Atlanta Journal Picks The Celtics 7th

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Scroll Down....

NBA PREVIEW 
MICHAEL LEE HANDICAPS THE EASTERN CONFERENCE 

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 

 
CENTRAL DIVISION

1. Detroit Pistons (2)

 Last season: 50-32, Central Division champs

 Who's back: Ben Wallace, 15.4 rpg. Richard Hamilton, 19.7 ppg. Chauncey Billups, 16.2 ppg. Mehmet Okur. Tayshaun Prince. Corliss Williamson.

 Gone: Rick Carlisle (fired). Cliff Robinson (trade). Michael Curry (trade). Jon Barry (free agent).

 New: Larry Brown (coach). Darko Milicic (draft). Elden Campbell (free agent). Bob Sura (trade). Darvin Ham (free agent). Lindsey Hunter (trade).

 Prognosis: The Pistons added one of the game's best coaches (Larry Brown).

2. Indiana Pacers (3)

 Last season: 48-34, first round

 Back: Jermaine O'Neal, 20.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg. Ron Artest, 15.5 ppg. Reggie Miller. Al Harrington. Jamaal Tinsley. Austin Croshere. Jonathan Bender.

 Gone: Isiah Thomas (fired). Brad Miller (trade). Ron Mercer (trade). Eric Strickland (free agent).

 Who's new: Rick Carlisle (coach). Scot Pollard (trade). Kenny Anderson (free agent).

 Prognosis: The Pacers lost Brad Miller but have one of the deepest and talented rosters in the East.

3. New Orleans Hornets (6)

 Last season: 47-35, first round

 Who's back: Jamal Mashburn, 21.6 ppg. Baron Davis, 17.1 ppg. P.J. Brown. Jamaal Magloire. David Wesley. George Lynch. Stacey Augmon.

 Who's gone: Paul Silas (fired). Kenny Anderson (free agent).

 Who's new: Tim Floyd (coach). Darrell Armstrong (free agent). Sean Rooks (free agent).

 Prognosis: Floyd has a veteran-laden, prepackaged playoff team -- and no excuses if he fails.

4. Chicago Bulls (8)

 Last season: 30-52, sixth in the Central Division

 Who's back: Jalen Rose, 22.1 ppg. Eddy Curry, 10.5 ppg. Tyson Chandler. Jamal Crawford. Marcus Fizer. Donyell Marshall.

 Who's gone: Rick Brunson (free agent). Fred Hoiberg (free agent).

 Who's new: Scottie Pippen (free agent). Kirk Hinrich (draft). Kendall Gill (free agent).

 Prognosis: Curry and Chandler must grow up for any playoff run. Bringing Pippen back was terrific.

5. Toronto Raptors (9)

 Last season: 24-58, seventh in the Central

 Who's back: Vince Carter, 20.6 ppg. Antonio Davis. Morris Peterson. Alvin Williams.

 Who's gone: Lenny Wilkens (fired). Rafer Alston (free agent). Lindsey Hunter (trade). Voshon Lenard (free agent) Eric Montross (retired).

 Who's new: Kevin O'Neill. Chris Bosh (draft). Michael Curry (trade). Jerome Moiso (free agent)

 Prognosis: Carter will have to soar to new heights for the Raptors to be competitive.

6. Atlanta Hawks (10)

 Last season: 35-57, fifth in Central Division

 Who's back: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, 19.9 ppg. Jason Terry, 17.2 ppg, 7.4 apg. Theo Ratliff, 3.2 bpg. Dion Glover. Alan Henderson. Chris Crawford.

 Who's gone: Glenn Robinson (trade). Ira Newble (free agent). Darvin Ham (free agent). DerMarr Johnson (free agent).

 New: Stephen Jackson, Jacque Vaughn, Lee Nailon (free agents). Boris Diaw (draft).

 Prognosis: The only hope of the postseason is to play defense and to play as a team.

7. Cleveland Cavaliers (14)

 Last season: 17-65, eighth in Central Division

 Who's back: Ricky Davis, 20.6 ppg. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, 17 ppg. Carlos Boozer. Darius Miles. Dajuan Wagner.

 Gone: Jumaine Jones, Milt Palacio (trades).

 Who's new: Paul Silas (coach). LeBron James (draft). Ira Newble (free agent). Kevin Ollie (free agent). J.R. Bremer (trade).

 Prognosis: The Cavs drafted James, but it will be awhile before the rookie truly arrives.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (15)

 Last season: 42-40, first round

 Who's back: Michael Redd, 15.1 ppg. Desmond Mason, 14.3 ppg. Tim Thomas, 13.3 ppg. Jason Caffey. Toni Kukoc.

 Gone: George Karl (fired). Gary Payton (free agent). Sam Cassell (trade). Anthony Mason (cut).

