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Home , Andrew Bogut, Ben Wallace, Bernie Bickerstaff, Bob Hill, Brandon Roy, Brian Hill (basketball)

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E7 DAILY 10-31-06 MD SU E7 CMYK

The Washington Post x S Tuesday, October 31, 2006 E7

NBAPreview By Michael Lee

On the Rise Question Marks

ALLEN IVERSON, Will the superstars stay with their teams beyond the trade deadline? Both say they want to, but it might be time for a change of scenery.

BY REUTERS BY TIM DEFRISCO — NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES BY LUCY NICHOLSON — REUTERS BY ALEX GRIMM — REUTERS BY PAUL SANCYA — RON ARTEST Artest sparked an ’S POWER THE CLASS OF 2003 SALES OF LAKERS NO. 24 JERSEYS SHORT HAIR TEAM awesome turnaround in An iron fist? Commissioner Stern rules Out with the old ruling class — the Class of switched from No. 8 to No. sheared his locks, is pitching the “It Takes 5ive” shoe four months with the with titanium. Last year, he implemented a 1996 (, Kobe Bryant, Steve 24 this season, which will force his old fans cropped the mop, Jermaine O’Neal traded in campaign, built around stars Tracy Kings, but can he keep dress code. This year, he forces a new ball Nash) — and in with the new superstars — to shell out more money and pit Bryant his braids for a “low Caesar” look and Rip McGrady, Kevin Garnett, , it together — i.e. no down the throats of his players, establishes the Class of 2003 (, against LeBron James and for Hamilton — who once was paid by Goodyear and . The Tru Warier episodes — a “no-whine” rule to protect his officials Dwyane Wade, LeBron James) — who jersey sales supremacy. That is, unless to wear his hair in the style of a tread pattern league is encouraging team play by creating for a full season in from player tantrums and decides to will serve as the face of the NBA until the Bryant’s fans are content with the — cut his hair. When Allen Iverson removes the Lenovo Stat, which examines the best Sacramento? The eradicate the thrilling tradition of ripping off next crop of talent comes along. throwbacks. his cornrows, that will really mark the end of player combination on the court by looking Maloof brothers are warmups at the scorer’s table. long hair. at the differential. gambling that he will.

STEPHON MARBURY Does really want to put his Top Rookies future in Marbury’s Breakout Stars hands? Marbury has , CLIPPERS (RIGHT) garnered good vibes Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett Livingston has the creativity, showmanship and playmaking ability to be a superstar, with his $15 sneakers, already has given his but injuries have always held him back. If he can stay healthy, the 21-year-old but unless he can stir teammate the thumbs up. should supplant at and finally fulfill his promise. some wins for the Knicks, he could force (RIGHT) DARKO MILICIC, out his only ally in New Until Milicic, 21, proved he had a pulse after being acquired from Detroit York. returns from injury, in February, then he had an impressive performance for Serbia in the native the world championship. The statistics are bound to improve with could be the No.1 more playing time for the former No. 2 pick, who might finally Can he and Nuggets option in Memphis. remove “bust” from the words used to describe him. Coach just get along? Will his knee , ever be right again? If The former Williams, 22, gained confidence as his rookie season Martin doesn’t prove it Gonzaga star is the progressed and his strong finish suggests a brighter future. this season, Denver will shooter Charlotte Already a solid three-point shooter (41.6 percent), his continue to wonder why has lacked since numbers should improve if the Jazz can stay it gave him $92 million. its inception. healthy. Not quite , but not bad, either. THE NEW BALL , HAWKS Players have Portland’s Roy was The former slam-dunk champion put up Andrei complained that the labeled the most Kirilenko-like numbers after the all-star break. The new synthetic, NBA-ready player 20-year-old finished second in blocked microfiber ball is during the . shots last season (208), improved sticky at the start and his three-point shot and should gets slippery when wet. continue to progress with Al Will shooting The Bulls’ Thomas is Harrington gone and Marvin percentages plummet? determined to dunk on Williams out six to eight Will turnovers increase? somebody every time he weeks with a broken finger touches the ball. on his left hand.

