Coaches are only as good as their players make them.

The immortal Joe Lapchick said it first and said it best: "The coach who thinks he is more important than his talent is an idiot."

Hence, the midseason grades herewith probably better reflect the performances of the teams than the men who lead them.

LARRY BROWN (A): The more guys he lost, the better they got. Without one-third of the rotation, the Sixers are still on top. The only thing depriving him of an A-plus is a definitive role for Toni Kukoc.

RICK ADELMAN (A): Most of the Kings' major gains are his doing. Playing defense is a nice departure from the past. The imports have developed nicely, and his refusal to tolerate Jason Williams' mistakes has helped Bobby Jackson become a player.

PAT RILEY (A-): It's his first doughnut team, yet it's working with an offense that runs exclusively through Anthony Mason, with Bruce Bowen as a starter and with Tim Hardaway shooting 3 9 percent. The biggest surprise? We predicted it.

GEORGE KARL (A-): Some folks say he gambled when he had that pie fight with his three best players, but what choice did he have at 3-97 Keep in mind that the Bucks' schedule has been favorable, so the cushion will come in handy.

DON NELSON (A-): Let's just come out with it: Many people (hello) owe Nellie an apology. He was right about Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki, he made an astute move putting Howard Eisley into the lineup, and the Mavericks' road performances reflect a mature, well-coached team.