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Sport
Spo
THE EAST
Another season of jokes about
the Least Conference? Maybe
Section/Page/Zone: LINK/012/
not. Chicago and Detroit are
strong, Orlando and Toronto
got better in the offseason,
Washington and Miami have
exciting players … oh, and
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Boston got KG and Ray Allen.
Predicted order of finish
1ST PLACE
BOSTON CELTICS
Strengths Kevin Garnett, ATLANTIC
Ray Allen and Paul Pierce
form a strong core.
ATLANTIC
Weaknesses Very little
outside the Big Three
(Kendrick Perkins is the starting
center. Who? He’s on first).
What we think If those three stay
Insertion Number:
healthy, then believe the hype.
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Color Type:
ORLANDO MAGIC
Strengths A star-studded
Size:
frontcourt with Dwight
Howard leading the way.
SOUTHEAST
Weaknesses Could use a
better shooting guard.
What we think Not seeing Grant
Hill (now in Phoenix) wearing the
Magic colors will be weird. They’ll
Publication Date: 10/30/2007
get over it and win the division.
CHICAGO BULLS
Strengths They didn’t
lose anyone and added
complementary parts to
CENTRAL
Luol Deng, Ben Gordon
and Ben Wallace in the
offseason.
Weaknesses Few if any.
What we think This could be the
best team in the East.
Can the Lakers be successful with
Kobe Bryant and owner Jerry Buss
BIG QUESTIONS
at each other’s throats?
Kobe usually puts off-court issues
aside and puts up big numbers.
The Lakers will be a playoff team,
but not more than that in the top-
heavy Western Conference.
PAGE 12 • Tuesday, October 30, 2007 • W W W. LINK75 7.COM
2ND PLACE
NEW JERSEY NETS
Strengths All-Star back-
court in Jason Kidd and
Vince Carter; Nenad Krstic
is a revelation at center.
Weaknesses Richard Jef-
ferson is a question mark; depth.
What we think They should make
the playoffs, and could win the
division if Boston disappoints.
MIAMI HEAT
Strengths Dwyane Wade
is, well, Dwyane Wade …
Weaknesses … when
he’s healthy, and he’ll
miss the first month.
Not much backing up Shaquille
O’Neal.
What we think They’re a top team
when Wade and Shaq are healthy, a
lottery-bound one when they aren’t.
DETROIT PISTONS
Strengths See Chicago.
Arguably the best starting
five in the East is intact.
Weaknesses Age is
becoming an issue, par-
ticularly in the frontcourt.
What we think Steady perform-
ers year after year, they should at
least reach the East semis.
Is this the year the Detroit Pistons
finally fade from the champion-
ship picture?
Yes. The East is just too good,
especially with the emergence of
the Celtics, Wizards and Raptors.
NBA200
2007-08
3RD PLACE
TORONTO RAPTORS
Strengths Chris Bosh will be
a cornerstone for years;
Jason Kapono is an outside
shooting expert.
Weaknesses They won’t
sneak up on anyone this season.
What we think They played over
their heads last year and will need a
similar effort to make the playoffs.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Strengths The Gilbert
Arenas-Antawn
Jamison-Caron Butler
trio scores in buckets.
Weaknesses They
have to, because the defense is
lacking.
What we think Expect a lot of
125-120 games and a first-round
departure.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
Strengths LeBron James.
Duh.
Weaknesses Still
haven’t signed Sasha
Pavlovic and Anderson
Varejao, and they need both.
What we think Where King James
goes, the Cavs go. Back to the
playoffs, but not the NBA Finals.
Can the Rockets finally get past
the Mavs, Suns and Spurs in the
West?
In another era, this might be the
best team in the NBA. But their
dumb luck is playing in an era with
three teams who still are better
than Houston.
THE GAME-
CHANGER
After getting
traded from
Minnesota to
Boston, Kevin
Garnett , left,
almost single-
handedly makes
the recently-
weak Eastern
Conference inter-
esting again.
4TH PLACE
NEW YORK KNICKS
Strengths The addition
of Zach Randolph gives
them a strong frontcourt.
Weaknesses
Combustibility is never
far from the surface here. And
Isiah Thomas still runs the show.
What we think Playoff contender
on paper, but who knows?
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
Strengths Picking up
Jason Richardson gives
them a nice 1-2 punch
with Gerald Wallace.
Weaknesses Season-
ending injuries to Sean May and
Adam Morrison hurt their depth.
