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2001-2002 Western Conference PreviewBy Gene Huh1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Starting Lineup C Shaquille O'Neal F Samaki Walker F Rick Fox G Kobe Bryant G Derek Fisher ---------------------- Key Reserves G Lindsey Hunter F Robert Horry G Mitch Richmond C Stanislav Medvedenko F Devean George Analysis: The Lakers are still the team to beat in the NBA. No team has done enough in the offseason to catch up with the Lakers, therefore, a repeat appears to be very likely. The new zone defense rule changes may be able to slow down Shaq a little, but the Lakers have enough shooters to make teams pay for playing collapsing zones. If Fisher can make a successful recovery from injury, the Lakers will be unbeatable, especially since Kobe Bryant is intent on demonstrating that he is the best player in the league. 2. SACRAMENTO KINGS Starting Lineup C Vlade Divac F Chris Webber F Peja Stojakovic G Doug Christie G Mike Bibby ---------------------- Key Reserves C Scot Pollard F Hidayet Turkoglu G Bobby Jackson F Lawrence Funderburke F Gerald Wallace G Mateen Cleaves Analysis: The Kings had an outstanding offseason by resigning Webber and Christie and then trading the unreliable Jason Williams for steady floor leader Mike Bibby. Bibby will add the three-point shooting and steady point guard play to make the Kings a more consistent team this season. Stojakovic is a legitimate scoring machine at the small forward position and the bench is loaded with valuable contributors, including the gifted Turkoglu, who may emerge as a star this season. However, the Kings still cannot match up with Shaquille O'Neal with flopping Vlade Divac in the middle and will likely end up being the second best team this season. 3. DALLAS MAVERICKS Starting Lineup C Shawn Bradley F Dirk Nowitzki F Juwan Howard G Michael Finley G Steve Nash ---------------------- Key Reserves G Tim Hardaway G Greg Buckner F Danny Manning C Evan Eschmeyer G/F Adrian Griffin Analysis: The Mavs are the most explosive offensive team in the Western Conference thanks to the dynamic trio of Nowitzki, Finley and Nash. Juwan Howard appears to have found a niche as a secondary scorer and tough guy. The acquisition of Hardaway adds playoff savvy to a relatively youthful team. In the end, the Mavs lack the muscle to push the Lakers, but they can outgun virtually everyone else. 4. SAN ANTONIO SPURS Starting Lineup C David Robinson F Tim Duncan F Bruce Bowen G Steve Smith G Antonio Daniels ---------------------- Key Reserves F Malik Rose G Terry Porter F Danny Ferry G/F Stephen Jackson G Tony Parker Analysis: The Spurs probably did not do enough during the offseason to keep up with the Kings, much less close the gap between them and the Lakers. Acquiring a declining but still useful Steve Smith will provide an upgrade in perimeter shooting over the explosive but inconsistent Derek Anderson, but does not bode well for the future. Bowen is a tenacious defender, but he does not strike fear into teams with his scoring ability. Rookie point guard Tony Parker is a confident young player with the talent to develop into a standout. Now that Duncan is free of the injury problems that dogged him last year, he is ready to regain his reputation as one of the best players in the league. Plus, no team will benefit as much from the new rule changes as the Spurs who can play a huge zone using their twin towers alignment. However, the loss of players such as Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson will be very difficult to overcome for a team that is already too reliant upon the rapidly deteriorating skills of center David Robinson. 5. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Starting Lineup C Rasha Nesterovic F Joe Smith F Kevin Garnett G Wally Szczerbiak G Terrell Brandon ---------------------- G Chauncey Billups F Sam Mitchell G Felipe Lopez G Anthony Peeler F Gary Trent C Dean Garrett C Loren Woods Analysis: KG carries a very heavy load for the T-wolves, as Minnesota's best scorer and defender. However, the emergence of Szczerbiak will add another threat for defenses to deal with. Coach Flip Saunders does an excellent job of extracting maximum effort out of the collection of marginal players that surround Garnett, Brandon and Szczerbiak. If Smith can regain his offensive game, the Timberwolves will be a much stronger team this season and Saunders has already demonstrated that he knows how to set up zone defenses. However, the declining play of Brandon and the lack of quality center play will doom the Timberwolves to also-ran status again this season. 6. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS Starting Lineup C Dale Davis F Rasheed Wallace F Scottie Pippen G Derek Anderson G Damon Stoudamire ---------------------- Key Reserves G Bonzi Wells F Shawn Kemp F Ruben Patterson F Zach Randolph G Erick Barkley C Chris Dudley Analysis: The Blazers still have good talent on paper, but their self-imposed salary cap hell will prevent them improving themselves for a long, long time. For example, Shawn Kemp's salary will exceed $20 million next season, a number that is nearly as bloated as his physique. On the floor, Wallace is the superstar and go-to-guy, but building a team around such a volatile character is nothing if not a recipe for disaster. Apathetic former superstar Pippen is nothing but a shell of his former self, despite his still considerable skills. On the bright side, Wells is a tremendous low post scorer and Randolph has the potential to develop into a slightly slower, significantly fatter version of Elton Brand, so there is some decent youth to build around. Like last season, the Blazers should be able to flatter to deceive this season until they are once again exposed in the playoffs. 7. HOUSTON ROCKETS C Kelvin Cato F Kenny Thomas F Glen Rice G Cuttino Mobley G Steve Francis ---------------------- Key Reserves F Eddie Griffin G Moochie Norris C Kevin Willis F Walt Williams F Terence Morris C Jason Collier Analysis: The Rockets were dealt a significant blow when the Warriors decided to match Houston's contract offer to center Marc Jackson. Jackson would have provided the Rockets with a strong young post player to combine with the exciting young backcourt of Francis and Mobley. Francis is a great talent who is quickly becoming one of the best players in the league. Rookie Eddie Griffin is an explosive young talent with the wingspan to play much taller than his listed height, but anger management issues make future success less than certain. If Rudy Tomjanovich can get the thin frontcourt to overachieve, the Rockets have the backcourt firepower to cause damage in the playoffs. 8. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Starting Lineup C Michael Olowokandi F Elton Brand F Lamar Odom G Eric Piatkowski G Jeff McInnis ---------------------- F Darius Miles G Keyon Dooling G Quentin Richardson G/F Corey Maggette C Sean Rooks Analysis: The once moribund Clippers franchise is now among the most exciting attractions in the NBA. The gifted Odom is one of the most well-rounded players in the NBA and now he has help on the interior due to the acquisition of the rock solid Brand. Brand will add muscle and toughness to a dazzling finesse team that will showcase high-flying athletic specimen such as Miles, Maggette and Dooling. Miles has the virtually unlimited talent and the confidence to match. If the Clippers can receive adequate post play from Olowokandi and get leadership from the immature Odom, expect them to make some noise in the postseason. 9. UTAH JAZZ Starting Lineup C John Amaechi F Karl Malone F Donyell Marshall G John Starks G John Stockton ---------------------- Key Reserves F/G Bryon Russell F Andrei Kirilenko F Quincy Lewis G DeShawn Stevenson C Greg Ostertag Analysis: The window of opportunity appears to have closed for the aging Jazz, who still rely heavily upon geriatric superstars Stockton and Malone. There is hope for the future in the skilled and athletic Kirilenko, who may develop into Utah's next superstar. Marshall has rejuvenated his career in Utah, but he is a supporting player at best. Expect this to be Utah's last season in contention before the painful and inevitable rebuilding process begins. 9. PHOENIX SUNS Starting Lineup C Jake Tsakalidis F Tom Gugliotta F Shawn Marion G Anfernee Hardaway G Stephon Marbury ---------------------- Key Reserves G Tony Delk F Rodney Rogers G/F Dan Majerle F John Wallace C Jake Voskuhl F Jud Buechler G Charlie Bell Analysis: Apparently, the Suns felt they had gone as far as they could under the leadership of Jason Kidd. This is the reason they swapped former franchise player Kidd for new franchise player Stephon Marbury. Marbury is a great talent who will provide much more offense than Kidd. Unfortunately, Marbury has become a selfish player more interested in personal glory than in making his teammates better using his uncanny point guard skills. Marion is a rapidly developing young talent with spectacular athleticism and a healthy Penny Hardaway is still a formidable all-around player. Therefore, the Suns will have the talent to run and gun. However, their interior game is a mess and will prevent them from challenging the top teams in the West. 11. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS Starting Lineup C Calvin Booth F Vin Baker F Rashard Lewis G Brent Barry G Gary Payton ---------------------- Key Reserves G Desmond Mason G Shammond Williams F Vladamir Radmanovic C Jerome James Analysis: Gary Payton is a legitimate superstar who can carry a team, but he is also a notorious coach killer whom coach Nate McMillan must keep under control. Perhaps trading Payton while his value his still high is the best thing to do for the rebuilding Sonics. Lewis is a potential superstar with the tools to develop into a scoring machine. Baker has lost so much weight during the offseason that some observers dubbed him "Skinny Vinny" during the preseason. Unfortunately, this will not be enough to lift the otherwise mediocre Sonics into contention. 12. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS Starting Lineup C Erick Dampier F Danny Fortson F Antawn Jamison G Jason Richardson G Larry Hughes ---------------------- Key Reserves C Marc Jackson G Mookie Blaylock G Bobby Sura F Troy Murphy C Adonal Foyle G Gilbert Arenas Analysis: The Warriors have assembled an athletic, young nucleus of talent that provides much hope for the future. Fortson is a fierce rebounder who will complement rising young star Jamison in the frontcourt. Jackson is very unhappy to be back in Golden State, so expect him to get dealt as soon as he is eligible to be traded. Richardson has been compared to Vince Carter, and many feel that he is the favorite to win this year's Rookie of the Year award. The only major problem spot is the point guard position, where selfish Larry Hughes has a long way to go before he can be considered a true floor general. 13. DENVER NUGGETS Starting Lineup C Scott Williams F Raef LaFrentz F James Posey G Tariq Abdul-Wahad G Nick Van Exel ---------------------- Key Reserves F Antonio McDyess G Isaiah Rider G Avery Johnson F George McCloud G Voshon Lenard C Shawnelle Scott Analysis: The Nuggets will get pounded until star power forward McDyess returns from injury during the second half of the season. Van Exel is a gutsy player who will shoulder the scoring load until then, but without McDyess, the frontcourt will be very weak. LaFrentz is a talented player who will be effective against zones, but does not have the strength to match up with the more powerful players on the interior. With McDyess, the Nuggets are mediocre, without him, they should be terrible. 14. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Starting Lineup C Lorenzen Wright F Stromile Swift F Shane Battier G Michael Dickerson G Jason Williams ---------------------- Key Reserves G Brevin Knight F Pau Gasol G Nick Anderson C Bryant Reeves F Grant Long F/C Tony Massenberg Analysis: The Grizzlies totally revamped their squad during the offseason by trading away former franchise cornerstones in Mike Bibby and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Despite their impressive statistics, neither Abdur-Rahim nor Bibby ever showed that they could pull the Grizz out of the deep abyss of ineptitude they have been mired in since their inagural season. The new look Grizzlies will be built around the consistency of Battier and Dickerson and the flashy athletic flair of Swift and Williams. Williams has the talent to become one of the best point guards in the NBA, if he can tone down his Harlem Globetrotters routine. Battier will add a winning mentality to a team that has grown quite accustomed to losing on a regular basis. If Gasol becomes as good as some people in the NBA feel he can be, Memphis will have themselves quite a team in a few years. However, expect the losses to pile up as usual during this season. |
Features Marbury for Kidd 2001-2002 Western Conference Preview 2001-2002 Eastern Conference Preview Future Stars 2001 NBA Draft Grades 2001 NBA Draft Scouting Report
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