C M Y K 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, KEVIN GARNETT 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 — ASSOCIATED PRESS RON ARTEST Artest sparked an DAVID STERN’S POWER THE CLASS OF 2003 SALES OF LAKERS NO. 24 JERSEYS SHORT HAIR TEAM BASKETBALL awesome turnaround in An iron fist? Commissioner Stern rules Out with the old ruling class — the Class of Kobe Bryant switched from No. 8 to No. Steve Nash sheared his locks, Dirk Nowitzki Adidas is pitching the “It Takes 5ive” shoe four months with the with titanium. Last year, he implemented a 1996 (Allen Iverson, 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, Tim Duncan, it together — i.e. no down the throats of his players, establishes the Class of 2003 (Carmelo Anthony, against LeBron James and Dwyane Wade for Hamilton — who once was paid by Goodyear Gilbert Arenas and Chauncey Billups. 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 point differential. gambling that he will. STEPHON MARBURY Does Isiah Thomas really want to put his Top Rookies future in Marbury’s Breakout Stars hands? Marbury has RANDY FOYE SHAUN LIVINGSTON, LOS ANGELES 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 Sam Cassell at point guard and finally fulfill his promise. some wins for the Knicks, he could force RUDY GAY (RIGHT) DARKO MILICIC, ORLANDO MAGIC out his only ally in New Until Pau Gasol 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 Baltimore native the world championship. The statistics are bound to improve with KENYON MARTIN 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 George Karl just get along? Will his knee ADAM MORRISON DERON WILLIAMS, UTAH JAZZ 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 assist numbers should improve if the Jazz can stay it gave him $92 million. its inception. healthy. Not quite John Stockton, but not bad, either. THE NEW BALL BRANDON ROY JOSH SMITH, ATLANTA 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 draft. shots last season (208), improved sticky at the start and his three-point shot and should gets slippery when wet. TYRUS THOMAS 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 DETROIT PISTONS MIAMI HEAT UTAH JAZZ PHOENIX SUNS DALLAS MAVERICKS 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: Lawrence Frank (116-88). Coach: Flip Saunders (475-344). Coach: Pat Riley (1,151-589). Coach: Jerry Sloan (984-658). Coach: Mike D’Antoni (151-124). Coach: Avery Johnson (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 Vince Carter, 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 Ben Wallace 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 Nazr Mohammed 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. TORONTO RAPTORS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS SAN ANTONIO SPURS 10th in East 3rd in East WASHINGTON WIZARDS DENVER NUGGETS 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: Gregg Popovich (518-252). Difference Maker: Possibly the fastest Difference Maker: Can Larry Hughes 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, Jarvis Hayes 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 Bryan Colangelo 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 Charlie Villanueva 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.