ATLANTIC CENTRAL SOUTHEAST NORTHWEST PACIFIC SOUTHWEST DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION NEW JERSEY NETS HEAT UTAH JAZZ 4th in East 2nd in East 1st in East 4th in West 3rd in West 1st in West Last Season: 49-33. Last Season: 64-18. Last Season: 52-30. Last Season: 41-41. Last Season: 54-28. Last Season: 60-22. Coach: (116-88). Coach: (475-344). Coach: (1,151-589). Coach: (984-658). Coach: Mike D’Antoni (151-124). Coach: (76-24). Difference Maker: No matter how a Difference Maker: The Pistons lost Difference Maker: Will Shaquille Difference Maker: After two years, the Difference Maker: The Suns proved Difference Maker: Now that Josh contract season motivates , their defensive identity and continuity O’Neal be motivated after being reduced Jazz has yet to reap any benefits from its they can win a division title and advance Howard has signed a $40 million the Nets will go nowhere without Jason when skipped town. But to a spectator of “The Dwyane Wade $68 million investment in Carlos to the Western Conference finals without extension, he only has to focus on Kidd’s leadership, defensive intensity and when they lured from Show” in the Finals? Will he take the Boozer, who has missed 80 games to Amare Stoudemire, but any title improving from his breakout season. play-making ability. At 33, Kidd still San Antonio, the Pistons proclaimed that regular season off? Or have age and league injury and would be forgotten altogether aspirations are hinged on his recovery Howard is the most indispensable hasn’t slowed down but the Nets will they will rely more on their offense, and rule changes made him ineffective? O’Neal if his name wasn’t mentioned in so many from knee surgery and the return of his Maverick not named Dirk, and they were need to get him some rest so that he Mohammed provides a better post has to muster whatever he has left so that trade rumors. The Jazz could win the trademark explosiveness. If he’s healthy, 25-2, including the playoffs, when he doesn’t tire in the postseason. option. Wade doesn’t have to carry the team for 82 division title if Boozer provides some the Suns are the team to beat. scored at least 20 points last season. games. much-needed rebounding. CAVALIERS 10th in East 3rd in East 6th in West 2nd in West 5th in East 8th in West Last Season: 27-55. Last Season: 50-32. Last Season: 47-35. Last Season: 63-19. Coach: Sam Mitchell (60-104). Coach: Mike Brown (50-32). Last Season: 42-40. Last Season: 44-38. Coach: Mike Dunleavy (510-524). Coach: (518-252). Difference Maker: Possibly the fastest Difference Maker: Can Coach: Eddie Jordan (145-198). Coach: George Karl (784-545). Difference Maker: Sam Cassell’s Difference Maker: What does it mean player in the NBA, T.J. Ford was brought avoid getting hurt? The Cavaliers need Difference Maker: A former lottery Difference Maker: Nene played three confidence — especially in crunch time when Tim Duncan has the worst season to Toronto to push the tempo and get the Hughes to play more than 36 games for pick, has missed 89 games minutes last season and was rewarded — was key to the Clippers’ improvement of his career and the Spurs set a Raptors running and gunning like the them to take that next step. Hughes over the past two seasons because of a with a $60 million contract. Imagine if he last season. Was it a one-year run for a franchise record for wins? That the Spurs Suns. New Raptors GM intends to recover from a difficult first fractured right kneecap. The Wizards had played a full game. Nene is coming new contract or can Cassell, who turns are pretty good. After a second-round traded to fulfill his need season with the Cavaliers — which need him to stay healthy to possibly off major knee surgery, but the Nuggets 37 next month, continue to post big exit, Duncan finally got some rest for his for speed — but will Ford stay healthy included a broken finger and the death of become the fourth scoring option they will have the most formidable front court numbers? Should his production drop off, bad feet this summer and will be looking with his history of back and neck injuries? his younger brother — and return to the have lacked in their past two playoff in the league if he returns to form. the Clippers have Shaun Livingston. to bounce back in a big way. form that made him a $60 million man. eliminations. KNICKS MINNESOTA T’WOLVES ROCKETS 11th in East BULLS ORLANDO MAGIC 12th in West 7th in West 5th in West 6th in East 8th in East Last Season: 23-59. Last Season: 33-49. Last Season: 44-38. Last Season: 34-48. Coach: Isiah Thomas (131-115). Last Season: 41-41. Last Season: 36-46. Coach: (33-49). Coach: (75-89). Coach: (378-278). Difference Maker: Thomas thought Coach: (223-202). Coach: (258-273). Difference Maker: After his best season Difference Maker: Ron Artest is Difference Maker: The Rockets enough of to spend two Difference Maker: Did the Bulls overpay Difference Maker: Heard this one as a pro, Mike James should form a nice Sacramento’s best talent and will get swapped the potential of Rudy Gay for first-round draft picks to acquire him — for 32-year-old Ben Wallace? Yes. But before? Okay, this is the year back court with rookie Randy Foye. He most of the attention with his rap lyrics the stability provides. then didn’t play him. With Wallace, the four-time NBA defensive stays healthy. Hill has played more than was the Timberwolves’ primary target in and wacky antics, but is the Good things happen