"Monday's game at Washington marks the halfway point of the NBA season for the Utah Jazz.

It's also time for midterm grades to be handed out.

So, Professor Bell?

"I think we are a solid B. I am reluctant to give us an A just because I think we can do better," said the near-tenure teacher who moonlights as Jazz starting shooting guard Raja Bell.

"I think we have played well," he added. "We have had some trouble at home and some slow starts, but ultimately we have found ways to win games and put ourselves in a position to do some things in the playoffs and have a nice seed."

The Jazz hit their 41st game deadlocked with Oklahoma City atop the Northwest Division with a 27-13 record.

Though that mark is four games better than last year's 23-17 record at this point, Utah finds itself in a similar middle-of-the-pack position as when it ended the 2009-10 campaign.

The Jazz are seven games behind San Antonio's torrid Western Conference-leading pace, and they're about that same distance from being on the playoff bubble.

Utah has stumbled more than usual at EnergySolutions Arena while going 15-7 so far (after only losing nine games at home all last season).

But the Jazz are off to one of their most successful road seasons ever with a stellar 12-6 record away from home.

And they've saved themselves from slow starts and staved off seemingly certain defeats time after time, including an unthinkable 12 comeback victories after trailing by double digits."