OTP 2002-03 NBA PREVIEW

Will you be able to hear the phrase "4-peat" without throwing something at the TV? Will the Mavs score 200 points in a game? Will the Knicks drive Spike Lee away from his courtside seats? Will Alan Iverson go to practice? Will Grant Hill finally stay healthy? Will Jordan actually come off the bench? Will Yao Ming be the next Rik Smits - or the next Shawn Bradley? And finally, will anybody stop the Lakers....all this and more coming to an NBA court near you.

Western Contenders - can win it all if:
1) Kings: Adding Clark keeps Vlade fresh for the playoffs, and doesn’t lead to a shortage of playing time for Pollard, Turkoglu and the rest of the stellar bench.
2) Lakers: Shaq’s big toe heals, the supporting cast continues to raise their games in the post-season
3) Mavs: Najera, Griffin and Popeye Jones provide provide enough D to complement the awesome O.
4) Spurs: The global backcourt of Parker and Ginobili reaches its potential this year; The Admiral has one last great playoff run left in him.

Western Pack - could make the playoffs if:
5) Trail Blazers: Figure out a rotation and stick to it (in other words, get decent value for Stoudamire)
6) Clippers: Somebody other than Brand and Miller is looking to win, rather than just get paid next year.
7) Rockets: No more migraine for Stevie; Mobley and Griffin improve their shot selection
8) Supersonics: Payton’s grousing doesn’t impact his play; Lewis & Radmanovic combine for 30 a game.
9) Jazz: Kirilenko takes a major step forward; Harping finds his stroke
10) T-Wolves: The Nesterovic/Jackson combo provides them with quality pivot-play; Troy Hudson manages a Terrell Brandon impersonation.

Western Longshots - will be watchable if:
11) Grizzlies: Jason Williams figures out that he should stop gunning and simply feed Gasol, Gooden and Battier
12) Suns: Their young players (Johnson and Stoudemire) grow up quickly
13) Warriors: They put together a lineup that’s not less than the sum of its parts.
14) Nuggets: They’re playing your team, and you like to watch blow-outs.

Eastern "Contenders" - could lose in the finals if:
1) Hornets: Davis doesn’t become a gunner, Mashburn is healthy for the playoff run
2) Pacers: Tinsley cuts down on his turnovers, Isaiah gets them to play with passion
3) Nets: Martin and Jefferson rise faster than Mutumbo declines
4) Sixers: Iverson passes to Van Horn; the center-by-committee (Macculloch, Coleman, Dalembert) is healthy for the playoff run


Eastern Pack - can make the playoffs if:
5) Pistons: Their D-first approach rubs off on Hamilton; Robinson & Rebraca continue to provide points in the pivot.
6) Magic: Hill comes back, OR they get something out their big men
7) Bucks: They stop bickering and just play; Thomas fills the Big Dog’s shoes
8) Raptors: Wilkens cobbles a bench together, Carter plays with fire
9) Celtics: Walker and Pierce can cover for the lack of a point guard
10) Wizards: MJ plays the entire year; one the young big guys (Heyward, Brown, Thomas) develops.
11) Hawks: Ratliff stays on the floor, they find enough shots to share between Terry, Robinson and Abdur-Rahim


Eastern Longshots - will be watchable if:
12) Bulls: The kids (Curry,Chandler, and Williams) grow up fast
13) Heat: Discover a big man other than Grant who can play, Caron Butler really is the next Paul Pierce.
14) Knicks: If you are a masochistic Knicks fan, if you want to teach a lesson on how not to manage an NBA franchise
15) Cavaliers: If you like flashy, glitzy dunks by teams that are trailing by double digits.


Conference Finals: Kings over Lakers, Hornets over Sixers
Finals: Kings over Hornets