when Battier is on Thomas on the bench, Curry, who player of the year, wouldn’t have left 29 games only once in his six seasons in free agency and fills the vacancy Sam Kings’ leader and their success is linked the floor because he is defensive-minded, remains more potential than productivity Detroit for any less than $60 million. Orlando. The Magic will need Hill’s Cassell left — a confident, scoring point to how well he plays. Bibby will be covers for others’ mistakes and can play after five years, will become the focal Wallace gives the Bulls the veteran experience and veteran savvy — on the guard who can take some of the offensive motivated to have a huge season since he multiple positions. and Tracy point on offense. presence they sorely needed and ensures court — to help along its promising load off Kevin Garnett. will be a free agent next offseason. McGrady need a glue guy, and Battier they will be harder to score upon. young nucleus and make a serious playoff should help bring it all together. 76ERS push. SUPERSONICS 12th in East PACERS 13th in West 9th in West HORNETS 7th in East 11th in West Last Season: 38-44. 14th in East Last Season: 35-47. Last Season: 45-37. Coach: (200-183). Last Season: 41-41. Coach: (279-242). Coach: (877-353). Last Season: 38-44. Difference Maker: and Coach: (246-164). Last Season: 26-56. Difference Maker: Seattle rewarded Difference Maker: had a Coach: (205-247). Allen Iverson proved they could coexist, Difference Maker: Wasn’t all of the Coach: (39-125). former standout turbulent offseason, which included the Difference Maker: but and the rest of the trouble supposed to cease when Ron Difference Maker: So, the Hawks pass with a three-year extension after a solid death of his infant son and getting robbed struggled mightily after signing a $64 76ers shriveled in their shadow last Artest was shipped to Sacramento? on one year, then fill their need 29-game tryout following a midseason at gunpoint. His mind-set will be a million contract with the Bulls, which led season. The other A.I. has the athleticism ’s felony charge of for a true point guard by signing Speedy trade with the Clippers. The Sonics could question mark as the season progresses, to him being dealt this summer. If he can and versatility to be a solid perimeter criminal recklessness could have serious Claxton, Paul’s backup on the Hornets, have the interior muscle they’ve lacked but the Lakers need him to get more play most of the season without any back defender, a third offensive option and a implications on the Pacers should he be the next? Makes little sense, but Claxton since the days of . comfortable within the problems, Chandler can set the tone with highlight-reel play-maker. forced to serve jail time for violating his can make his teammates better — if he and take some of the scoring burden off his shot blocking and rebounding. His probation stemming from his role in the actually plays. Injuries have limited him PORTLAND TRAIL Kobe Bryant. offense remains suspect, but Chris Paul infamous brawl in November 2004. since he entered the league. should help him with a few lobs. BLAZERS 15th in West 13th in East GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS BUCKS CHARLOTTE BOBCATS Last Season: 21-61. 10th in West Last Season: 33-49. 9th in East 15th in East Coach: Nate McMillan (233-244). 14th in West Coach: (249-254). Difference Maker: One of the few Last Season: 34-48. Difference Maker: Last Season: 40-42. Last Season: 26-56. remnants of the Jail Blazer past, Zach Coach: (1,190-880). Last Season: 49-33. surrendered the No. 7 pick (Randy Foye) Coach: (92-127). Coach: (382-468). Randolph had a dubious summer in Difference Maker: ’s Coach: (661-524). to acquire in hopes Difference Maker: The Bucks have been Difference Maker: The 2005 rookie of which he rode in a car cited for street honeymoon in Golden State ended Difference Maker: Hailed as the that he’d bring speed to the Celtics. credited with fleecing the Raptors for the year, took a back racing and was investigated for sexual abruptly as the Warriors missed the missing link upon his arrival last season in Telfair never panned out in Portland, but if Charlie Villanueva, whose arrival seat to as he missed 56 assault. He won’t mature overnight, but playoffs — again — and he was latched Houston, was missing in he can hold off for the allows former No. 1 pick games because of a nagging ankle injury he needs to do more than chase statistics with the reputation for being an action. His reunion with the Grizzlies — starting job the Celtics might actually be to move to . Villanueva’s offensive and struggled offensively when he did for Portland to turn it around. injury-prone coach killer. But with Don as part of a draft-day trade that yielded entertaining. skills should blend in well with the Bucks, play. When healthy, Okafor is one of the Nelson on board, Davis has a coach who Rudy Gay — provides him with an who relied too heavily on ’s best rebounders and shot blockers in the can help him return to all-star form and opportunity at redemption, especially shooting last season. league. become a more consistent floor general. with Pau Gasol out until January.

TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH | Playoff predictions: Eastern Conference finals — Miami over Cleveland; Western Conference finals — San Antonio over Dallas; NBA Finals — San Antonio over Miami

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