|
1.
Utah Jazz |
|
Projected finish: 43-39 |
 2006-07
theme: A healthy rebirth. The Jazz are
banking on finally overcoming the injury
woes that have kept them from contention. |
| Early forecast: If
the Jazz can play well from the start,
they'll save themselves a lot of stress down
the road. They'll play the Suns twice in the
month and sample most of the league's other
powers before December hits. |
| Haunting reality:
Andrei Kirilenko's back was acting up in the
preseason. Given the versatility he provides
this team, him missing any significant time
would cause it to plummet. |
| Saving grace:
Deron Williams looks like the answer at the
point. He had his ups and downs as a rookie
but put it together late and seems poised to
take the reigns and set the tone on both
ends of the floor. |
| X-factor: Jerry
Sloan hasn't had a history of depending on
rookies, but if Ronnie Brewer can sneak into
his rotation, he can be a strong
contributor. The Arkansas product can be a
stopper defensively and adds badly needed
athleticism on the perimeter. |
 |
|
Carlos Boozer |
Likely rotation: There
won't be any questions about who is running
the point. Williams will have Derek Fisher
on board to help mentor him and occasionally
play alongside him. Former college teammate
Dee Brown is available to offer a change of
pace. Gordan Giricek has been starting at
the two and will be pushed by youngsters
Brewer and C.J. Miles. Kirilenko and Matt
Harpring will play a physical brand of small
forward. Mehmet Okur brings a perimeter
style to the center spot, while the brawn is
provided by power forwards Carlos Boozer and
Jarron Collins. |
| Four-casting:
Boozer will finally provide a return on
Utah's large investment. Fisher will become
an integral part of this team by knocking
down clutch shots late in games and
providing necessary championship experience.
Fans will like Rafael Araujo a lot more than
they did in Toronto -- if only thanks to his
BYU ties. Brewer will help carry his new
team to the division title. |
| Coach-speak:
"We're young, in terms of some of the people
we have and may have to depend on. I think
that can be a liability at times, but it can
also turn into a plus, if they can develop
fast enough. We like some of the things
we've seen from our players, and we just
hope we can stay healthy." -- Jerry Sloan |
|
2.
Minnesota Timberwolves |
|
Projected finish: 42-40 |
 2006-07
theme: It takes five. Reebok's new ad
campaign can also double as the message the
'Wolves need to heed -- give Garnett a
little help. |
| Early forecast:
The Wolves are being sent out on the road
early, getting a challenging four-game trip
at Denver, Portland, Sacramento and the
Lakers following the season opener against
the Kings. |
| Haunting reality:
The team upgraded its perimeter attack by
signing point guard Mike James but still
failed to get a suitable tag-team partner
for K.G. up front. Mark Blount and Eddie
Griffin have yet to cut it. |
| Saving grace:
Garnett still gives you a chance to win
every time out, especially when he feels
you're giving him a chance to win. He saw
the 'Wolves did go out and get him some
reinforcements, so you know he'll do his
part. |
| X-factor: The
'Wolves are trying to bring Randy Foye along
slowly, but the faster he catches on, the
better they'll be. The dynamic combo guard
can score in bunches but also has the gift
of making teammates better. |
| Likely rotation:
James runs the point, backed up by a
rejuvenated Troy Hudson. Randy Foye can play
the one but will predominantly be utilized
off the ball backing up defensive specialist
Trenton Hassell. Ricky Davis is the small
forward, backed by Justin Reed. Behind
Garnett at the four is rookie Craig Smith
and talented Eddie Griffin, who can swing
over to center and give opponents a
different look. Mark Blount starts in the
middle. |
| Four-casting:
Blount will have a better season than
expected. James will be more of a
distributor than he was in Toronto. Foye
will be the league's most exciting rookie by
season's end, and a big part of why the
'Wolves will be in the playoff hunt late.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on
another postseason, Garnett will be
encouraged by his team's progress. |
| Coach-speak: "We
needed a camp that would bring us together,
where we could spend time together to get
the chemistry, the guys getting used to
playing with each other not only on the
floor but off the floor. We had a huge trade
in the middle of the year last year and
really never had an opportunity to have a
training camp." -- Dwane Casey |
|
3. Denver
Nuggets |
|
Projected finish: 41-41 |
 2006-07
theme: Make last year the aberration. When
George Karl first took over, his Nuggets
became one of the NBA's rising powers. Last
season, they were mediocre because of to
injuries and in-house bickering. What's
their real identity? |
| Early forecast:
Although only two of Denver's first seven
games are at home, only one of those are
against a team that finished over .500 a
year ago. The opportunity to get off to a
quick start is there. |
| Haunting reality:
You just know Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin
are going to miss time. It would be wishful
thinking to not believe that. |
| Saving grace:
Carmelo Anthony looks like he's ready to put
this team on his shoulders. Not only is he
equipped to do so, but it's an even better
sign that he's embracing the responsibility.
He has come a long way in a short time. |
| X-factor: J.R.
Smith was discarded by the Hornets, but at
one point was one of their building blocks.
The Nuggets would love it if he blossoms
under their watch, solving their vacancy at
shooting guard. |
| Likely rotation:
Andre Miller is a favorite of Karl at the
point, with pint-sized Earl Boykins in back
of him as the chief change-of-pace guard.
