Season Preview

[KoriEllis]

Season Preview: Eastern Conference
LAST UPDATE: 9/6/2004 12:09:31 AM

www.woai.com/spurs/story....403B5EC06A

By Kori Ellis
SpursZONE.com

With the NBA season quickly approaching, let's breakdown the offseason moves of each team and how the changes will affect their success.


Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics
This summer Danny Ainge traded Chucky Atkins, Chris Mihm and Jumaine Jones to the Lakers for Gary Payton and Rick Fox. Obviously the move was just for salary cap reasons, as Fox is expected to retire. Who knows what impact Payton will have at all, as he has threatened not to report to camp. At some point, Ainge needs to make some moves that actually improve this team. New head coach Doc Rivers has a daunting task ahead of him this season with a trio of rookies and not much else outside Paul Pierce.

New Jersey Nets
This summer somehow the Nets managed to go from conference champions to destined for the cellar. New Jersey lost Kenyon Martin, Kerry Kittles and Rodney Rogers this offseason and didn't get much in return. Jason Kidd's knee is a huge question mark with conflicting reports as to when he will be able to return to action. But Jason or no Jason, this team is going nowhere.

New York Knicks
The Knicks acquired a player they coveted in Jamal Crawford and added Jerome Williams for depth, while getting rid of Dikembe Mutombo and three other non-impact players. Crawford will be a big plus, playing along side of Stephon Marbury. New York re-signed free agent Vin Baker, believing (or hoping) that Baker will return to form.

Philadelphia 76ers
With Eric Snow now a member of the Cavs, the 76ers have handed the reins to Allen Iverson to lead the offense. Iverson, who spent his summer pursuing Olympic glory, has matured considerably and might finally be ready to be a team leader. The addition of Brian Skinner should give the team a rebounding and defensive force they've lacked in recent years.

Toronto Raptors
Rookie head coach Sam Mitc and new GM Rob Bab team up in Toronto to get this organization turned around. But rumors have been flying all summer that franchise player Vince Carter wants out and the Raptors haven't done much to build around him. Toronto signed Rafer Alston and retained Morris Peterson, but they are still a few players away from contending for anything. Second year player Chris Bosh could make a big difference if he stays healthy.

Central Division

Chicago Bulls
With the additions of rookies Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, the Bulls have a nice, young core to build upon. Central to their rebuilding process could be the development of Eddy Curry. Under new guidance, Curry has shed weight and has started to show the work ethic necessary to star in this league. Though this squad is not ready to contend this season, they are beginning to take shape for the future.

Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron James with a year under his belt will be a scary sight for the rest of the teams in the NBA. As good as he was last year, he'll be even better this season. The controversial loss of Carlos Boozer to free agency will hurt the team, but James growth as a team leader might be enough to push the Cavaliers into the playoffs. Cavaliers' brass hopes the acquisition of Drew Gooden will be enough for fans to forget about the Boozer fiasco.

Detroit Pistons
The NBA Champions will get a chance to go back-to-back this upcoming season. Although they lost Mehmet Okur in free agency, they gained some useful bigmen in Antonio McDyess and Derrick Coleman. Re-signing Rasheed Wallace was the team's offseason priority, and they were able to accomplish that. Rookie Carlos Delfino will be an added bonus to this already stacked squad.

Indiana Pacers
By bringing back a similar roster to last year, the Pacers hope that they can build upon what they accomplished. The main alteration to their lineup involved trading Al Harrington to the Hawks for Stephen Jackson. Jackson will give the Pacers a clutch shooter who isn't afraid to let it all hang out in tense situations. Rumors keep resurfacing about the possible trade of Ron Artest, but so far he's still in a Pacers uniform.

Milwaukee Bucks
A big question mark is the status of point guard T.J. Ford. If Ford can return to the court and lead the Bucks' offense with his playmaking ability, the team can once again contend for a playoff spot. If his spinal injury prevents him from returning to the lineup, the Bucks will struggle to initiate their offense. The loss of Brian Skinner to free agency may also have more of an impact than expected.

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks
With the additions of Antoine Walker and Al Harrington, the Hawks have two very capable scorers. Rookie Josh Childress looks like he will be a solid player in the league, while rookies Josh Smith and Donta Smith are superb athletes who have potential to be NBA scorers. The future is brighter in Atlanta than it has been in a while.

Charlotte Bobcats
While the Bobcats will struggle like virtually all expansion franchises in sports, they have some nice talent assembled. Getting Emeka Okafor in the draft with the second pick was regarded as a coup by some and should provide an immediate inside presense. Jason Kapono shined in the summer leagues and could be the team's first option on offense.

Miami Heat
Shaquille O'Neal. The Big Transaction was the big news this summer. With the addition of the best center in the league, the Heat automatically become a championship contender. Dwyane Wade will play the role of Kobe Bryant and will need to score from the perimeter to keep the pressure off Shaq. If Wade blossoms into a superstar, the Heat might be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando Magic
The Magic weren't afraid to make bold moves this summer. With the number one overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft, Orlando selected high schooler Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor. Tracy McGrady wanted out and GM John Weisbrod granted his wish, dealing McGrady to Houston in exchange for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. The Magic also acquired Tony Battie from Cleveland and picked up free agents Hedo Turkoglu, Stacey Augmon and Michael Bradley. Grant Hill is still trying to return, but the Magic have made steps toward solidifying their future without him.

Washington Wizards
The Wizards dealt Christian Laettner, Jerry Stackhouse and a pick to Dallas for Antawn Jamison, adding some scoring punch and leadership. Veteran Anthony Peeler will provide a scoring threat off the bench. If the coaching staff can help raise the basketball IQ of this young squad, they can start improving for the future.

