on Danilo Gallinari (he looks like the real deal) or signing Duhon, but the truth is that Al Harrington was born to be a Knick.  He grew up in New Jersey loving the Knicks, and is the perfect fit for their new system.  Harrington has led the team in scoring since his acquisition and has no qualms whether he?s starting or coming off the bench.  

Biggest Surprise: Jared Jeffries

While it would be easy to say Wilson Chandler here, anyone who saw glimpses of him last season knew he was on the path to stardom.  But under Isiah, Jeffries was often grouped into the worthless category.  This season, D?Antoni has stuck with him in the starting five and Jeffries has played his best ball probably since his days as a Hoosier.  He can defend point guards (like when he shut down Rajon Rondo in New York), gets countless hands on offensive rebounds and tip-outs to the guards, and has even learned how to hit the 18-footer (kinda).  

First Half Grade:  B-

The fact that the Knicks are in the playoff chase is good enough for the fans.  They recently won 8 of 11 to catapult themselves back into the hunt for eighth and already look like they are coming together toward a potential postseason date with the Celtics.  Boy, would that be fun.

Philadelphia

After stealing Elton Brand from the Clippers, many penciled the Sixers into the Conference Finals.  Maybe that was the flavor of the month amidst the Philly euphoria after the Phillies won the World Series  But things haven?t gone as smoothly as they had planned.

Team MVP: AI2

Do you think it?s good or bad that Andre Iguodala has become the face of the Philly franchise and has the same initials as his predecessor Allen Iverson?  I doubt I?d like it.  But Iggy has been a force this season, leading the team with 17.8 points and 1.75 steals per game to go along with his 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists.

Needs Improvement:  Samuel Dalembert

It seems like Uncle Sam is taking a step backwards this season.  His numbers are down across the board (only 5.6 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks after 10.5, 10.3, and 2.3 last year.

Best Move: Letting Thaddeus roam

Thaddeus Young might be one of the best picks from a year ago, and this season Philly has let him run wild on the floor much like he did in last season?s strong first round against Detroit.  Young has come into his own with 13.5 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.

Biggest Surprise:  Marreese Speights

One of Chris Reina?s favorite draftees, Speights has been a pleasant surprise for Philly with the 16th pick in the first round.  He?s added 7.8 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.

First Half Grade:  C+

The Sixers expected to be in the Top 4 with Boston, Cleveland, and Orlando.  Instead, they are below .500 trying to outlast the Knicks.

Toronto

The Raps have been steadily declining over the past couple of seasons.  Two years ago, they won their first ever Atlantic division title.  Last year, they forced their way into the playoffs.  This season, they are mired in last place in the weakest division out East.

Team MVP: Chris Bosh

CB4 loved life in Toronto when they were winning divisions, now there are rumors that he?s got a one-way ticket out of Canada come Summer 2010.  Bosh has been animalistic this season, putting up 23.0 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 0.92 blocks per game following his shining Olympic performance that had many wondering if he was better than Dwight Howard.

Needs Improvement:  Rebounding

The Raps don?t have many rebounders.  Only Bosh and Jermaine O?Neal have averaged more than 5.1 rebounds per game and JO can only be counted on for half of the games.  They?ve been outrebounded 11.3 to 8.9 on the offensive glass and 41.7 to 38.9 overall.

Best Move: Finding The Fish in Turkey

You know things are going South in Toronto when the best move they made over the past year is sending somebody out to pluck Will Solomon from the Fenerbahce Ulker Euroleague team.  Nicknamed The Fish in Israel, Solomon has returned to the NBA for the first time since 2001-02 and provided a spark off the bench behind Jose Calderon at the point.  The Fish has averaged a strong 17.0 points and 10.9 assists per 48 minutes.

Biggest Surprise: Andrea Bargnani

Its funny how you can go from number-one pick overall, to bust, and then back to promising young star.  Let?s not forget that Bargnani is only 23-years old and he?s been thriving when given the starter?s role in place of the hobbled and ancient-looking Jermaine O?Neal.

First Half Grade:  C-

The Calderon over Ford argument can finally be put to rest, and the JO/Bosh Experience has not lived up to its billing.

Feel free to contact Jason M. Williams with your thoughts. He can be reached at Jason.Williams@RealGM.com for comments or questions.