





The Atlantic Division has been a one-horse race the past two seasons as the New Jersey Nets are back-to-back division champs. The defending Eastern Conference champs did not stand pat in the summer as they signed former All-Star center Alonzo Mourning to highlight their offseason. The Nets are hoping Mourning is fully recovered after missing last season with a kidney disorder and can provide low-post defense and scoring for a third consecutive run to the NBA Finals.

Orlando tried to make life easier on reigning scoring champion Tracy McGrady by adding Juwan Howard, Donnell Harvey and Tyronn Lue to the team. McGrady has other scorers to defer to this season, but defense remains the question. If someone on the team can provide consistent shot-blocking and rebounding, the Magic could go to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Sixers' off-season trade for All-Star Glenn Robinson and promising big man Marc Jackson gives Allen Iverson some scoring help. Robinson is a proven scorer, but has struggled with turnovers throughout his career. Iverson has to willingly share the scoring load with Robinson for Philly to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2001.

Dikembe Mutombo's signing with New York and Lamar Odom joining the Heat gives each team more talent, but the benches for both teams remain too poor to help a playoff push. New Wizard Gilbert Arenas will provide some excitement in Washington but the young players on the team haven't played enough to make a playoff run. Boston boasts the scoring of Paul Pierce, but trading Antoine Walker a few weeks ago leaves Pierce and the Celtics with a shortage of scoring.



Detroit has been the class of the division based on timely scoring and the defensive prowess of Ben Wallace. Rookie forward Darko Milicic, the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, is going to be brought along slowly, but there are enough skilled big men to sit the 7-foot prodigy. The Pistons are an East Finalist if the new additions (Bob Sura, Elden Campbell) can provide some scoring in the playoffs.

The Pacers finished second to the Pistons last season, but might find repeating that feat difficult. New center Scot Pollard is a tenacious rebounder, but his shooting won't compliment Jermaine O'Neal as much as Brad Miller did in 2003. Indiana improved its depth at point guard by adding veterans Kenny Anderson and Anthony Johnson, but there's no real No. 2 scorer.

Chicago's two signings might have been the most significant in adding vets Scottie Pippen, an ex-Bull, and Kendall Gill, a Chicago-area native. That pair could provide the missing veteran leadership for the Bulls to sneak into the playoffs. If nothing else, Pippen and Gill should help the Bulls improve their abysmal 3-38 road record from last season.

The Hornets are likely the division's most veteran team and will parlay that into another postseason spot. How the team adjusts to new Coach Tim Floyd's offense and the health of superstar guard Baron Davis are keys for a lengthy postseason.

LeBron James, Ricky Davis, Darius Miles and DeJuan Wagner are highlight-play machines and should provide Cavs fans with plenty of excitement. The Cavs are about a year away from the postseason picture due to poor point guards. Milwaukee, Atlanta and Toronto made some small moves in the summer but won't make the playoffs.Season Predictions



San Antonio is the defending champ and returns MVP Tim Duncan, guard Tony Parker and most of their supporting cast. New Spurs Ron Mercer and Robert Horry replace the outside shooting lost by the retirement of Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry. The loss of staring shooting guard Stephen Jackson won't hurt San Antonio as Manu Ginobili is a talented player poised for a breakout season. The Spurs remain the most balanced team and the favorites to beat in the Midwest.

Dallas and Minnesota added some of the league's biggest names to their respective rosters, but gelling issues will be the No. 1 concern on each team. Can Kevin Garnett and Wally Szczerbiak learn to share the ball with new teammates Latrell Sprewell, Sam Cassell and Michael Olowokandi? Will the Mavs find two starters on their stacked roster that best compliment the skills of Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley? How each team resolves these questions will reflect their chances for the Midwest title.

Memphis is a good shooting team and has several lanky post players. The Grizzlies are taking to veteran Coach Hubie Brown's style, but any playoff hopes might depend on how much rookies Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones contribute. Denver is in a similar situation as it will take a Rookie of the Year-type season from Carmelo Anthony and an All-Star season by Andre Miller for playoff hopes to be realized.

Houston and Utah are deep on wing players, which could make for some exciting individual moments, but neither team has depth in the post to compete for the division crown. Houston's Yao Ming and Steve Francis will mature as a combination this season, but not enough for a playoff spot.



Sacramento won its first-ever division title, something it may have to savor for a while given the Lakers' off-season. Adding Karl Malone, Gary Payton, Horace Grant and Bryon Russell makes L.A. a division-title contender after finishing nine games behind the Kings last season.

All-Star center Brad Miller joins the Kings with hopes of not just improving the front line, but also as a potential replacement for veteran Vlade Divac. Chris Webber remains the best passing power forward in the game, but he and his teammates will need to do everything possible to help Miller's learning curve. The Kings are hoping that a status quo roster will parlay itself into a second consecutive division title.

Malone and Payton must quickly acclimate themselves to the Lakers' triangle offense for the team to win the division. That pair, along with Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant and Devean George, is one of the league's top starting units. Bench players Jannero Pargo, Kareem Rush, Derek Fisher and Slava Medvedenko have to rebound from poor seasons for L.A. to contend.

Phoenix, Portland and the L.A. Clippers will likely be the top threats (if you can call them that) to the Kings and Lakers. Portland and Phoenix are solid at the guard and forward spots while the Clippers have good post players but lack a true point guard. If any two of these teams could combine rosters, it would have a shot at the division.

Seattle and Golden State will put on some scoring shows thanks to their depth at shooting guard and forward, but don't have the low post scoring needed to contend in this low post-heavy division.

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