NBA BASKETBALL: MIDWEST DIVISION
NBA Offseason Team Analysis

By AC YOUNG                   September 19, 2001

Dallas

Possible Starting 5: Steve Nash, Michael Finely, Dirk Nowitzki, Juwon Howard, Shawn Bradley

Offseason changes: Eisley and Booth are gone as the Mavericks got veteran help for the playoffs.  Manning has a year or two left to hit a few shots, while Tim Hardaway will be the best point guard off the bench next year.  Adrian Griffin will provide some depth.

Team Analysis
Offense- The starters all shoot a high field goal percentage.  Nowitzki (21.8 ppg), Nash and Finley (21.5 ppg) all can hit the outside shot, too.  Juwan Howard will need to shoulder the load inside as Bradley is a one-dimensional defensive player.

Defense- But being a 7-6 defensive player can alter games drastically.  Calvin Booth will be missed here.  Off the bench Nelson can call on Greg Buckner or Griffin at small forward/shooting guard.

Rebounding- Nowitzki is very good but Juwan Howard is only average, and Bradley has always been disappointing.  Donnell Harvey can help if he gets a few minutes.

Playmaking- With Nash (7.3 apg) and Tim Hardaway (6.3 apg with Miami) the Mavs are set here.  Michael Finley is also a good passer.

Franchise Question: What else does Dallas need?
Toughness at the power forward and center spots. They need bangers. And like everyone else, someone to bother Shaq.
 

Denver

Possible Starting 5: Nick Van Exel, Voshon Lenard, James Posey, Antonio McDyess, Raef LaFrentz

Offseason changes: Avery Johnson will be dependable for the Nuggets but they needed help in other areas more. 

Team Analysis
Offense- Denver have players with skills but they haven’t been able to get it working together.  McDyess (20.8 ppg, 50% FG%) is the inside threat while Van Exel, Lenard, McCloud and even Raef LaFrentz are accurate from outside. 

Defense- LaFrentz and McDyess can defend inside.  Posey has talent on the defensive end  but Denver needs more here.

Rebounding- McDyess (12.1 rpg 5th in NBA) shares the conference with Webber, Garnett, Duncan, Wallace and Malone, so despite finishing 5th in the entire league in rebounding, his efforts at power forward are overshadowed.  LaFrentz is solid on the defensive end but his perimeter game keeps him away on the other end.

Playmaking- Van Exel (8.4 apg) may have taken too many shots last year but he also was able to pass effectively.  Johnson (4.3 apg with San Antonio) will play a slower game but can work the ball inside.

Franchise Question: Is Issel going to be around next year ?
The signing of Tariq Abdul-Wahad and the trading away of Keon Clark should have meant the end of Issel. 
 

Houston

Possible Starting 5: Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Glen Rice, Maurice Taylor, Kelvin Cato

Offseason changes: Olajuwon and Shandon Anderson are gone, Glen Rices comes on board. In the draft, Houston traded away three average picks and ended up with Eddie Griffin.  They also acquired a similar type of player in Terence Morris.

Team Analysis
Offense- Houston will surround Francis (19.9 ppg) and Mobley (19.5 ppg) with an outside shooter in Rice.  Kenny Thomas must develop his offense and contribute inside.  Long range threats off the bench include Walt Williams, Jason Collier and Dan Langhi.

Defense- Cato has the ability to defend the post and Francis is active outside.  Eddie Griffin should be able to help as well.

Rebounding- The Rockets are going to struggle here, as point guard Francis (6.9 rpg) may be their best rebounder. Kenny Thomas will certainly rebound more than Maurice Taylor did, but a lot more help is needed.

Playmaking- Francis (6.5 apg) creates a lot for his teammates.  Houston are more effective in a transition game, not slow, grinding half-court sets.

Franchise Question: Would Hakeem have helped Houston this year ?
He won't carry them into the finals anymore, but Hakeem was still a better option than Cato or Collier. 
 

Memphis

Possible Starting 5: Jason Williams, Michael Dickerson, Shane Battier, Stromile Swift, Bryant Reeves

Offseason changes: The city, country, point guard and franchise player have all changed.  In trading Shareef the Grizzlies acquired rookie Pau Gasol, forward/center Lorenzen Wright and solid point guard Brevin Knight.  Jason Williams will replace Mike Bibby at the point.  

Team Analysis
Offense- They will be effective in a running game but will have problems in a halfcourt game.  Dickerson (16.3 ppg) has an effective outside shot while Battier could help there too.  Reeves can actually make shots and Stromile Swift could develop into a good scorer at power forward. This team needs to push the ball hard.

