Will the Glove fit in Los Angeles, especially if
he has to be but one of the fingers?
2003 - 2004 Pacific Division Preview
Lakers or Kings? Chances are, if you're anyone who follows the NBA, you've seen the previews of all the experts that suggest either one of those teams will face the Nets, and win, for the 2004 NBA Title. Do you go with the future NBA Hall of Famers, or with the definitive version of team play? The Pacific has gotten tougher all the way through, with 6 of the 7 teams expected to battle for playoff berths. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the Trail Blazers, Warriors and Clippers reversed their order listed below. In any case, the bet here is the championship has to come through Los Angeles or Sacramento. Now, for Joe's thoughts on the Pacific Division, in projected order of finish.
1) Los Angeles Lakers
Can the Four Horsemen of La Cienega conquer the NBA before they become extinct? Old Man Malone, Graybeard Payton, Busted Bryant and Heavy Shaq are perhaps the best assembled foursome on one team since the Superfriends. Will it work? Well, after watching one quarter against the Clippers the other night, I'm convinced it will. There will be as much distraction floating around this bunch as there is at Hef's house, but it won't matter. Despite a weak bench, even weaker replacements should someone get injured, and about 1000 reporters and cameramen constantly in the way, the Lakers will find a way to get it done, even if it takes them 82 games to figure it out.
Biggest Surprise: No complaints from Shaq over the lack of touches.
Biggest Disappointment: The on-going Kobe situation will deprive fans of the game from seeing this group at their absolute peak, at least this year.
# Wins Expected: In the tough, tough West, even with distractions aplenty, this team should win 55 - 60 games.
Los Angeles Lakers Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PF Brian Cook (draft); PF Karl Malone (Jazz); PG Gary Payton (Sonics); SF Bryon Russell (Wizards); C Horace Grant (Magic).
Outgoing: C Samaki Walker (Heat); PF Mark Madsen (T'wolves); PG Brian Shaw (free agent).
Drafted: F Brian Cook, Illinois (#24); F Luke Walton, Arizona (#32).
2003 - 2004 Los Angeles Lakers Roster
2) Sacramento Kings
I was all set to pick the Kings to finish first, until I saw the Lakers the other night and considered the recent history of Sacramento. Chris Webber is an absolute stud, but he's been injured (not to mention controversial). With less depth than last year, one gets the sense that this might be the last chance for this group. Peja Stojakovic is healthy this year and should amaze, the addtion of Brad Miller will help, the defense should be stifling as always, Mike Bibby and Bobby Jackson have the point covered, and they have one of the league's best coaches in Rick Adelman. The Kings will be fine. But somehow, I get the feeling that this just isn't the Kings year.
Biggest Surprise: Stojakovic near the league-leaders in scoring, especially if Webber struggles with injuries.
Biggest Disappointment: Webber, who needs to carry this team, won't be able to carry himself for much of the year.
# Wins Expected: I see the Kings a notch below the Lakers, Spurs and Mavs. Figure about 52 wins does it.
Sacramento Kings Cheat Sheet
Incoming: C Brad Miller (Pacers); SG Anthony Peeler (T'wolves); PF Darius Songaila (Celtics); PF Tony Massenburg (Jazz).
Outgoing: SF Jim Jackson (Rockets); SF Hedo Turkoglu (Spurs); C Keon Clark (Jazz); C Scot Pollard (Pacers); PG Damon Jones (Bucks).
Drafted: No picks.
2003 - 2004 Sacramento Kings Roster
3) Phoenix Suns
Who's the man now, Stephon? As good as Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion are, the Suns need to understand the burgeoning greatness of Amare Stoudamire. If he wants it, he can be one of the NBA's elite in a few short years, even with his youth. This team scared the pants off of the Spurs last year, but they didn't reload the way that other Western Conference foes did and their bench is just as suspect as it was last year. A good draft, continued improvement and perhaps even a second round playoff series, but Starbury and co. aren't ready to challenge the elite just yet.
Biggest Surprise: The new, mature Stephon Marbury challenges Kidd for the assist title, even as he's scoring about 22 ppg.
Biggest Disappointment: Like much of the NBA, it's in the center position. Jake Voskul isn't going to get it done.
# Wins Expected: This is about a 48 win team.
Phoenix Suns Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PF Zarko Cabarkapa (draft); PG Leandrinho Barbosa (draft); PG Brevin Knight (Grizzlies).
Outgoing: C Jake Tsakilidis (Grizzlies); PF Bo Outlaw (Grizzlies).
Drafted: F Zarko Cabarkapa, Serbia (#17).
2003 - 2004 Phoenix Suns Roster
4) Portland Trail Blazers
Even with a new GM (former Nets GM John Nash), and the start of a crackdown to bring in more talent and less legal issues, the Blazers are hard to figure, or explain, without a police blotter. They have Rasheed "Sunspot" Wallace, with as much talent as nearly anyone in the NBA but still no idea how to focus it for long periods, and the up-and-coming Zach Randolph. But Damon "Pothead" Stoudamire is still around, as are fellow convicts Reuben Patterson and Qyntel Woods. Poor coach Mo Cheeks - without an arrest warrant (or Scottie Pippen) he'll be hard pressed to keep this group from turning on itself, sabotaging yet another season. If things go real sour, I could even see them missing the playoffs, despite the talent. Don't be surprised if this team is blown up before the trading deadline, if not sooner, and rebuilt around Randolph.
