The Chosen One returned to NJ - now, can he return
them to the NBA Finals?
2003 - 2004 Atlantic Division Preview
Can the third time be a charm for New Jersey, or are the Nets truly destined to be the Buffalo Bills of the NBA? Jason Kidd returned to the fold to assure Netsfans another exciting season, but can they return to the NBA Finals for a third straight year? Clearly the Nets are the cream of a largely sour Eastern Conference crop, but these Nets have been rebuilt to take on the big, bad Western Conference powers, so handling the rest of the East, with the possible exception of Detroit, should be no problem. The rest of the Atlantic conference is nothing to write home about, essentially making this a one-team race, with second place up for grabs between Orlando and Philadelphia. Here is Joe's look at the Atlantic Division, with the expected order of finish.
1) New Jersey Nets
New Jersey retooled in the off-season, lucking out in the Jason Kidd free agency sweepstakes and picking up Alonzo Mourning along the way. The team is deep, talented and experienced, but there are still storm clouds in the background. Coach Byron Scott is still unsigned past this season, Kenyon Martin is still angry the Nets didnt' offer him a max. deal, and the team is up for sale and could possibly move. They've been somewhat lucky with injuries over the past two years - Mourning is an upgrade but his health could become a factor at any time, Lucious Harris is already injured, and of course the Nets hopes and dreams rest on a healthy Kidd. Zoran Planinic is drawing raves as the rookie apprentice to Kidd, but he's not yet ready to take over the wheel for more than a few minutes at a stretch. Overall, there are distractions to be managed, but come playoff time, a healthy Kidd will once again drive this bunch deep into the Spring.
Biggest Surprise: Kidd, Martin and Richard Jefferson become All Stars.
Biggest Disappointment: The Nets bench, expected to be a strength, becomes a weakness as the starters are forced to play more minutes than desired. Watch for Rodney Rogers to fall on this list.
# Wins Expected: Assuming Kidd is healthy, and the Nets can stay motivated through that damned West Coast trip, this could be a 55 - 60 win squad.
New Jersey Nets Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PG Zoran Planinic (draft); C Alonzo Mourning (Heat).
Outgoing: C Dikembe Mutombo (Knicks); PG Anthony Johnson (Pacers).
Drafted: G Zoran Planinic, Bosnia - Herzegovina (#22); Kyle Korver, Creighton (#51)
2003 - 2004 New Jersey Nets Roster
2) Orlando Magic
This is Tracy McGrady's team for good. With Grant Hill not expected to play this year if at all, the Magic focused on surrounding McGrady with talent upgrades. Drew Gooden came last year for Mike Miller, now Juwan Howard was added to give the Magic two other options instead of McGrady creating as the shot clock expires. But, the point guard spot is an issue they'll have to live with (is Tyronn Lue taller than Spud Webb?), the bench is thin, McGrady's more fragile than anyone (including David Stern) would like and the center spot is not exactly a model of performance in Andrew DeClerq and Steven Hunter. Still, this is the Atlantic Division, so give them a pass all the way to the second spot.
Biggest Surprise: The continued development of Gooden into a nightly double-double force.
Biggest Disappointment: Lue at the point guard will make Magic fans fondly remember Darrell Armstrong.
# Wins Expected: If McGrady's healthy, figure on 45 - 48 wins. If he isn't, this could be a 35 win team.
Orlando Magic Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PG Reece Gaines (draft); PF Juwan Howard (Nuggets;) PG Tyronn Lue (Wizards); PF Donnell Harvey (Nuggets).
Outgoing: SF Grant Hill (injury); PG Darrell Armstrong (Hornets); PF Shawn Kemp (free agent); PG Jacque Vaughn (Hawks); PG Chris Whitney (Wizards).
Drafted: G Reece Gaines, Louisville (#15); F Zaur Pachulia, Georgia (#42).
