By AC YOUNG                   September 11, 2001

Boston Celtics

Possible Starting 5: 
Kenny Anderson, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Mark Blount

Offseason changes: 
The Celtics let free agents Bryant Stith, Adrian Griffin and Chris Carr go and will replace them with their three rookies, Johnson, Kedrick Brown and Joe Forte.  They gave up on Jerome Moiso after one year, Roshown McLeod came from Philadelphia for Moiso.

Team Analysis:
Offense- Boston have let it be known that they want to become a high scoring team.  Walker (23.4 ppg in season 00/01) and Pierce (25.3 ppg) can score 50 points between them, but last year they had little help.  Most of their offense comes from outside, Potapenko and Battie will need to score inside for Boston to make the playoffs.

Defense- The Celtics can get plenty of steals, but they need to do more.  They need to improve in Field Goal Percentage Allowed, a healthy Tony Battie and Mark Blount are the Celtics stoppers in the paint.  The Celtics could return to a pressing unit, they have the athletes they need (like Kedrick Brown).

Rebounding- The Celtics get some big numbers from Antoine Walker (8.9 rpg) , mainly on the defensive end.  With most of the Celtics firing away from long range, they are rarely in a position to get rebounds on the offensive end.

Playmaking- They let Chris Herren go but still have too many options at point guard.  Veterans Kenny Anderson and Randy Brown will get a look, Boston brought back Milt Palacio and also drafted Forte who could get time there.  Joe Johnson and Antoine Walker could also be used to occasionally handle the ball.

Franchise Question: 
Will they try to get a real center ?
Boston didn’t like the centers in the draft and have not picked one up during the offseason.  They are still positive about Potapenko, Battie and Blount.  With plenty of swingmen, the Celtics could look to find another big-man.
 

Miami Heat

Possible Starting 5: 
Anthony Carter, Eddie Jones, LaPhonso Ellis, Brian Grant, Alonzo Mourning

Offseason changes: 
The sometimes-injured (and old) Tim Hardaway is gone.  The often-injured Ellis and Kendall Gill have signed with the Heat.  Bruce Bowen left for San Antonio.

Team Analysis:
Offense- Mourning’s return will be important for the Miami offense.  He is a more capable scorer than Brian Grant down low.  Eddie Jones (17.4 ppg) will score but there are few options after that.  Eddie House may be given more of a chance this year.

Defense- Once again Miami's defense, not offense, is what carries them to victory.  Jones and Gill will be tough on the perimeter while Mourning should control the inside.  

Rebounding- Mourning and Grant (8.8 rpg) are strong rebounders and Ellis is good too.  There isn’t a lot of help off the bench.

Playmaking- Tim Hardaway has gone to Dallas, so Anthony Carter gets the starting role.  Kendall Gill could also be an option, he occasionally played point guard in Charlotte.

Franchise Question- Is it time to change offensive styles?
This team has always run a slow, grinding offense. Perhaps now it's time to push the ball and make their opponents scramble back on defense for a change. Hard to do with such a big starting front line, but the bench could pull it off.
 

New Jersey

Possible Starting 5: 
Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, Keith Van Horn, Kenyon Martin, Todd MacCulloch

Offseason changes: 
New Jersey needed to make changes, and they did.  By adding Jason Kidd they have changed the look of the whole team.  The pass-first Kidd was acquired for Stephon Marbury.  The center spot now has free agent signing Todd MacCulloch and rookie Jason Collins.  Rookies Jefferson and Armstrong will be some more healthy bodies to put on the floor.

Team Analysis:
Offense- If Kittles can play all season he will keep the pressure off the inside scorers.  Van Horn can step out a bit but Martin and MacCulloch will need to score in the paint.  Kidd will increase the tempo and the team’s scoring.

Defense- Kidd will help here too.  Martin can stop people inside, off the bench Aaron Williams and little-used Jim McIlvaine are good defenders.  Jefferson should help too, his athleticism can be used on opposition swingmen.

Rebounding- They should be really good this year.  Kidd, Martin and Van Horn will get some.  Todd MacCulloch will get the minutes this year to see if he can contribute on the boards.  Aaron Williams is a rebounder who will see time at center and power forward.

Playmaking- Kidd (9.8 apg with Phoenix) should lead the league again in assists, there could be a question as to who will be his backup but Kidd won’t be sitting a lot anyway.

Franchise Question: 
Is there space on the frontline for both Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn?
Van Horn has played better at power forward in the past but he has the range to make it work.  If they can’t play together, it is more likely that Van Horn goes elsewhere.
 

New York

Possible Starting 5: 
Mark Jackson, Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Kurt Thomas, Marcus Camby

Offseason changes: 
New York needed a center but instead they acquired players for positions where they already had good depth.  Howard Eisley will battle for time with Jackson and Charlie Ward, Shandon Anderson will be behind Houston and Sprewell while Clarence Weatherspoon joins the crowded power forward spot with Larry Johnson, Kurt Thomas and Othella Harrington.  Glen Rice went to Houston while disappointing Luc Longley will probably retire.

Team Analysis:
Offense- It will again center around Sprewell (17.7 ppg) and Houston (18.7 ppg).  Mark Jackson will have a preseason with them which may improve their teamwork.  Thomas is effective inside but doesn't get enough chances.

