Bart Hubbuch: C's Finish 14th in East

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

                         10/28/99
 
                        By Bart Hubbuch / The Dallas Morning News
 
                           1. Charlotte <snips>


                                   14. Boston
                                   * DIVISION: Atlantic
                         * COACH: Rick Pitino
                         * 1999: 19-31, fifth in division.
                         * KEY ADDITIONS: Underrated forward-center Danny
                         Fortson was a nice pickup from Denver in the Ron
                         Mercer trade, and swingman Calbert Cheaney is a
                         capable scorer in the right situation. Even so,
                         the Celtics needed to do a lot more in the
                         off-season if they hope to break out of their
                         recent free fall.

                         * KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Trading Mercer to the Nuggets
                         because the Celtics didn't want to meet his asking
                         price remains something of a head-scratcher.
                         Mercer's not a superstar, but Pitino needs to keep
                         as many talented pieces in place as possible. You
                         get the feeling the Celtics aren't as dedicated to
                         winning as they once were.

                         * FORECAST: The Celtics are a fractured team
                         thanks to the Mercer trade and Pitino's tyrannical
                         ways, and it's hard to see much improvement on the
                         immediate horizon. Once considered among the
                         game's bright young coaches, Pitino is quickly
                         losing his luster. The Celtics will benefit from
                         the new rules changes and a weakened conference,
                         but not much.

                         * THE BOTTOM LINE: Another long year for this
                         once-proud franchise.

                                   15. Chicago
                                   * DIVISION: Central
                         * COACH: Tim Floyd
                         * 1999: 13-17, eighth in division.
                         * KEY ADDITIONS: What the Bulls had hoped would be
                         a bountiful free-agent crop proved to be a
                         disappointment after so many big names ended up
                         re-signing with their former clubs. Instead, all
                         Chicago has to show for its room under the salary
                         cap is Hersey Hawkins, B.J. Armstrong, Will Perdue
                         and Chris Anstey. Yawn. Rookie No. 1 pick Elton
                         Brand is promising, though.

                         * KEY SUBTRACTIONS: Chicago will miss Ron Harper's
                         veteran presence and playmaking, but losing Bill
                         Wennington, Brent Barry, Andrew Lang and Mark
                         Bryant looks more like a case of addition by
                         subtraction.

                         * FORECAST: Bulls general manager Jerry Krause is
                         looking ahead to next summer, when Tim Duncan and
                         Grant Hill might be available. That means this
                         will be yet another throwaway season for Chicago
                         fans, who are enduring the payback of Michael
                         Jordan's years of dominance. About the best thing
                         the Bulls have going for them is Floyd, who
                         quickly proved to be one of the league's better
                         young coaches.

                         * THE BOTTOM LINE: It's hard to be bullish about
                         this group.

                       © 1999 The Dallas Morning News