NBA Central Division

(Note - to see the official InsideHoops predictions, check the site.)

Let's Play (Crystal) Ball!

When the following three things happen, you know for sure that Fall is upon us:

1. Leaves begin to fall from the trees (hence the name "Fall" for those that are slow learners)

2. NBA training camps open with each of the 29 teams promising their fans either victory (if they are playoff contenders) or "an exciting, uptempo game" (if they're not).

3. So-called NBA "experts" come out of the woodwork and start to make their predictions on who's hot and who will be tussling with the Clippers for the right to bulk-order ping pong balls in June.

Who am I to fight nature?

So as Shawn Kemp hastily stuffs down one more Twinkie bar before heading off to his first practice in a Blazers' uniform, I present for your amusement my fearless team-by-team predictions for the 2000-2001 NBA season.  Any resemblance to what
actually happens during the season is purely coincidental, but I reserve the right to say "I told ya so".

NBA Central Division

Atlanta Hawks
If the Hawks stink it up this season (and they will), expect Mount Mutumbo to ask to be traded.  The Hawks are in the middle of a rebuilding process and with a new coach, NBA rookie Lon Kruger, and second-year man Jason Terry set to start at the point, they are in for a steep learning curve.  Mutumbo is a free-agent at the end of this season.  Anyone who thinks that recent media stories on the club's determination to show they aren't penny pinchers isn't connected is probably a Clippers' fan.  Atlanta still have veteran gunner Jim Jackson, improved forward Alan Henderson and promising rookie DeMarr Johnson, but that won't be enough to lift the Hawks to the Playoffs. One thing's for sure, you aren't in Kansas (State) any more, Lon.

Projected finish: Seventh in the Central
 

Charlotte Hornets
The Hive won't be buzzing this season, but Charlotte won't be as bad as people think.  After an off-season which saw the Hornets lose their leading scorer, Eddie Jones, and do-it-all small forward Anthony Mason (both traded to Miami), most are predicting that Charlotte are going to stink it up like month-old tuna casserole.  All things considered, however, Charlotte have put themselves in the best situation possible.  Jones was always going to leave the Hornets, so nabbing career-17 points a game scorer Jamaal Mashburn and two valuable big-man role players in P.J. Brown and Otis Thorpe was probably a better result than expected.  If sophomore point man Baron Davis can continue to develop and newly appointed co-captain Derrick Coleman can show this team some veteran leadership  (OK, so that's a stretch), then Charlotte should be Playoff-bound once
again.  However, without a consistent go-to scorer, it's unlikely they will go too deep in the post-season.

Projected finish: Fourth in the Central

Chicago Bull
The Bulls will scrap the Triangle offence and possibly coach Tim Floyd at the same time. After a Summer of frustration as player after player used Chicago as a bargaining chip to secure better contracts elsewhere, the Bulls have improved themselves but nowhere near the level they anticipated.  Ron Artest gives the Bulls more scoring, while rookies Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer should also help.  However, when journeyman fifth-year player Fred Hoiberg is the one providing
veteran leadership, you know you're in for a bumpy ride.  GM Jerry Krause may have to install kiddie seats on the team plane! Expect the Bulls to dump the old Triangle offence mid-season and Floyd shortly afterwards if the Bulls don't start to battle out of the Central Division's cellar by mid-season.

Projected finish: Sixth in the Central

Cleveland Cavaliers
After this season is over, Cleveland fans will be watching tape of Michael Jordan's game-winning shot over Craig Ehlo just so
they can remember the gold ol' days.  The current Cavs roster looks like a clearing house for role players.  It's not that Cleveland don't have any good players, they just don't have any stars.  This is largely due to the recent trade of  Shawn Kemp (and his hefty salary - pun intended) in anticipation of luring a couple of stud free-agents over the next two years. In the meantime, the Cavs will field a team of sixth men and 'tweeners such as Chris Gattling, Brevin Knight and Clarence Weatherspoon.  A notable exception is starting point guard Andre Miller, who looks like he could be capable of developing into a legitimate star in his second season.  Rookie centre Chris Mihm will get plenty of minutes until the injured Zydrunas Ilgauskas returns.

Projected finish: Last in the Central
 

Detroit Pistons
Jerry Stackhouse will take centre stage but the Pistons exit stage right.  Stack had a breakout season last year, benefitting from the new defensive rules more than almost any player in the league.  However, this season defences will be keying purely on Stackhouse, rather than having to worry about departed star Grant Hill as well. In Detroit's first season PG (post Grant) Stackhouse will finally have the opportunity to be "da man".   One suspects he might find out in a hurry that the glare of the spotlight can blinding.  Back-up scoring duties should fall to newly-acquired Cedric Ceballos.  This is fortunate, because if they asked Ceballos any form of defence, he would no doubt give coach George Irvine a confused look.  Unless
rookie Mateen Cleaves is even better than billed, expect Detroit  to battle it out (unsuccessfully) for the final Playoff spot in the East.

Projected finish: Fifth in the Central
 

Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers will return to the Eastern Conference Finals.  Given the fact that three of the Pacers five starters from the team which won the Eastern Conference Finals last year have gone and that they have a new and untested coach at the helm this might look like a big call.  However take a closer look.  New coach Isiah Thomas proved himself to be a shrewd judge of talent during his time as GM in Toronto, assembling a highly competitive team from journeyman cast-offs.  And the loss of point guard Mark Jackson actually saves the Pacers from making the difficult decision of how to get more minutes for swingman and Most Improved winner Jalen Rose.  The Pacers also return  the league's best clutch shooter in Reggie Miller and much-sought after forward Austin Croshere.  With super athletes Jonathan Bender, Al Harrington and Jermaine O'Neal likely to form the nucleus of the rest of the team, Hoosier hoop fans should expect Pacers' games to start to resemble a track meet. Look for the Pacers to battle their way to the Conference Finals once more but to come up short.

Projected finish: First in the Central

Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks will go deep into the Conference Semi-finals behind the play of Ray Allen.  Allen established himself as a legitimate star this Summer with his performances on Team USA.  Allen showed a new-found sense of maturity and appears ready to step up as a team leader for the Bucks.  Allen returns to a team which has bulked up inside and now includes newly acquired 6-8 forward Jason Caffey and 7-1 rookie centre Joel Przybilla.  Brew-town also added more firepower by picking up guard Lindsay Hunter and re-signing their own explosive young forward Tim Thomas.  Coach George Karl now has the pieces to drive his team further into the Playoffs.  However the Bucks will remain late post-season roadkill until Karl can find a way to get Allen, point guard Sam Cassell and forward Glenn Robinsonto share the ball. Perhaps you could buy them a ball each, George?

Projected finish: Second in the Central
 

Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will earn a second playoff berth but Air Canada will be quickly grounded in the Playoffs.  If not for the loss of mega-talent Tracy McGrady, the Raptors' off-season moves would rank as a stunning success. Not only did Toronto lure veteran point guard Mark Jackson away from the Eastern Conference Champion Indiana Pacers, they also signed the NBA's winningest coach, Lenny Wilkens.  Wilkens must have some pretty big rabbit's foot in his pocket to land the job of coaching the NBA's most exciting player, Vince Carter, after leaving the Atlanta Hawks as they spiral down into the rebuilding process.  Wilkens must now find a second scorer to replace the departed McGrady. Rookie forward  Morris Peterson could be a candidate but it will take him some time to adjust to the pro game.  Expect the Raps to make the Playoffs for the second-time in franchise
history behind Carter's play and then an early summer holiday without a second scoring option.

Projected finish:Third in the Central

Oct, 2000
InsideHoops.com

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