What we think Probably a year
away from the playoffs.
INDIANA PACERS
Strengths Jermaine O’Neal
was the steady hand in a
tumultuous season last
year.
Weaknesses Chemistry
continues to be a concern.
What we think They’ll either bat-
tle for a playoff spot or make more
trades – possibly even O’Neal.
Are the Magic a playoff team?
Yes. They aren’t going to get
home court advantage in the first
round, but Dwight Howard alone
is good enough to help the Magic
sneak into the eighth spot in the
East.
CHANGE IS COMING
Even before referee Tim Donaghy became
known for making bets than calls, the NBA
having a year for its scrapbook. Here come
ame better
BA wasn’t
omes the league
“There are going to be six or seven teams
in the West that are going to beat each
other’s brains out. And the really neat
The league took it on the chin last year –
figuratively off the court, and literally on it.
Can the new season revive the NBA?
STORY LINES TO WATCH
Avoiding controversy The NBA was plagued
almost from the start by bad news last year, from
THE WEST
again, with Kevin Garnett now in Boston, Kob Kobe Bry- thing for fans of the NBA is that in the a ball that everyone couldn’t wait to drop, to a
bench-clearing brawl, to referee Tim Donaghy
ant perhaps leaving Los Angeles, Kevin Du Durant up in
Seattle, and the belief that things will get better after a
East, I think the same thing is true.” wagering on games he officiated. San Antonio is the defending
frustrating season and offseason last yeayear. Gregg Popovich • San Antonio Spurs coach Equilibrium at last? The West has plenty of
champion, but even getting out
“Over the years, the league has made e great
grea strides title hopefuls – San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix and
in everything, and they’re not going to allow
low, the com- three titles, and it won’t be easy this time. Dallas and Houston lead the parade – but the East might
finally be catching up. At least to the point that
of the first round is no lock for
missioner is not going to allow, any one thing
thi to bring Houston will challenge them in the Southwest Division,
it down,” Miami coach Pat Riley said. “It mig
might come and the Phoenix Suns added Grant Hill to a team that three sub-.500 teams won’t make the postseason. the top teams. Just ask Dallas,
down for a minute, but he’s always found
build it back up.”
d a way
w to thought it would have beaten San Antonio in the sec-
ond round last year without some Game 5 suspensions.
Where’s Kobe Bryant? Right now, he’s
still in Los Angeles. Where will Kobe which must forget about last
THE CONTENDERS
The San Antonio Spurs are the defending
ing champi-
Among the East’s top teams is Boston, which ac-
quired Ray Allen from Seattle and later landed Garnett.
be in February? A more complicated
question. The Lakers want to keep year’s playoff collapse. Phoenix is
him, but Bryant has been itching to fly
loaded again, and Houston could
ons, sweeping LeBron James and the Cava avaliers in the East champion Cleveland will need James to be at
the coop for two years. Where he lands
finals. the top of his game to fight off Chicago, Detroit and all
The Spurs couldn’t repeat after any of the
their first the other challengers in the East. • Associated Press is anyone’s guess. win any division in the East.
Predicted order of finish
5TH PLACE 1ST PLACE 2ND PLACE 3RD PLACE 4TH PLACE 5TH PLACE
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS SAN ANTONIO SPURS DALLAS MAVERICKS HOUSTON ROCKETS NEW ORLEANS HORNETS MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
Strengths Andre Miller Strengths Unnerving steadiness, Strengths Reigning MVP Dirk Strengths Yao Ming and Strengths Tyson SOUTHWEST
Strengths Pau Gasol is hap-
and Andre Iguodala are personified by Tim Duncan. Nowitzki leads a high-scor- Tracy McGrady are the Chandler made a big pier with countryman
steady performers. Weaknesses This isn’t ing team. league’s top inside- step up in his first year Juan Carlos Navarro on
SOUTHWEST
Weaknesses They lost a team of young players Weaknesses Last year’s outside threat. with the team. the team.
Joe Smith and didn’t make any big anymore. first-round flameout to Weaknesses Luis Weaknesses The top Weaknesses A miser-
pickups. What we think The West is No. 8 seed Golden State calls their Scola will be thrust into the start- scorers had injury issues last year. able 2006-07 season resulted in
What we think They made a run loaded, but the Spurs should never character into question. ing lineup in his first year. What we think Their return to an overhaul, and youth abounds.
at the postseason last year, but be far removed from title talk. A What we think The Mavs could What we think A sleeper pick, but New Orleans is definite. A return What we think Not as bad as last
the division is too good this year. repeat is certainly possible. win it all – or fall early again. could lose in the first round again. to the playoffs isn’t so certain. year, but they’ll return to the cellar.