Smith and DerMarr Johnson are likely to see
the most time at shooting guard, though the
team is intrigued by rookie Yakhouba
Diawara's defense. Anthony is the three,
backed by Linas Kleiza and combo forward
Eduardo Najera, another big energy guy.
Martin, Camby, Reggie Evans, Nene and
newcomer Joe Smith make up what would be a
loaded post arsenal if their health could be
guaranteed. |
| Four-casting:
Anthony will average over 30 points per game
and challenge for the scoring title. The
season won't be drama-free. Nene will take
heed of what he saw happen to Martin last
season and pace himself accordingly. The
Nuggets will be regarded by some as the
NBA's biggest disappointment. |
| Coach-speak: "The
health of our team, which was a nightmare
last year, is probably the biggest concern
in training camp along with trying to
improve our defense and trying to improve
our shot selection." -- George Karl |
|
4.
Seattle Supersonics |
|
Projected finish: 37-45 |
 2006-07
theme: Sneak back up on the league. No one
would see the Sonics coming following last
season's demise. Many of the components from
the 2005 division champions are in place, so
maybe they can rebound. |
| Early forecast:
The annual venture to the Southeast comes
early this year, part of a five-game trip
against the Eastern Conference. The Sonics
open at home against old pal Nate McMillan's
Blazers and play a home-and-home with the
Lakers before heading east. |
| Haunting reality:
The team's weaknesses, point guard and
center, haven't been upgraded significantly.
Recent draft picks Luke Ridnour, Robert
Swift and Johan Petro are still developing. |
| Saving grace:
Rashard Lewis has been working on his floor
game and could be in for significant
improvement. He says he'd like to become
more like Tracy McGrady. The Sonics wouldn't
mind that one bit. |
| X-factor: Chris
Wilcox tore it up in his brief stint with
the Sonics following the trade deadline.
Having locked himself into an extension,
he's looking to bring stability to the power
forward position by finally delivering on
his upside. |
| Likely rotation:
Ridnour and Earl Watson will be the point
guards, and there's a possibility Watson's
defense and ball-handling will get him the
nod at the end of games. Ray Allen is
improving with age and returns at the two,
backed by Damien Wilkins. Lewis is the other
wing, ahead of French youngster Mickael
Gelabale, an impressive athlete. Wilcox and
backup Nick Collison could see a lot of
action together if the team's young centers,
Petro, Swift and Mouhamed Sene, continue to
struggle. |
| Four-casting:
Allen will again lead the NBA in 3-pointers
made. The team's struggles and a potential
move to Oklahoma City down the road will
combine to keep some fans out of Key Arena.
Sene's shot blocking ability will push him
past both Swift and Petro. Wilcox will draw
Shawn Kemp comparisons thanks to his massive
dunks. |
| Coach-speak: "We
are not a smash mouth defense team. We're
not built that way. We still have some young
guys; this team is built to score points, so
we need to improve our defense and be
consistent with it. The most important
number to us is the differential, not how
many points we're giving up because we're
going to be able to score points." -- Bob
Hill |
|
5.
Portland Trail Blazers |
|
Projected finish: 20-62 |
 2006-07
theme: Restoration of hope. After years of
regressing, Nate McMillan has the Blazers
headed in the right direction. This year is
about showing fans progress and give them a
reason to be optimistic. |
| Early forecast:
The Blazers are on the road for seven of the
first 11 and have the misfortune of dates
with the Lakers, Mavs, Spurs, Nets and Suns
among their first seven at the Rose Garden. |
| Haunting reality:
Darius Miles is still owed a bushel of
money, which is one of the reasons he's so
difficult to move. With his knee problems
lingering, he's starting to float like dead
weight. |
| Saving grace:
McMillan has brought in hard workers who are
already changing the team's makeup. The
future is now with Jarrett Jack, Martell
Webster and prized rookie Brandon Roy all
set to play big roles. |
| X-factor: Zach
Randolph came into camp with a better
attitude and a slimmer physique, eager to
overcome his recent struggles. If he wants
to be the focal point the Blazers are built
around, the franchise would certainly
appreciate it. |
| Likely rotation:
Steve Blake and Sebastian Telfair were
traded because McMillan loved the toughness
and composure Jack brought to the point as a
rookie. His backup will be Spanish rookie
Sergio Rodriguez, who is being compared to a
young Jason Williams. Roy, Webster, Travis
Outlaw and Miles -- when healthy -- will
play on the wing. Randolph is the anchor at
power forward, playing alongside Joel
Przybilla and newcomer Jamaal Magloire, who
are battling for minutes at center and
should both get at least 25 minutes per
game. Raef LaFrentz will play when healthy;
rookie LaMarcus Aldridge will be brought
along slowly. |
| Four-casting:
Miles' knee soreness will be a season-long
issue. Magloire will be better than he has
been in years and become a coveted asset
around the trade deadline. Roy will make the
NBA All-Rookie First Team. The Blazers will
be a much tougher draw than their record
will indicate. |
| Coach-speak: "I
just love (Roy's) pace, the pace that he
plays with. You know, he's pretty much
always under control. He's in the right spot
on the offensive and defensive ends of the
floor. But he just makes players better. On
offense, he's very capable of scoring but he
looks to set his teammates up and pass the
ball. On defense, he helps, he takes
charges, he rebounds the ball. He's just a
solid player." -- Nate McMillan |
