November 1997
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$3.95 © Volume 4 Issue 1 1997 - ‘98 NBA Season Preview Edition November 1997 BASKETBALL FOR THOUGHT by Kris Gardner, e-mail: [email protected] My 25% Theory The 1997 - 1998 Season is Filled w/ Questions The NBA is cyclical. As a result, teams experience tran- “Wow, he 1997 - 1998 sitional periods in their quest I coach? NBA season is to pursue the NBA title. I should How underway and it believe teams are either have many promises to be a building for a championship stayed games will very exciting year. The or rebuilding toward a cham- in the Denver Eastern Conference should pionship. Consequently, I Seat- Nuggets be a battle every night with believe the league throughout tle?” lose this nearly every team improving its history, will always have a H season? from the previous season. class system consisting of ow How The Western Conference has elite teams, good teams, much many a legitimate (on paper) 7 mediocre teams, and bad of triple dou- teams, sorry Minnesota, who teams. The teams will gener- should be locks for the play- Den- bles will © ally break down along a 25% offs. As the season pro- line for each category. As a gresses, many questions will How much of Dennis Rodman’s incentive laden contract result, the following is how be answered: will be paid to either the league office or the Bulls? the 1997 - ‘98 season breaks Will the Chicago Bulls down: pull off their “Repeat Three - peat”? nis Rodman’s incentive Detroit’s Grant Hill collect Teams w/ an Immediate Goal Will Houston’s Charles laden contract will be paid to this season? of a Championship Entering Barkley’s new body guard either the league office or the Will any teammates be This Season : get arrested when someone Bulls? How many games in able to help Golden State Chicago, Utah, Houston, Mi- throws ice on him? a row will the Bulls win guard Latrell Sprewell win ami, New York, LA Lakers Will the Atlanta Hawks when Scottie Pippen returns games for the Warriors? and Seattle. lack of scoring production to his All - NBA status after Which team is Joe Smith from the small forward posi- his surgery? going to end the season play- Teams Moving Toward the tion keep them from achiev- When will Dallas GM ing for? Championship : ing elite status? Don Nelson fire head coach Can Houston’s Big Atlanta, Detroit, Charlotte, When will the Boston Jim Cleamons and name as- Three: Clyde Drexler, San Antonio, Phoenix, Port- Celtic players break down sistant coach Garry St. Jean land, and Indiana. from head coach Rick (Continued on page 13) Pitino’s aggressive trapping Inside This Issue Page(s) Teams on Their Way Up / philosophy? Teams on Their Way Down : How are the Charlotte Basketball For Thought; My 25% Theory 1 Washington, Minnesota, Or- Hornets going to resolve NBA State of the Team Address 2, 3 lando, Milwaukee, Cleveland, their problems with veteran NBA Team by Team Key Off - season Moves 4, 5 LA Clippers, Golden State, point guard Muggsy NBA Opening Day Team by Team Rosters 6 - 9 and Sacramento. Bogues? Roundball Predictions 10 How long will it take Teams that are Rebuilding / Reviewing Recent NBA Trades 11, 12 Cleveland head coach Mike Building for the Future : NBA News 13, 15 Fratello to resort to his slow Dallas, Toronto, New Jersey, down tactics? Will Shawn An Early Look: 1998 NBA Free Agents 14 Boston, Denver, Philadel- Kemp ever admit to himself: Roundball “Rim” Shots; Upcoming Features 16 phia, and Vancouver. The Houston Roundball Review P.O. Box 70516 Houston, TX 77270 - 0516 888-ROUNBAL www.houstonroundballrev.com Page 2 internet site—http://houstonroundballrev.com The Houston Roundball Review NBA State of the Team Address by: Kris Gardner (As of November 2nd) Atlanta Hawks : ble with quick ball clubs orado basketball icon from NBA player with a great Summary : A healthy Alan who can pressure the ball high school and college. perimeter shot. As long as Henderson will be key to the and up the tempo. Dennis LaPhonso Ellis was disap- center Rik Smits’ feet don’t success of the Hawks this Rodman is not quite ready pointed to start the season cause him problems, Indi- season. Last year he had vi- to play 30 to 35 minutes a on the injured list. How- ana should be successful. ral pancreatitis which lim- game. Toni Kukoc is not ever, his health is key to the LA Clippers : ited his effectiveness for just in shape from resting his Nuggets winning 30 plus Summary : The Clips are about the entire season. If foot all summer. Hope- games this season. the Clips. Brent Barry has he stays healthy, Alan, fully, MJ will receive Detroit Pistons : looked good early