ATLANTA HAWKS PHOENIX SUNS GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS LOS ANGELES LAKERS SACRAMENTO KINGS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
Strengths Joe Johnson Strengths Talent to spare, from Strengths Outside shooters, Strengths Kobe Bryant will Strengths With Kevin Strengths Corey Maggette
is the league’s quietest two-time MVP Steve Nash to led by Baron Davis, who led do two things: con- Martin, Mike Bibby and has developed into a
25-point-per-game Amare Stoudemire. the team to a playoff upset tend for another scor- Ron Artest, they cer- team leader.
scorer. Weaknesses Stoudemire of top-seeded Dallas. ing title … tainly can shoot.
PACIFIC
Weaknesses Elton
Weaknesses They’re has fought injuries, and Weaknesses Who’s the Weaknesses … and be Weaknesses Injuries Brand and Shaun
still really young. Shawn Marion voiced his inside presence? the subject of trade rumors. make the interior a question mark. Livingston will miss the first half
What we think Also a team on the displeasure in the offseason. What we expect A playoff con- What we think A playoff con- What we think Even with new of the season.
rise, but probably two years away What we think Expect them to be tender, but not the underdog dar- tender for now, but all bets are off coach Reggie Theus, it’s the same What we think Back to the lottery
from the playoffs. in the thick of the title hunt. lings of last year. if Kobe goes. team that struggled last year. for the woe-begotten Clippers.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS DENVER NUGGETS UTAH JAZZ PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS SEATTLE SUPERSONICS MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
Strengths Michael Redd Strengths A full season Strengths Carlos Boozer Strengths Brandon Roy Strengths Kevin Durant Strengths Al Jefferson T
NORTHWEST
will score, if nothing else. (they hope) of Allen and Mehmet Okur make could become a 20-point-a- will step right into a becomes the new face
And they finally got lot- Iverson and Carmelo up one of the league’s night scorer this season. solid starting five. of the franchise.
NORTHWEST
tery pick Yi Jianlian to sign. Anthony. top frontcourts. Weaknesses They Weaknesses But it’ll Weaknesses They
Weaknesses Interior play Weaknesses Nenê is Weaknesses Andrei traded leading scorer Zach be a weaker one with gave up Kevin Garnett
could be an issue. They’ll hope not still not 100 percent. They need Kirilenko disappeared last season. Randolph to draft slam-dunk Greg Ray Allen (Boston) and Rashard to get him. Not a lot of experience.
to repeat last year’s injury plague. rebounding help. What we think Expect them to Oden, out for the year after surgery. Lewis (Orlando) both traded. What we think They’ll be good
What we think They could chal- What we think If healthy, a divi- be right in the thick of the division What we think They’ll have to What we think They have hope someday. But that day won’t be
lenge for the playoffs if healthy. sion-title-winning team. race with Denver. delay the rebuilding plans a year. for the future. Just not a home. any sooner than 2009.
Who is a good sleeper pick? KEVIN DURANT LUIS SCOLA AL THORNTON YI JIANLIAN RODNEY STUCKEY
Watch out for the Denver Drafted No. 2, Drafted Acquired by Drafted No. 14, L.A. Drafted No. 6, Drafted No. 15,
TOP ROOKIES
Nuggets. Allen Iverson and Seattle Houston from Spurs, Clippers Milwaukee Detroit
Carmelo Anthony now are familiar who drafted him in Backstory Last Backstory An excel- Backstory The
Backstory Favored
with one another, and the sup- 2002 season’s ACC scor- lent athlete for his high-scoring guard
to win Rookie
porting cast led by Chucky Atkins of the Year; aver- Backstory Inter- ing leader from Florida size, he should get to will be counted on to
and J.R. Smith is pretty good. They aged 25.8 points and 11.1 national star for years; MVP State needs to make a quick see plenty of playing time. bring instant offense to
could pull off an upset. rebounds at Texas. of Olympic qualifying tournament. impact. Detroit. • Link, wire reports
W W W.LINK75 7.COM • Tuesday, October 30, 2007 • PAGE 13