By Sam Amico / the Amico Report

The numbers next to each team are Sam Amico's predicted finishes in the division. This is the Atlantic division. These are not the consensus predictions of Inside Hoops. Our predictions come this week.

1. DALLAS MAVERICKS

Coach: Don Nelson, sixth year.

Last season: 57-25, lost to Sacramento in second round of playoffs.

Starters: C Raef LaFrentz, F Dirk Nowitzki, F Adrian Griffin, G Michael Finley, G Steve Nash.

Key subs: G Nick Van Exel, C Shawn Bradley, F Popeye Jones, F Eduardo Najera, C Evan Eschmeyer.

New faces: Jones.

Strengths: Outside shooting, ball movement, and athleticism. Not a bad place to start, huh? You can throw in the fact that after half a season together, LaFrentz and Van Exel are meshing well with the likes of Nowitzki, Finley and Nash. How good is Nowitzki? Well, Larry Bird said in an ESPN.com chat that, "Nowitzki kind of reminds me of me." Nash and Finley are the NBA's best starting backcourt, and Van Exel makes it that much better. The Mavericks have more than talent -- they have guys who want and know how to win. Nelson is the perfect coach for this bunch.

Weaknesses: Some folks have taken to saying that the Mavs are from Allas, because there's no "D" on this team. Cute, and pretty close to being true. The addition of Jones will help in that area, but everyone from Nash to Van Exel to Nowitzki needs to learn the value of bending his knees and shuffling his feet.

Outlook: Offensively, few teams have more firepower -- and even less have a guy like Nowitzki, a 7-footer who can dribble, drive, pass, and shoot from anywhere. And he's only 24. The Mavericks are still growing as a unit, and should be even better than last season. That may not show in their overall record (although they could win 60), but their goal is to play better in the big games. A key will be the improvement on defense that a number of players have said they're committed to. If that's the case, then it wouldn't be impossible for the Mavs to sneak their way through the playoffs while Sacramento and the Lakers are beating up on each other out West.

Radio: ESPN 103.3-FM (KESS-1270 AM for Spanish broadcast).

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Coach: Gregg Popovich, seventh year.

Last season: 58-24, lost to Los Angeles Lakers in second round of playoffs.

Starters: C David Robinson, F Tim Duncan, F Bruce Bowen, G Steve Smith, G Tony Parker.

Key subs: G Emanuel Ginobili (r), F Malik Rose, G Speedy Claxton, C Kevin Willis, F Danny Ferry, G/F Stephen Jackson.

New faces: Ginobili, Claxton, Willis, G Steve Kerr, G Erick Barkley, C Mengke Bateer.

Strengths: Jason Kidd fans complained loudly when Duncan was named league MVP last season, but without Duncan, the Spurs don't win any games. With him, they have to be considered contenders for the division and conference crowns. Also, the additions of Ginobili and Claxton (and even Kerr) make the backcourt extremely deep.

Weaknesses: Robinson is in his last season, and his performance has declined dramatically. In other words, who's the second option on this team? Parker? And if so, is the second-year point guard ready? The truth is, San Antonio still needs someone else to take the burden off of Duncan.

Outlook: No doubt, the Spurs have the talent and chemistry to win the Midwest again. And even if they don't, the worst they'll do is finish a game or two out of first. The Spurs do all of the little things very well -- they make perimeter shots, they defend, and they pass the ball to the open spot. Throw in the fact that they have one of the NBA's top five players in Duncan, and there's no reason to think they can't sneak into the Finals. A lot of it depends on the development of Parker, and mostly, if Willis and Bateer can give Robinson enough relief in the middle.

Radio: WOAI-1200 AM (KCOR-1350 AM for Spanish broadcast).

3. UTAH JAZZ

Coach: Jerry Sloan, 15th year.

Last season: 44-38, lost to Sacramento in first round of playoffs.

Starters: C Jarron Collins, F Karl Malone, F Andrei Kirilenko, G Matt Harpring, G John Stockton.

Key subs: G Mark Jackson, G DeShawn Stevenson, G/F Calbert Cheaney, F Scott Padgett, C Greg Ostertag.

New faces: Harpring, Jackson, Cheaney, C Curtis Borchardt (r), G Raul Lopez (r) (out for season, knee).

Strengths: Gee, take a wild guess. That's right, Stockton and Malone are closer to the Golden Years than they are to their primes, but they still form one big reason for Jazz fans to have hope. In fact, it could be argued that Stockton has been as good from ages 35-40 as he was during any other five-year span of his career. Malone, meanwhile, is still Malone, meaning he'll play every possession as if it's his last, and score 20 points and grab 8-12 rebounds along the way. Sloan is one of the all-time most underrated coaches, period. The Jazz also picked up veterans Jackson and Cheaney to help an already improving bench.

Weaknesses: Collins showed flashes of promise late last season, but Utah still lacks a consistent center -- unless you count John Amaechi, who was consistently disappointing. Stockton has lost at least one step on defense, and nobody else on the team guards opponents with as much tenacity as he does.

Outlook: The front office did a nice job of improving the team by adding veterans without dumping too many people. The loss of Donyell Marshall (signed with Chicago), will hurt in the rebounding department, but Harpring is just as tough and a better fit in Sloan's system. With Stockton and Malone on board, the Jazz will always have a shot at going far. Just how far will depend on people like future star Kirilenko and role players like Stevenson and Padgett.

Radio: KFNZ-1320 AM.