| 2004 NBA PREVIEWby Leigh Douglas
| |
| | 2PacersShould be even closer this year
|
| If there was one single theme to this
| |
| | 3CavaliersIn either other eastern
|
| off-season for the NBA it was 'change'
| |
| | division would contend for 1st
|
| not only was there quite a bit of
| |
| | 4BullsSlowly getting better, very slowly
|
| significant player movement, but the
| |
| | (and really did they have anywhere else
|
| league itself underwent a makeover of
| |
| | to go
|
| sorts, finally expanding to a 30th
| |
| | 5BucksWill be tough to follow up on last
|
| franchise, and realigning to six
| |
| | years success
|
| divisions of five teams each.
| |
| | Southeast Division
|
| Of course the biggest headlines this
| |
| | 1HeatShaq alone makes them contenders -
|
| off-season surrounded the ongoing saga
| |
| | look for Eddie Jones to re-emerge as all
|
| that has become the Los Angeles Lakers.
| |
| | star
|
| Basically the Lakers surrendered to Kobe,
| |
| | 2MagicFrancis looks to return to Stevie
|
| and he got all that he asked for - namely
| |
| | Franchise days
|
| the exit of Shaq, and Phil Jackson.
| |
| | 3HawksHave some potential young talent,
|
| Shadowed by the Shaq move to Miami was
| |
| | Harrington one of favorites for most
|
| what could end up being an even bigger
| |
| | improved
|
| deal with Tracy Mcgrady going from
| |
| | 4WizardsThey are just treading water, and
|
| Orlando to Houston for Steve Francis and
| |
| | should be very afraid of Bobcats passing
|
| Cuttino Mobley. Many speculate that the
| |
| | them quickly
|
| tandem of Mcgrady and Yao Ming will be
| |
| | 5BobcatsThey have to start somewhere,
|
| the new Shaq-Kobe, but what is being
| |
| | couldn't have asked for a better division
|
| overlooked is the potential for Steve
| |
| | Southwest Division
|
| Francis to re-establish himself as "the
| |
| | 1SpursAdding Barry for depth gives them
|
| franchise". Other moves of note this
| |
| | just another weapon
|
| off-season, was Phoenix getting a whole
| |
| | 2RocketsWill be interesting to watch how
|
| new back court of Steve Nash and Quentin
| |
| | it unfolds
|
| Richardson, Dallas having wholesale
| |
| | 3MavericksNew look Mav's probably not any
|
| changes after losing out on Nash in the
| |
| | better, still won't stop anyone
|
| open market, they proceeded to unload
| |
| | defensively
|
| Antawn Jamison and Antione Walker, and
| |
| | 4GrizzliesHave made great strides, but
|
| replaced Nash with Jason Terry (and
| |
| | will be harder to take next step
|
| rookie Devin Harris) and replaced 6th man
| |
| | 5HornetsBiggest victims of the
|
| Jamison with Jerry Stackhouse. One very
| |
| | realignment
|
| interesting move that went relatively
| |
| | Northwest Division
|
| unheralded was the trade of Al Harrington
| |
| | 1T-wolvesThis could be their year (may
|
| from Indiana to Atlanta for Stephen
| |
| | have to be)
|
| Jackson. Both players and teams should
| |
| | 2NuggetsQuietly have put together one of
|
| benefit greatly from this trade,
| |
| | best starting 5 in league
|
| especially Indiana, as it now allows
| |
| | 3TrailblazersHow long before they shake
|
| Reggie Miller to come of the bench. Then
| |
| | up the roster even more?
|
| of course there are the defending world
| |
| | 4SonicsHave to decide what kind of team
|
| champion Detroit Pistons who by all
| |
| | they want to be, and then commit to it
|
| indications should be even stronger this
| |
| | 5JazzKirilenko is easily the most
|
| year, having Rasheed Wallace for a whole
| |
| | unheralded player in the league
|
| season, as well as adding Antonio McDyess
| |
| | Pacific Division
|
| and Derrick Coleman to their bench (both
| |
| | 1KingsStill have one run left in them
|
| of whom would probably start for some
| |
| | 2SunsAre well on their way to being 'the
|
| teams) plus if they get anything at all
| |
| | next team'
|
| out of last years lottery pick Darko
| |
| | 3LakersNew look Lakers are in for some
|
| Milicic it would be a bonus.
| |
| | surprises
|
| When all is said and done this season all
| |
| | 4ClippersClippers will battle Warriors
|
| of the shuffling will have gotten a lot
| |
| | and Wizards to stay ahead of Bobcats
|
| of teams closer, and it might have closed
| |
| | 5WarriorsSee Clippers
|
| some gaps, but come next summer the final
| |
| | Eastern Conference Finals:
|
| four should be very similar to what it
| |
| | Pacers over Pistons
|
| has been recently, Detroit is still the
| |
| | Western Conference Finals:
|
| team to beat in the East, and Indiana is
| |
| | Timberwolves over Spurs
|
| the only team with a chance to do so. In
| |
| | Finals:
|
| the West San Antonio will once again be a
| |
| | Pacers over Timberwolves
|
| force, and Minnesota should continue its
| |
| | MVP:
|
| recent success behind perennial MVP
| |
| | Favorite:Kevin Garnett, Twolves
|
| candidate Kevin Garnett.
| |
| | Sleeper: Stephon Marbury, Knicks
|
| 2004 Forecast:
| |
| | Defensive Player of the Year:
|
| Atlantic Division
| |
| | Favorite:Ben Wallace, Pistons
|
| 1KnicksMarbury is a sleeper for MVP, will
| |
| | Sleeper:Andrei Kirilinko, Jazz
|
| not miss Allan Houston at all
| |
| | Most Improved Player:
|
| 2CelticsPayton will be on a mission to
| |
| | Favorite:Al Harrington, Hawks
|
| regain some status, Pierce another MVP
| |
| | Sleeper:Drew Gooden, Cavaliers
|
| candidate
| |
| | Sixth Man:
|
| 3NetsLosses of Martin & Kittles too big
| |
| | Favorite:Bobby Jackson, Kings
|
| to overcome
| |
| | Sleeper:Joe Johnson, Suns
|
| 4RaptorsHow high a ceiling can Bosh have
| |
| | Scoring Champion:
|
| on such a small frame?
| |
| | Favorite:Kobe Bryant, Lakers
|
| 576ersIverson will be demanding a trade
| |
| | Sleeper:Shaquille O'Neal, Heat
|
| by January
| |
| | Rookie of the Year:
|
| Central Division
| |
| | Favorite:Dwight Howard, Magic
|
| 1PistonsBiggest question is if they can
| |
| | Sleeper: J.R.
|
| sustain the 'drive to win'
| |
| |
|