Defense- Memphis expects Battier to set an example on the defensive end.  Swift will block some shots. This team should give up a lot of points.

Rebounding- Reeves, Wright, Swift, Battier and Gasol will be expected to hit the boards.  Wright (7.5 rpg for Atlanta) could earn a starting spot for board work.

Playmaking- It will be a new start for Jason Williams.  He won’t be sitting on the bench at the end of games, but he's on a worse team.  Brevin Knight has been a starter in his career and will be a good backup.

Franchise Question: In the long run would a high pick next draft help more ?
The Grizzlies have to be really, really bad because if they are mid-lottery then Detroit will take their pick. If they are top 3 in the draft, they will have the opportunity to add another guard called Jason Williams - and this one can shoot.  While losing is bad, in the long run it could lead to greater success. Get ready for fast-break, losing basketball in Memphis.
 

Minnesota

Possible Starting 5: Terrell Brandon, Chauncey Billups, Wally Szczerbiak, Kevin Garnett, Loren Woods

Offseason changes: Joe Smith returns to the team after costing them much of their future.  LaPhonso Ellis, key off the bench, is gone.  Because this team has no center, second round pick Loren Woods will have a chance silence his many detractors.

Team Analysis
Offense- The Timberwolves are hard to defend.  Garnett (22 ppg), Szczerbiak (14 ppg, 51% FG%) are consistent, and Brandon, Billups and Peeler can shoot from outside.

Defense- Garnett and Brandon make it hard on their opponents but there are holes elsewhere.  

Rebounding- Garnett (11.4 rpg) finished top 10 in rebounding.  Joe Smith will help. The team hopes Loren Woods can make like Marcus Camby, defending and rebounding.

Playmaking- Brandon (7.5 apg) was able to find people last year and Garnett and Billups helped too.  Williams Avery will be expected to help this year.

Franchise Question: Should Wally be traded for help at center?
If Garnett is to use his height advantage then he needs more time at small forward.  Szczerbiak could be experimented with at shooting guard to free some minutes at small forward.  Cleveland have some big-men to deal.
 

San Antonio

Possible Starting 5: Terry Porter, Steve Smith, Bruce Bowen, Tim Duncan, David Robinson

Offseason changes: Derek Anderson will be missed but Steve Smith’s outside shooting will be an asset.  Bruce Bowen was signed from Miami and will take the tough defensive assignments.  Cherokee Parks is an acceptable backup.

Team Analysis
Offense- It will be inside-out for the Spurs.  Duncan (22.2 ppg) and Robinson (14.4 ppg) will be supported by Smith, Terry Porter, Antonio Daniels, Bowen and Danny Ferry on the outside.

Defense- Scoring on Duncan, Robinson and Bowen will be extremely difficult.

Rebounding- Duncan (12.2 rpg) and Robinson (8.6 ppg) are great, Malik Rose is undersized but always works hard.

Playmaking- This team's point guard needs to get the ball inside, hit open jumpers, and play defense.  Porter and Daniels both have skills, while Tony Parker is an option for the future.

Franchise Question: Can this Spurs team defeat the Lakers?
They got Bowen, who can harrass Kobe Bryant.  With the zone rules allowing the Spurs to send both Duncan and Robinson against O’Neal, there is hope for the Spurs. 
 

Utah

Possible Starting 5: John Stockton, Bryon Russell, Donyell Marshall, Karl Malone, Greg Ostertag

Offseason changes: As usual, the Jazz don’t change a lot.  Manning is gone. Center John Amaechi is added.  Losing Jacque Vaughn may hurt as Stockton shows his age.

Team Analysis
Offense- The new rules won’t help Stockton and Malone’s two-man game but they should still defy age and be effective.  The Jazz have always been a good shooting team, because they take smart shots. Donyell Marshall may keep developing his game. The Jazz do need some more options and maybe Quincy Lewis is ready to provide more.

Defense- Solid, fundamental stuff is what Utah is about.  Ostertag is a good shot-blocker and Russell is quick getting steals.

Rebounding- Malone (8.3 rpg) is always there.  Marshall could do better while Ostertag and Amaechi will have to contribute for the Jazz to be a force.

Playmaking- Nobody better than Stockton (8.7 apg).  John Crotty or John Starks will be his backup.

Franchise Question: If Stockton retires after next year, should Malone be traded?
This could be unthinkable in Utah but may ease the team’s future pains when their only good players are Donyell Marshall and Bryon Russell.