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By Sam Amico / The Amico Report

ATLANTIC DIVISION PREVIEW

(Teams listed in predicted order of finish; r-denotes rookie).

1. NEW JERSEY NETS

Coach: Byron Scott (127-119).

Last season: 49-33, lost to San Antonio in NBA Finals.

Starters: C Alonzo Mourning, F Kenyon Martin, F Richard Jefferson, G Kerry Kittles, G Jason Kidd.

Key subs: C Jason Collins, F Rodney Rogers, C-F Aaron Williams, G Lucious Harris, G Zoran Planinic-r

G Tamar Slay, F Brian Scalabrine.

New faces: Mourning, G Doug Overton, G Zoran Planinic-r.

Strengths: Kidd is the best pure point guard in the league, relentlessly pushing the ball and running the offense to near perfection. Martin, Jefferson, and Kittles have the smarts and athleticism to know how to fill the lanes and finish the job after Kidd gets them the ball. A healthy Mourning will get the fast break started with a blocked shot or defensive rebound.

Weaknesses: Yes, Kidd is the league’s best point guard -- and the only one on this team. Though, Zoran Planinic is looking like a very suitable backup. The frontcourt has decent depth, but if Kidd or Kittles miss extended time in the backcourt, trouble lurks.

Outlook: Even without Mourning, the Nets would most likely be the Eastern Conference favorites again. With him, they’ll be dominant. In other words, this time New Jersey could get to the Finals and win. Most of it will depend on the bench’s performance under pressure, as well as the entire team’s ability to shoot better.

Prediction: 57-25.

2. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

Coach: Randy Ayers (first year).

Last season: 48-34, lost to Detroit in second round of playoffs.

Starters: C Marc Jackson, F Glenn Robinson, F Kenny Thomas, G Allen Iverson, G Eric Snow.

Key subs: G Aaron McKie, F Derrick Coleman, C Samuel Dalembert, C Todd MacCulloch, G John Salmons.

New faces: Robinson, Jackson, G Willie Green-r, F Kyle Korver-r.

Strengths: Iverson is arguably the gutsiest player in the league, not to mention an exceptional ballhandler and stealer of passes. Snow and McKie are a pair of consummate teammates and underrated defenders. And say what you will about Robinson, but the man can put the ball in the basket.

Weaknesses: Ayers has never been a head coach in the NBA, and it’s been a decade since his last job at Ohio State. That type of inexperience often results in a slow start. Jackson has yet to fulfill the promise he displayed three seasons ago with Golden State, and if he falters here, the Philly frontcourt is in trouble -- as Coleman, Dalembert, and MacCulloch just can’t seem to stay healthy.

Outlook: Ayers is more laid-back than former coach Larry Brown, and the Sixers could definitely use the freedom. At the same time, Ayers has to be careful not to allow Iverson and Robinson to just jack up shots on a whim. If things come together, Philly could give New Jersey a run.

Prediction: 51-31.

3. ORLANDO MAGIC

Coach: Doc Rivers (170-158).

Last season: 42-40, lost to Detroit in first round of playoffs.

Starters: C Juwan Howard, F Drew Gooden, F Gordon Giricek, G Tracy McGrady, G Tyronn Lue.

Key subs: F Pat Garrity, C Andrew DeClerq, G Reece Gaines-r, F Donnell Harvey, C-F Steven Hunter.

New faces: Howard, Lue, Gaines, Harvey, G Keith Bogans-r, G Shammond Williams, F-C Zaza Pachulia-r.

Strengths: McGrady, sore back and all, returns as the league’s leading scorer and one of its most productive showmen. Howard grew into a leader during his season and a half in Denver, and appears to be as focused as ever. Gooden is a tough cookie who can score, and Giricek is a lethal shooter who is underrated at being aggressive.

Weaknesses: There isn’t much to choose from in the backcourt, and Orlando is doomed if McGrady’s back doesn’t hold up. Lue has yet to prove he can be a consistent starter. Mostly, the bench is missing a guy who can be counted upon on a regular basis.

Outlook: Howard and Gooden aren’t exactly a modern version of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson, but both are gritty low-post players who know how to win. The Magic don’t have a true center or point guard, but the persuasive Rivers and ultra-talented McGrady can help fans forget all that. Finally winning a playoff series is a realistic goal .

Prediction: 46-36.

4. NEW YORK KNICKS

Coach: Don Chaney (322-470).

Last season: 36-45, did not make playoffs.

Starters: C Dikembe Mutombo, F Antonio McDyess (when healthy), F Keith Van Horn, G Allan Houston, G Howard Eisley.

Key subs: F-C Kurt Thomas, G-F Shandon Anderson, G Charlie Ward, F-C Othella Harrington, F Michael Sweetney-r, F Clarence Weatherspoon.

New faces: Mutombo, Van Horn, Sweetney, Matt Carroll-r, F Maciej Lampe-r, C Slavko Vranes-r.