 Who's new: Terry Porter (coach). T.J. Ford (draft). Joe Smith (trade). Brian Skinner (free agent). Eric Strickland (free agent).

 Prognosis: Thomas is happy all the egos are gone. Well, so is any hope of the playoffs.


ATLANTIC DIVISION

1. New Jersey Nets (1)

 Last season: 49-33, Eastern Conference champs

 Who's back: Jason Kidd, 18.7 ppg, 8.9 apg. Kenyon Martin, 16.7 ppg. Richard Jefferson, 15.5 ppg. Kerry Kittles. Lucious Harris. Jason Collins.

 Who's gone: Dikembe Mutombo (waived). Anthony Johnson (free agent).

 Who's new: Alonzo Mourning (free agent). Zoran Planinic (draft).

 Prognosis: Mourning and his health are a concern, but the core of Kidd, Martin and Jefferson make the Nets the team to beat in the East.

2. Philadelphia 76ers (4)

 Last season: 48-34, second round

 Who's back: Allen Iverson, 27.6 ppg, 5.5 apg. Eric Snow, 12.9 ppg. Kenny Thomas, 8.5 rpg. Derrick Coleman. Aaron McKie.

 Who's gone: Larry Brown (resigned). Keith Van Horn (trade). Brian Skinner (free agent).

 Who's new: Glenn Robinson (trade). Marc Jackson (trade). Willie Green (draft)

 Prognosis: Can new coach Randy Ayers handle Iverson, Robinson and Coleman? Might not matter.

3. Orlando Magic (5)

 Last season: 42-40, first round

 Who's back: Tracy McGrady, 32.1 ppg. Gordan Giricek, 14.3 ppg. Drew Gooden. Pat Garrity. Andrew DeClercq.

 Who's gone: Darrell Armstrong (free agent). Jacque Vaughn (free agent).

 Who's new: Juwan Howard (free agent). Tyronn Lue (free agent). Reece Gaines (draft). Donnell Harvey (free agent).

 Prognosis: The Magic added a solid piece of consistency in Howard; but if McGrady is ailing, the Magic doesn't have a chance.

4. Boston Celtics (7)

 Last season: 44-38, second round

 Who's back: Paul Pierce, 25.9 ppg. Eric Williams. Walter McCarty. Vin Baker. Tony Battie.

 Who's gone: Antoine Walker (trade). Tony Delk (trade). J.R. Bremer (trade). Bimbo Coles (free agent).

 Who's new: Raef LaFrentz (trade). Jiri Welsch (trade). Marcus Banks (trade). Jumaine Jones (trade). Kendrick Perkins (trade). Chris Mills (trade). Mike James (free agent).

 Prognosis: Pierce is called The Truth because he can score at will, and he will have to rescue the Celtics by himself.

5. Miami Heat (11)

 Last season: 25-57, last in Atlantic Division

 Who's back: Eddie Jones, 18.5 ppg. Caron Butler, 15.4 ppg. Brian Grant, 10.3 ppg. 10.2 rpg. Malik Allen. Rasual Butler.

 Who's gone: Pat Riley (resigned). Alonzo Mourning (free agent). Anthony Carter (free agent). LaPhonso Ellis (free agent).

 Who's new: Stan Van Gundy (coach). Lamar Odom (free agent). Dwyane Wade (draft). Samaki Walker (free agent). Rafer Alston (free agent).

 Prognosis: Riley left Van Gundy with a starting five without defined positions. Will Van Gundy's fate reston an unstable Lamar Odom?

6. New York Knicks (12)

 Last season: 37-45, sixth in the Atlantic Division

 Who's back: Allan Houston, 22.5 ppg. Kurt Thomas, 14 ppg, 7.9 rpg. Howard Eisley. Clarence Weatherspoon. Shandon Anderson. Antonio McDyess.

 Who's gone: Latrell Sprewell (trade). Lee Nailon (free agent).

 Who's new: Keith Van Horn (trade). Marciej Lampe (draft). Mike Sweetney (draft).

 Prognosis: Spree is free, but if McDyess can return to form on his surgically repaired left knee, the Knicks could be a surprise.

7. Washington Wizards (13)

 Last season: 37-45, fifth in the Atlantic Division

 Who's back: Jerry Stackhouse, 21.5 ppg. Larry Hughes. Kwame Brown. Brendan Haywood. Jared Jeffries. Christian Laettner.

 Who's gone: Michael Jordan (retired). Doug Collins (fired). Tyronn Lue (free agent).

 Who's new: Eddie Jordan (coach). Gilbert Arenas (free agent). Jarvis Hayes (draft).

 Prognosis: Eddie Jordan is more easygoing than that other Jordan, but sorry, Gilbert, the playoffs are not "guaranteed."