Biggest Surprise: Zach Randolph will average a double-double and be the Most Improved Player.
Biggest Disappointment: Mug shots aplenty, with Stoudamire, Patterson, and Wallace all candidates for Biggest Waste of Talent.
# Wins Expected: I see trouble, and anywhere from 44 - 48 wins.
Portland Trail Blazers Cheat Sheet
Incoming: SF Travis Outlaw (draft).
Outgoing: PG Scottie Pippen (Bulls); C Arvydas Sabonis (retired); SG Antonio Daniels (Sonics).
Drafted: F Travis Outlaw, Starkville HS (MS) (#23); C Nedzad Sinanovic, Bosnia, (#54).
2003 - 2004 Portland Trail Blazers Roster
5) Golden State Warriors
Surprise team last season under first-year coach Eric Musselman with a 17-game improvement in the standings, but yet exploded into splinters in the off-season. Leader Antawn Jamison is gone, replaced by fellow question mark Nick Van Exel, as the Warriors made wholesale changes to the entire roster, the best of which were the acquisitions of Cliff Robinson and Speedy Claxton. But, Jamison is gone, Gilbert Arenas was too expensive and walked, and sparkplug Earl Boykins left as well, leaving the future to Jason Richardson, Troy Murphy and Mike Dunleavy Jr. There are lots of role players on the bench, and that bright young coach, so I'm not sure that the Warriors won't make the playoffs. It'll all come down to their defensive effort, I would guess.
Biggest Surprise: The elevation of Richardson and Murphy into near All-Stars.
Biggest Disappointment: Mike Dunleavy Jr. will crack under the pressure of being counted on to deliver what Jamison took with him.
# Wins Expected: On the brink - could be a 40 win team, could be a 48 win team. The guess here is just short of the playoffs, with 44 wins in the deep West.
Golden State Warriors Cheat Sheet
Incoming: SG Mickaël Pietrus (draft); PG Nick Van Exel (Mavericks); PF Clifford Robinson (Pistons); PG Speedy Claxton (Spurs); SF Calbert Cheaney (Jazz); PG Avery Johnson (Mavericks).
Outgoing: PG Gilbert Arenas (Warriors); SF Antawn Jamison (Mavericks); SG Bob Sura (Pistons); PG Earl Boykins (Nuggets); SG Jiri Welsch (Mavericks); SF Chris Mills (Mavericks); PF Danny Fortson (Mavericks).
Drafted: G Mickael Pietrus, France (#11); PG Derrick Zimmerman, Mississippi St (#40).
2003 - 2004 Golden State Warriors Roster
6) Los Angeles Clippers
Are the Clippers ready to finally take that next step to the playoffs? You would think so, being so many different forces got together to realign the NBA planets with the franchise. First, the team finally signed a real-live coach in Mike Dunleavy. Then, they actually opened owner Donald Sterling's wallet without his knowledge and signed two of their own (and best) free agents, Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. Finally, they added center-of-the-future Chris Kaman in the draft. And of course, this was a big addition-by-subtraction year, as team cancer Michael Olowokandi and disappointing Andre Miller and Lamar Odom walked, instantly improving team chemistry. The bench is too thin, Marko Jaric and Kenyon Dooling share the point guard spot, and they'll never get away from the Laker mystique, so it's yet another year in the scrap heap of teams that'll miss the playoffs.
Biggest Surprise: Corey Maggette turns into the next Shawn Marion.
Biggest Disappointment: Chris Kaman does not develop as quickly as the Clips would like, or frankly, as quickly as they need him to.
# Wins Expected: Brand and Maggette mean about 35 to 40 wins.
Los Angeles Clippers Cheat Sheet
Incoming: C Chris Kaman (draft); SG Eddie House (Heat).
Outgoing: SF Lamar Odom (Heat); PG Andre Miller (Nuggets); C Michael Olowokandi (T'wolves); SG Eric Piatkowksi (Rockets); C Sean Rooks (Hornets).
Drafted: C Chris Kaman, Central Michigan (#6); C Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Greece (#34).
2003 - 2004 Los Angeles Clippers Roster
7) Seattle Supersonics
Once proud franchise reduced to struggling rebuilding mode seemingly overnight. The present, and the future, are bleak - though not as bad as the situation in Utah. The Sonics have already lost first rounder Nick Collison for the year with shoulder troubles, Ray Allen, acquired last year from team soul Gary Payton, is hurt, and no other real improvements were imported to the land of the tree hugger. Rashard Lewis continues to impress, and Vladimir Radmanovic looks to have a future, but really, comb the roster and see if anyone else excites you. I mean, Vitaly Potapenko? I'm a firm believer in coach Nate MacMillan, but the only thing stronger than the Starbucks coffee will be the stench of this franchise.
Biggest Surprise: Ray Allen, free from George Karl and hopefully healthy, could lead the league in scoring.
Biggest Disappointment: Brent Barry as the point guard? Please.
# Wins Expected: Book them 25 - 30, and a whole lot of misery to get there.
Seattle Supersonics Cheat Sheet
Incoming: PF Nick Collison (draft); PG Luke Ridnour (draft); SG Antonio Daniels (Blazers).
Outgoing: PF Peja Drobnjak (free agent); C Elden Campbell (Pistons); PG Kevin Ollie (Cavs).
Drafted: F Nick Collison, Kansas (#12); Luke Ridnour, Oregon (#14); Willie Green, Detroit (#41).
2003 - 2004 Seattle Supersonics Roster
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