Shock head coach Bill Laimbeer gave his players the rest of the Fourth of July holiday week off after the team’s valiant effort in San Antonio Tuesday night. The players won’t meet again until after July 4 to prepare for a pivotal showdown with first-place Connecticut at The Palace July 8.

With 18 regular-season games on the record (12-6) and 16 to go, here’s an overview of everyone’s contributions so far. In the first of a two-part series, we take a look at Detroit’s frontcourt. (Players listed in alphabetical order.)

Kara Braxton: It’s been another tantalizing season from the fourth-year center, who is “averaging” 9.6 points per game, even though she’s scored nine points in only one game. When Braxton’s been on, she’s never been better, posting 22 points in her first game after being removed the starting lineup, then topping it with a career-high 26 points in 25 minutes against Atlanta June 29. On too many occasions in between, however, she’s failed to be a difference-maker. She had eight double-digit scoring games in 2007 and was an All-Star, so I suppose I can’t knock her too much when she’s already had seven such performances in 2008. Grade: B-

Cheryl Ford: Ford’s return from off-season knee surgery has been setback-free, her Saturday night off in Chicago notwithstanding. As expected, Ford was rusty in the season’s first half, on pace for career lows in scoring (8.4 ppg) and field-goal percentage (41%). But she’s looked a lot better the past five games, nearing a double-double with 11.0 points and 9.6 rebounds. Ford expected to be a full strength sometime in August. Looks like she’ll be in peak form for the playoffs. Grade: B+

Tasha Humphrey: Humphrey’s drop to the Shock at No. 11 in April’s draft was a surprise, her 28 points at Phoenix a complete stunner - and a Shock rookie record. After starting the year anchored on the bench, Humphrey earned PT by working hard in practice, but she’s had more turnovers than rebounds in the past five games. Clearly a gifted scorer, other parts of her game need to catch up. As the starting center, 2.1 rebounds won’t nearly cut it for the Shock. Grade: B-

Plenette Pierson: Pierson set the bar high in 2007, winning the inaugural Sixth Woman of the Year award and coming within a victory of likely being named MVP of the WNBA Finals. Statistically she’s at that level again, averaging 11.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, just off her 2007 career highs (11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds). But she’s slumped since May, when she averaged 15.5 points and shot 55.7 percent from the floor in six games, including a season-high 25 points on May 25. Pierson has shot 37 percent from field since, and her scoring has dipped to 8.5 points per game over June (and July 1). After suffering a knee strain last week, six days off couldn’t come at a better time for Pierson, who might benefit from a fresh start. Grade: B

Olayinka Sanni: She was the hidden gem from Detroit’s draft haul, and had everyone from Ford to Laimbeer raving about her. Laimbeer backed up the words when he moved into the starting lineup in the season’s third game. She’s started eight of 18 contests, and shown, in limited spurts, that she can run the floor and finish at the basket. When it became clear Detroit needed another shooter to spread the floor, Humphrey stepped in and Sanni has yet to find another regular niche in the rotation. At 6-foot-2, Sanni discovered hustle will only get you so far defensively against the likes of MVP pivots Lauren Jackson and Lisa Leslie. Grade: C+