[KoriEllis]

Season Preview: Western Conference
LAST UPDATE: 9/8/2004 3:29:25 AM

www.woai.com/spurs/story....8A5071A9D9

By Kori Ellis
SpursZONE.com

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks
By adding Erick Dampier to the mix, the Mavericks hope that they’ve finally found the cure to their inside woes that has plagued the team for years. Although Dampier had a breakout year last season with the Warriors, the 6-foot-11 center has only averaged in double-figures twice in his career. If he reverts back to his old self, the Mavs and Mark Cuban’s wallet will be regretful.

Houston Rockets
Tracy McGrady in H-Town could be the best move the team ever made … or the worst. McGrady has arguably the most talent in the league, but over the last couple seasons his mental makeup has been questioned by NBA observers. Last season, he threatened to retire early in the year when teams were hurting the Magic with constant zone defenses. That said, Yao Ming and McGrady could be the next great duo.

Memphis Grizzlies
The summer has been a pretty slow one for the Grizzlies, who are coming off a surprisingly outstanding season. The only news has been the addition of Brian Cardinal, who they signed to a high-dollar, long-term deal. If he can continue to play like he did with the Warriors last year, he might be able to earn the contract with his gritty play. Pau Gasol played exceedingly well in the Olympics, which is a good omen for the team.

New Orleans Hornets
This will be their first year in the Western Conference, and they could be in for a rude awakening. The Hornets have had success and are a regular in the playoffs, but that will change this year. The playoffs are a long shot unless new coach Byron Scott can push this team to play beyond their capabilities. But now that Baron Davis is demanding a trade, that is even less likely.

San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs fell last year in disappointing fashion to the Lakers in the second round of the playoffs, but have reloaded nicely. They were able to re-sign Manu Ginobili and Bruce Bowen, while adding the sharp shooting Brent Barry. If Barry can bring it in the playoffs, the Spurs could find their way to the top again. But if he can’t or if Tim Duncan or Ginobili are tired because of their Olympic play, it could be another disappointing finish.

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets
With Kenyon Martin now in the fold, the Nuggets have taken another step up the rankings. Martin is a team leader who can, at times, dominate offensively or defensively. Although he has struggled with inconsistency, Martin’s signing was a coup for general manager Kiki Vandeweghe. The future is bright with Martin, Marcus Camby, Carmelo Anthony, Nene and Andre Miller.

Minnesota Timberwolves
After getting out of the first round for the first time in franchise history, the Timberwolves will try to build upon their success. They’ll bring back the same corps that made the Western Conference Finals. If Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell can remain healthy, they’ll again be a tough team beat. They were also able to hold onto Trenton Hassell, who had signed an offer sheet with the Trailblazers.

Portland Trail Blazers
Nick Van Exel will help the Blazers but the organization failed to make the changes necessary to become true contenders. With the number of big contracts on the books, that task could take years. Shareef Abdur-Rahim was unhappy with his role last season and this year looks like it will be no different. If the Blazers can move him and get quality in return, it will help their playoff chances for the upcoming campaign.

Seattle SuperSonics
Nate McMillan is in a make it or break it year and is facing long odds. The Sonics do not appear to be playoff caliber and they don’t have an abundance of developing talent. Ray Allen is pushing for a contract extension, but the club could be wise to hold off. If they could trade him for draft picks and young players, they could open up cap room down the road. As it is right now, Allen won’t be enough.

Utah Jazz
The Jazz had an outstanding offseason, adding both Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. That bigman duo will help the team slug it out in the Western Conference. They were also able to re-sign Gordan Giricek and Carlos Arroyo, two important pieces for the future. Arroyo showed his talents by dismantling the US Olympic team single-handedly while playing for the Puerto Rico team.

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors
It’s difficult to figure out what Chris Mullin was trying to do. He inherited a young team with some bad contracts and now has an older team with even worse contracts. Dale Davis and Derek Fisher are good additions, but this team is nowhere near being ready to compete. Additionally, Adonal Foyle’s gigantic contract will be an albatross around the franchise’s neck for years to come.

Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers lost Quentin Richardson to the Suns in free agency, but were able to pickup Kerry Kittles from the Nets. The trade off could be beneficial for the Clippers, who need veteran experience and poise on their roster. Kittles has been to the Finals twice and has played well in big games. The Clippers have an athletic, young core which could contend for a playoff spot if they could ever put it together.

Los Angeles Lakers
General Manager Mitch Kupchak made one of the biggest moves in sports history – he traded Shaquille O’Neal. As with any player of his greatness, it was impossible for the Lakers to get equal value back. But with Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and Caron Butler in the fold, it should help the Lakers ease into life after Shaq. Now that it’s Kobe Bryant’s team, the pressure will be on him to bring home the W.

Phoenix Suns
The Suns went into the summer shopping spree with bundles of money to spend and they came away with two gems: Steve Nash and Quentin Richardson. Steve Nash has routinely been one of the best point guards over the last handful of years and will be a great fit in Phoenix. His playmaking ability will make life easier for the young scoring crew of Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion and Richardson.

Sacramento Kings
The Kings’ window of opportunity might have official closed. With Peja Stojakovic demanding a trade and Vlade Divac heading to the Lakers, the franchise will face a tumultuous year. Chris Webber, who was booed by the Sacramento fans last year, could also be on his way out. Greg Ostertag won’t be enough to save the team, which could go from contender to pretender in record speed.