2003 - 2004 Orlando Magic Roster
3) Philadelphia 76ers
Has Larry Brown left town yet? Oh, yes, there's his ghost, confronting both Allen Iverson and new coach Randy Ayers. Should have made more of that opportunity, folks. Sure, Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson is here to try to be A.I.'s #2 gun, replacing the failed Keith Van Horn, and they've got ol' Derrick "Whoop De Damn Do" Coleman, Kenny Thomas, Eric Snow, Marc Jackson and Aaron McKie, but this team is flawed, flawed, flawed. Here's hoping Ayers can harness all of this intrigue and make it into a cohesive unit, because otherwise, it could be a long year for Philly Fanatics.
Biggest Surprise: Iverson and Robinson can co-exist, combining to score about 50 ppg.
Biggest Disappointment: Not getting Iverson into the second round of the playoffs.
# Wins Expected: Philadelphia Freedom from Brown comes at a price, as the Sixers take a small step backwards to 44 - 47 wins.
Philadelphia 76ers Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PF Marc Jackson (T'wolves); SF Glenn Robinson (Hawks).
Outgoing: SF Keith Van Horn (Knicks); PF Brian Skinner (Bucks); PF Tyrone Hill (free agent).
Drafted: G Paccelis Morlende, France (#50).
2003 - 2004 Philadelphia 76ers Roster
4) Boston Celtics
I know (and loathe) Antoine Walker. And Raef LaFrenz, traded by the Mavs for Walker (and Tony Delk), is no Walker. But he's not supposed to be, in this latest round of "addition by subtraction" from a new GM. Danny Ainge, the guy who proclaimed to hate Walker's game while as an analyst on TNT, now has to live with overworking the underrated superstar Paul Pierce and a whole bushel of what amounts to semi-talented role players. Vin Baker is now elevated to an important supporting role, which is something he hasn't been able to pull off for years. Rookie Marcus Banks and Mike James will man the point, Eric Wiliams will get more playing time, and really, what else are you expecting from a team that loves the game of Walter McCarty? Jim O'Brien is an excellent coach who will get everything he can from this bunch, including the last Eastern Conference playoff berth, but Ainge is clearly looking toward the future.
Biggest Surprise: Pierce doesn't lead the league in minutes played, but leads the league in scoring.
Biggest Disappointment: Vin Baker, changed man in body, but not in spirit.
# Wins Expected: Without Walker, who was as talented as he was both flawed and headstrong, this is no more than a 42 - 44 win, barely-in-the-playoffs team.
Boston Celtics Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PG Marcus Banks (draft); C Kendrick Perkins (draft); PG Mike James (Heat); SF Jumaine Jones (Cavaliers).
Outgoing: PG J.R. Bremer (Cavaliers); PG Bimbo Coles (Heat).
Drafted: G Troy Bell, Boston College (#16); G Dahntay Jones, Duke (#20); F Brandon Hunter, Ohio (#56).
2003 - 2004 Boston Celtics Roster
5) Washington Wizards
Trust in EJ, not MJ. The Eddie Jordan era begins in Washington as the remnants of the Michael Jordan era are cleansed, and surprisingly, all is not bleak. They'll struggle with the Jordan offense, imported from New Jersey, as they work in new draftee Jarvis Hayes with talented wingmen Jerry Stackhouse, Larry Hughes and Jared Jeffries. Gilbert Arenas was the first talented free agent to sign since I was in high school and should flourish under former point guard Jordan. And perhaps EJ can unlock the riddle that is Kwame Brown (and perhaps not having Michael Jordan dog him every damned day is enough). But, of course, Stackhouse starts the season injured and there are still lots of question marks scattered about the roster. Expect them to fall short of the playoffs, but improve dramatically over the second half of the season.
Biggest Surprise: There is the makings of an NBA player in Kwame Brown. This season, under Jordan's wing, we begin to see it. And also, watch the continued development of Arenas.
Biggest Disappointment: Brendan Haywood, affectionately known as Brenda for his soft demeanor in the post, can't make the most of his otherwise sizable talents.