Defense- The backcourt will struggle but they have Camby (2.2 bpg) to fix their mistakes.  Sprewell is tough but he has an uphill battle, at 6-5 being the smallest starting small forward in the NBA.  

Rebounding- Camby (11.5 rpg) will jump for double figure rebounds but he won’t have a lot of help.  Thomas (6.7 rpg) and Weatherspoon (9.7 rpg with Cleveland) will also battle and Jackson has always been a good rebounder for a point guard.

Playmaking- As Jackson (8 apg) said, it will be a tough training camp to see who gets the starting spot.  Jackson is the better passer, Charlie Ward is the more consistent defender and Eisley is more of the streak-shooter. 

Franchise Question: 
Should they trade Houston or Sprewell ?
If New York misses the playoffs they might address this situation.  Sprewell has the all-around game while Houston is the pure-shooter.  But New York traded Rice so that showed they planned to keep Sprewell and Houston.
 

Orlando

Possible Starting 5: 
Darrell Armstrong, Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, Bo Outlaw, Patrick Ewing 

Offseason changes: 
The draft provided a tall point guard, Sasser, and an athletic inside defender, Hunter.  Brendan Haywood was also acquired but has since gone to Washington for Laron Profit.  Veterans Ewing and Horace Grant have signed too.  Offensive centers Amaechi and Doleac are gone.

Team Analysis
Offense- The Magic will have to figure out who The Man is.  McGrady (26.8 ppg) had the role last year but expect Grant Hill to get equal billing this year.  Their all-around games will be complemented by the outside shooting of Mike Miller, Darrell Armstrong and Pat Garrity.  Ewing will have to produce inside for the Magic.

Defense- McGrady and Bo Outlaw can both steal the ball and block a shot.  High-energy Darrell Armstrong will also be active on the perimeter.  Horace Grant knows how to defend as well.  Hunter was drafted for his defensive qualities.

Rebounding- The Magic should also be improved here.  McGrady and Hill are good contributors.  Outlaw and Grant are at forward and there is also the underrated Andrew DeClercq off the bench.

Playmaking- Armstrong had seven assists a game last year but that will be supplanted by Hill at point forward, and maybe also at point guard.

Franchise Question: 
Did the Magic get the inside help they needed?
Antonio Davis was the big rumor but he stayed in Toronto.  Only Ewing can provide an offensive threat but with so many options on the floor they won’t need many points from the center spot.  
 

Philadelphia

Possible Starting 5: 
Eric Snow, Allen Iverson, George Lynch, Matt Geiger, Dikembe Mutombo

Offseason changes: 
The 76ers moved out many of their forwards.  McLeod went to Boston but more importantly forwards Tyrone Hill and Jumaine Jones were traded to Cleveland and will be missed.  Matt Harpring should help but Jerome Moiso and Robert Traylor could be considered projects.  Shotblockers Dalembert and Alvin Jones were drafted.

Team Analysis:
Offense- It will still be the little-guy show with Iverson (league high 31.1 ppg) being the first option, and probably the second as well.  McKie was good last year and will be needed just as much this year.  

Defense- This is where Philadelphia will win.  While Iverson could lead the NBA in steals, Mutombo (2.7 bpg) could do the same in blocks.  Snow and Lynch also bring tough defense onto the floor.  

Rebounding- The trading of Hill means someone has to go and do the hard work now.  “The Tractor” Traylor could make an impact here if he can gain some quickness and box out properly.  Mutombo will be huge again too.

Playmaking- Philadelphia will have a rookie point guard this year as Speedy Claxton has recovered after missing all of last season.  Eric Snow does many things well but struggles with his outside shot.  Aaron McKie is another option.

Franchise Question: 
Who will start at power forward?
They could go small with Lynch at power forward, which would mean that Harpring or McKie played small forward.  Geiger is big but is more of an offensive option, which can work well when teamed with Mutombo.
 

Washington

Possible Starting 5: 
Chris Whitney, Courtney Alexander, Richard Hamilton, Kwame Brown, Jahidi White

Offseason changes: 
They added two rookie big-men by drafting first overall pick Kwame Brown and trading for center Brendan Haywood. Tyronn Lue will compete for the starting point guard spot after being signed from the Lakers.  Mitch Richmond has been bought out of his contract and has since signed with the Lakers.

Team Analysis:
Offense- Richard Hamilton (18.1 ppg) will share the ball with Courtney Alexander, who was acquired mid-season in the Juwon Howard trade.  The point guards, Whitney and Lue, are dependable from three point range.  Laettner can hit his jumpers but Washington have few inside threats.

Defense- Jahidi White is a strong defender and Etan Thomas should contribute this year.  They traded Calvin Booth last year and will be hoping that Brown or Haywood can provide some shotblocking this year.

Rebounding- Another problem for the Wizards.  White (7.7 rpg) will need some help on the boards. 

Playmaking- Washington could have some underrated achievers in Whitney and Lue.  Richard Hamilton may also play there.

Franchise Question: 
How much has Washington improved by moving Richmond, Howard and Strickland?
The team’s performance won’t change but the moves were done for many reasons, including financial.  On the player front, Washington has only added youngsters Thomas and Alexander and veteran Laettner, all from the Howard trade.  They hope to add an impact free agent in a year or two though with the cap-space they created.