Popper: Knicks' All-Star break grades

At the All-Star break, two-thirds of the way through the season already gone, it’s hard to still think that the Knicks will get a passing grade as a team.

The funny thing about grading this group is that individually they may be better than they are as a team, with players like Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose performing well, but not converting the group into a winning team.

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Knicks' Report Cards

Derrick Rose: Health was the question, but he’s been stable and athletic, getting to the rim nearly as well as any guard in the game. But he has done little to make others better and his defense has been a huge hole: C+.

Courtney Lee: On a team lost on defense, his skills on that end have not lived up to expectations, but he has provided leadership and a scoring boost: B.

Joakim Noah: A four-year, $72 million deal hangs like an albatross over him as he has been dinged up much of the year and shows little sign of the player he was: F.

Kristaps Porzingis: The unicorn has been ordinary much of the season, exposed on defense and not making the expected progress offensively. Still a star in the making, but not ready for prime time yet: B-.

Carmelo Anthony: Age and wear may be showing, but he is still the best player on the team and still, as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Sunday, “a monster.” And he is still a difference-maker if a contender acquires him: B.

Brandon Jennings: A spark off the bench - perhaps the most useful trade chip the Knicks possess with a cheap contract and offensive firepower. Pushes the offense, although in odd directions at times, and like Rose, stops no one defensively: B-.

Willy Hernangomez: Very skilled offensive talent with good hands and touch around the rim with a deft passing ability. But defensively he is a rookie, making it difficult to earn playing time: C.

Justin Holiday: If Rose has not quite fit into the plans the way the Knicks expected, Holiday has been a pleasant surprise, shooting well and providing solid defense on the wing. B-.

Kyle O’Quinn: Maddeningly inconsistent, even for a role player. Blocks shots, but misses assignments on defense and tries to do too much on offense, taking ill-advised shots or making ambitious passes that result in turnovers: C-.

Ron Baker: Undrafted rookie has caught the eye of the coaches with tenacious defensive effort. Still not really a position offensively. C.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas: Talented offensive rookie still learning his way defensively. Raw in some ways, but already 26 years old and getting inconsistent minutes. C.

Lance Thomas: Knicks counted on more than they’ve gotten from Thomas, who has been nagged by injuries and hasn’t shot the way he did last year nor been a defensive stopper. D.

Sasha Vujacic: A tie to Phil Jackson’s Laker teams, he has been buried on the bench. INC.

Maurice N’Dour: Who? INC.

Marshall Plumlee: High energy, really raw big man. He has been invisible most of the time. INC.

Jeff Hornacek: Hard to grade him since little of what he does seems to be his actual plan. Set back by Rose’s absence in preseason and Phil Jackson’s insistence on implementing the triangle or triangle principles. C.

Phil Jackson: This rebuild has gone like the others and Jackson is already looking for the next group. D-.

Email: popper@northjersey.com