# Wins Expected: It's a step forward, even though it's a setback in the loss column. Try about 35 - 38 wins on for size.
Washington Wizards Cheat Sheet
Incoming: SF Jarvis Hayes (draft); PG Gilbert Arenas (Warriors); PG Chris Whitney (Magic).
Outgoing: SF Michael Jordan (retired); PG Tyronn Lue (Magic); SF Bryon Russell (free agent); PF Charles Oakley (free agent).
Drafted: F Jarvis Hayes, Georgia (#10); G Steve Blake, Maryland (#38).
2003 - 2004 Washington Wizards Roster
6) Miami Heat
Hope don't float in Miami anymore. I was all set to put the reconstituted Heat in front of the Wiz just as Pat Riley stepped down as coach. Guess the "Winner Within" needed a vacation, huh? Anyway, Stan Van Gundy is an unknown commodity and stepping into very big shoes (without the ego to match), and it may take awhile to undo all the positive vibrations being built in Florida. Lamar Odom is likely to be the chief culprit, as he made such a big deal about playing for Riley after he threatened Clipper owner Donald Sterling with bodily harm if he matched his free agent deal. Talented Caron Butler is here (but true to NBA form this year, starts out on the injured list) to join Eddie Jones and Brian Grant and rookie Dwayne Wade, but Riley had trashed the roster and started anew, so it would have been interesting to see where it all came out. Now, it just looks like another dismal year in Miami.
Biggest Surprise: Rookie Dwayne Wade finishes in the top three for Rookie of the Year voting.
Biggest Disappointment: Eddie Jones just never worked out down here in Florida, did he? Expect a trade after another disappointing start.
# Wins Expected: Expect an early season letdown from the fallout and the missing Butler and call it a 25 - 30 win season overall.
Miami Heat Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PG Dwyane Wade (draft); SF Lamar Odom (Clippers); C Samaki Walker (Lakers); PF Loren Woods (T'wolves); PG Rafer Alston (Raptors).
Outgoing: C Alonzo Mourning (Nets); PG Travis Best (Mavericks); PG Mike James (Celtics); PG Anthony Carter (Spurs); SG Eddie House (Clippers); C Vladimir Stepania ().
Drafted: G Dwyane Wade, Marquette (#8); F Jerome Beasley, North Dakota (#33).
2003 - 2004 Miami Heat Roster
7) New York Knicks
Only in New York can trading Latrell Sprewell for Keith Van Horn be considered an upgrade. To be fair, the Knicks got younger and more docile by picking up Van Horn, and since they have about 22 versions of the exact same player, he'll get some looks and the chance to have his best season statistically. But aside from Allan Houston, who can shoot lights out but is lacking in toughness, who else is going to put the damned ball in the hole? The point guards are mediocre, the center (Dikembe Mutombo) is so far over the hill the Nets paid $30 million for him to go away, and they drafted yet another small-ish forward to add to their collection. The one guy who might make a difference, Antonio McDyess, is on the road to recovery after blowing out his knee last preseason, but the Knicks would be idiots to think he'll make an contribution. The worst case of roster mis-management I've ever seen has the Knicks holding 16 guaranteed contracts and only 15 roster spots, so Travis Knight gets all of his $4 million plus to go away just so the Knicks aren't in violation of the rules. Incredible. Couldn't happen to a better, more deserving franchise.
Biggest Surprise: How about Charlie Ward still on the Knick roster?
Biggest Disappointment: That the Dolans haven't figured out they have no clue and already sold the most storied NBA franchise. It's embarassing, already. Fire Scott Layden, then dump the team, James Dolan.
# Wins Expected: No more than 22 - 26 wins and 47 roster changes.
New York Knicks Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PF Mike Sweetney (draft); PF Maciej Lampe (draft); SF Keith Van Horn (76ers).
Outgoing: SF Latrell Sprewell (T'wolves); SF Lee Nailon (free agent).
Drafted: F Mike Sweetney, Georgetown (#9); F Maciej Lampe, Poland (#30); C Slavko Vranes, Serbia (#39).
2003 - 2004 New York Knicks Roster
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