on; how- while coming off the bench, enough help from his team- Summary : The Pistons ever, he has been the only will provide the Hawks the mates so he won’t wear went from being a team one. Rookie forward Mau- scoring everyone says they down before Pippen returns without a center last season rice Taylor looks like a good lack at the small forward in either late December or to a team without a power player. Taylor has much position. early January. forward. If they can get more offense than Bo Out- Boston Celtics : Cleveland Cavaliers : consistent production from law who left for Orlando; Summary : Head coach Summary : The Cavs Grant Long and / or Theo however, the Clips will miss Rick Pitino continues to signed Shawn Kemp and Ratliff, they could really Bo’s ability to create havoc form the Cs in his own im- Wesley Person to contract contend for the best record on defense. age. Acquiring Walter Mc- extensions. Rookie center in the East. Grant Hill is LA Lakers : Carty, Dontae’ Jones, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas looked better than he was last Summary : Kobe Bryant John Thomas from the good in the first 2 regular year—scary thought. energizes Lakers’ fans every Knicks for Chris Mills was season games. Rookie Golden St. Warriors : time he touches the basket- a good move. Mills really guard Brevin Knight has Summary : The Warriors ball. As long as Shaq re- didn’t fit in with the type of already assumed the lead- acquired Brian Shaw and covers from his strained ab- style Pitino likes his teams ership role of running the David Vaughn from Or- dominal muscle, look for to play. Acquiring Roy club from Bob Sura. Sura lando for Mark Price. Shaw Eddie Jones to be dealt for Rogers from the Grizzlies is best suited to slash to the should be able to help La- Mitch Richmond. Shaq for Tony Massenburg basket and dunk over trell Sprewell once Brian slapping Utah C Greg Os- should give Boston the nec- somebody. gets healthy. Joe Smith is tertag during practice the essary shot blocker to an- Dallas Mavericks : going through the motions. day of the regular season chor their full court defense. Summary : Chris Anstey He’s too light to play power opener was really an imma- Rookie point guard should have arrived from forward and not a good ture move which doesn’t Chauncey Billups has strug- playing in the Australian enough perimeter shooter to bode well for the club’s gled and Pitino has already Pro League. If the Mavs be a small forward. The championship aspirations. shopped him around the can stay healthy, they Warriors will struggle all Miami Heat : league. should be able to compete season. Summary : Terry Mills’ of- Charlotte Hornets : night in and night out as Houston Rockets : fense should really help the Summary : David Wesley well as surprise some Summary : Charles Barkley Heat this season. As long as has struggled early adjust- teams (re: Seattle). Shawn decided not to retire. Why Jamal Mashburn can be a ing to where his new team- Bradley has gained weight don’t the Rockets have consistent offensive threat, mates want the ball. The and kept it on; so, he problems with their 3 point Mashburn can remain with Hornets best ball distributor, should improve his produc- guards like the Warriors did the Heat. However, Pat Ri- Muggsy Bogues, is not tion this season. all last season? The team ley finally realizes that happy with how the club is Denver Nuggets : needs to reduce their Mash is not similar to Grant handling him. Bogues be- Summary : Bobby Jackson turnovers. Rookie Rodrick Hill like Riles indicated lieves his knee is healthy may be the best point guard Rhodes is going to help this when he acquired Mash last enough to play; but, the from this summer’s Draft. club all year long. season. What does it mean Hornets aren’t so sure. The Nuggets reportedly Indiana Pacers : that the Heat have a win- Chicago Bulls : turned down an offer from Summary : The Pacers lack ning record without Zo? Summary : Losing to the the Celtics to acquire of quickness could be a Milwaukee Bucks : Celtics in the first game of Chauncey Billups for Jack- problem the entire season. Summary : The Bucks the regular season is no big son which says a lot con- Fred Hoiberg has made have improved their team deal. The Bulls have trou- sidering Billups is a Col- himself into a legitimate (Continued on page 3) The Hoop Fans’ Friend internet site—http://houstonroundballrev.com BW Page 3 NBA State of the Team Address by: Kris Gardner (As of November 2nd) (Continued from page 2) dency to tighten their rotation accolades. club is still adjusting to Vin chemistry and their team to 8 or 9 players.