Strengths: Well, at least depth in the frontcourt will never be a problem. Houston is arguably the game’s best pure shooter, and Van Horn and a healthy McDyess will only open things up for him. Until McDyess plays, Kurt thomas will be the main man up front. And he should get a lot more minutes per game than Dikembe. Chaney hasn’t had much success, but his light-handed approach is the exactly what this team needs.

Weaknesses: Now that Latrell Sprewell is gone (traded to Minnesota), the Knicks don’t have that one guy who will demand the ball and take over a game. All three of their point guards -- Eisley, Ward, and Frank Williams -- are actually better suited to come off the bench. The glut of forwards could cause some dissension.

Outlook: Most of it depends on McDyess, a shaky proposition when you consider the poor guy has scrambled eggs for knees. If he can’t play, the Knicks will be even softer than last season. But if he’s anywhere close to his old self, New York will finally have a deep and solid team that’s capable of making the playoffs.

Prediction: 42-40.

5. BOSTON CELTICS

Coach: Jim O’Brien (117-95).

Last season: 44-38, lost to New Jersey in second round of playoffs.

Starters: C Tony Battie, F Raef LaFrentz, F Eric Williams, G Paul Pierce, G Mike James.

Key subs: G Marcus Banks-r, G Jiri Welsch, F Walter McCarty, G-F Kedrick Brown, F Vin Baker, F Jumaine Jones.

New faces: LaFrentz, James, Welsch, Banks, Jones, F Kendrick Perkins-r, F Chris Mills, F Brandon Hunter-r.

Strengths: There’s no longer any question that this is Pierce’s team, and he’ll be better off now that occasionally-uninspired Antoine Walker has been traded to Dallas (for LaFrentz, Welsch and Mills). Pierce is a true scorer who plays with tons of enthusiasm, which is often contagious. Williams and Battie are don’t receive enough recognition for their defense.

Weaknesses: When motivated, Walker was the team’s best passer, and the Celtics will miss his ability to keep the ball moving (they won’t, however, miss his ability to make it come to a screeching halt). James won’t help anyone forget Kenny Anderson, or even Tony Delk, and Banks isn’t ready to start. Depth everywhere is a major concern.

Outlook: With all the new faces, it will take some time for the Celtics to hit their stride. And by the time they do, it might be too late. Still, Pierce is talented enough to keep Boston in the playoff hunt all by himself.

Prediction: 41-41.

6. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Coach: Eddie Jordan (33-64).

Last season: 37-45, did not make playoffs.

Starters: C Brendan Haywood, F Kwame Brown, F Jerry Stackhouse (when healthy), G Larry Hughes, G Gilbert Arenas.

Key subs: F Jarvis Hayes-r, F Jared Jeffries, G Juan Dixon, F Christian Laettner, G Chris Whitney, C-F Etan Thomas.

New faces: Arenas, Hayes, Whitney, G Steve Blake-r.

Strengths: The Wizards will play with tons of energy and possess lots of athleticism under Jordan, already considered one of the league’s top strategists. Arenas may not be a true point guard, but he is a more-than-capable scorer who’s good enough at running the offense. Hayes has proven to be a smooth operator and should put up a fight for rookie of the year honors. Haywood, Brown, and Hughes have shown continued improvement. Believe it or not, Stackhouse is now this team‘s glue.

Weaknesses: Consistency in all areas is a problem -- especially off the bench. The Wizards are young and turnover-prone, and there will be plenty of maddening nights when Jordan will be the first man in America to wish for a return to New Jersey.

Outlook: Washington won’t be as competitive or win as many games as last season. There are just too many guys who are learning the pro game, and not enough quality passers. But while the immediate future isn’t all that bright, the Wizards have the talent to become a playoff regular in just a couple of seasons. Prediction: 28-54.

7. MIAMI HEAT

Coach: Pat Riley (1,110-569).

Last season: 25-57, did not make playoffs.

Starters: C Brian Grant, F Lamar Odom, F Caron Butler, G Eddie Jones, G Dwyane Wade-r.

Key subs: F Samaki Walker, F-G Rasual Butler, C Loren Woods, G Bimbo Coles, G Rafer Alston.

Strengths: Caron Butler is a second-year player who does a little bit of everything well, and Jones can still frustrate any swingman in the league while scoring 18 points a night himself. Odom has proven to be a complete player when provoked, and for a guy with such a bad rap, he’s always been willing to give up the ball. Wade is a high-flyer who has the maturity to contribute right away. Mostly, Riley still knows how to force his teams to hustle at all times.

Weaknesses: The bench is a mish-mash of inexperience and old legs, and none of the backups has ever produced consistently. Grant is playing out of position at center again -- although he is far and away the best low-post player on the roster. That ought to tell you something.

Outlook: Miami will play hard and pull off a few upsets, but is still at least a season and another good, young player away from the playoffs. Heat fans will enjoy watching these guys most nights, assuming they’re not bothered by the final result.

Prediction: 26-56.

Tomorrow: Central Division.

Monday, Oct. 27: Midwest Division.

Tuesday, Oct. 28: Pacific Division.