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The 2004-05 NBA Southeast division preview, with teams listed in predicted order of regular season finish.

1. MIAMI HEAT

Coach: Stan Van Gundy (second year, 42-40).

Last Season: 42-40, lost to Indiana in Eastern Conference semifinals.

Projected Starters: G Dwyane Wade, G Eddie Jones, F Rasual Butler, F Udonis Haslem, C Shaquille O‘Neal.

Top Reserves: F Christian Laettner, G Damon Jones, F Malik Allen, F/C Michael Doleac, G/F Wesley Person, G Keyon Dooling.

New Faces: O’Neal, Laettner, Person, Dooling, F Dorell Wright-r, F Matt Freije-r.

Strengths: With the addition of O‘Neal, the Heat now possesses the best inside game in the NBA. Dwayne Wade isn‘t as talented a sidekick for Shaq as Kobe Bryant, but Wade is close -- and more of a team player. Shaq will help turn him into one of the top five guards in the game. Jones is the consummate veteran, a solid offensive player who will draw the toughest defensive assignments. Haslem is an underrated rebounded.

Weaknesses: Miami isn‘t particularly deep, with no backups for O‘Neal or Wade in sight. Perimeter shooting could be a problem -- which is too bad, because O‘Neal will create tons of open looks.

Outlook: Without Shaq, the Heaters would have won this division by at least five games. With him, they won’t even be challenged. O’Neal is healthy, motivated, and in better shape than at any time during the previous six seasons. That’s really bad news for opponents, because even when Shaq is hurting, he’s still better than everyone else. The Heaters will need their role players to step up and help out their two All-Stars. If that happens, only Detroit and Indiana have any hope of stopping them.

Prediction: 62-20.

2. ORLANDO MAGIC

Coach: Johnny Davis (20-51 in one year with Magic, 42-111 in two years overall).

Last Season: 21-61, did not make playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Steve Francis, G Cuttino Mobley, F Grant Hill, F Dwight Howard-r, C Kelvin Cato.

Top Reserves: G/F Hedo Turkoglu, F-C Tony Battie, G Jameer Nelson-r, F Pat Garrity, G DeShawn Stevenson, G/F Keith Bogans.

New Faces: Francis, Mobley, Howard, Cato, Turkoglu, Battie, Nelson, F Stacey Augmon, F Michael Bradley.

Strengths: Well, they aren’t the same guys as last season -- and that’s a good start. Orlando no longer will be delighted by the electrifying ways of Tracy McGrady (traded to Houston), but Magic fans should appreciate how balanced this team is with Francis, Mobley, Turkoglu, and even No. 1 overall draft pick Howard. If Hill returns to form, the playoffs aren’t out of reach.

Weaknesses: There are still too many ripe players at key positions -- namely, Howard and backup point guard Nelson. And until Howard develops, the Magic will be a team that lacks rebounding.

Outlook: Only two players from last year’s opening night roster return, so it will take some time for the Magic to mesh. But for all the criticism general manager John Weisbrod has taken from McGrady, he’s done an outstanding job of overhauling the lineup with athleticism, youth, outside shooting, and veteran leadership. There’s too much newness to expect great things this season -- but Orland fans should be enthused about the future.

Prediction: 41-41.

3. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Coach: Eddie Jordan (25-57 in one year with Wizards, 58-121 in three years overall).

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

Projected Starters: G Gilbert Arenas, G Larry Hughes, F Antawn Jamison, F Kwame Brown, C Brendan Haywood.

Top Reserves: F Jarvis Hayes, C/F Etan Thomas, G Steve Blake, F Jared Jeffries, G Juan Dixon, G Anthony Peeler.

New Faces: Jamison, Peeler, C Peter John Ramos-r, F/C Samaki Walker, F Michael Ruffin.

Strengths: Jamison’s high-arching floaters in the lane and quick-release make him an All-Star caliber scorer. As an added bonus, his team-first attitude will remind Wizards fans of the way professional athletes conducted themselves in the good ol’ days. Arenas and Hughes are capable of putting up 30-plus points on any given night, and the nimble Hayes is one of the league’s top young reserves.

Weaknesses: Brown and Haywood are horribly inconsistent, and both have had trouble staying motivated and playing hard. Jamison isn’t the type to get in his teammates’ faces, so it’s up to the big men to inspire themselves.

Outlook: The Wizards will be better, and if they can stay healthy, one the league’s most athletic and exciting teams. Jordan is a sharp basketball mind and the right man to lead this team. But it’s up to the younger players -- particularly Brown and Haywood -- to start living up to expectations.

Prediction: 39-43.

4. ATLANTA HAWKS

Coach: Mike Woodson (first year).

Last Season: 28-54, did not make playoffs.

Projected Starters: G Kenny Anderson, G Boris Diaw, F Antoine Walker, F Al Harrington, C Jason Collier.

Top Reserves: G Tony Delk, G Jon Barry, F Chris Crawford, G/F Josh Childress-r, F/C Predrag Drobnjak, F Josh Smith-r.

New Faces: Anderson, Walker, Harrington, Delk, Barry, Childress, Drobnjak, Smith.

Strengths: Harrington does a little of everything well, and seems to be on his way to becoming the league’s next preps-to-pros All-Star. He and Walker give the Hawks an impressive one-two punch at the forward position, as Walker can still handle the ball, pass, and knock down lots of perimeter shots.

Weaknesses: With the exception of Diaw, nobody on this team is even an average defender -- and it would be a real shocker if the Hawks failed to lead the league in points allowed. Also, the lack of a low-post presence makes you wonder if Atlanta’s offense will merely consist of five guys standing around the three-point line, frantically waving their arms.

Outlook: For the third time in as many years, the Hawks have gutted the roster and conceded they won’t challenge for a playoff spot. The difference is, new ownership is firmly in place and GM Billy Knight has officially been handed the keys to the franchise. So if there is one positive, it’s that the Hawks finally have some front office stability. But while Woodson was a good hire, the product is bound the be worse until things get settled.

Prediction: 24-58.

5. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

Coach: Bernie Bicker staff (first year with Bobcats, 338-348 in 11 years overall).

Projected Starters: G Jason Hart, G Tamar Slay, F Gerald Wallace, F Emeka Okafor-r, C Primoz Brezec.

Top Reserves: C/F Melvin Ely, G/F Jason Kapono, G Brevin Knight, C Jahidi White, G Eddie House, G Steve Smith, F Brandon Hunter.

New Faces: Everyone.

Strengths: Wallace is athletic, Slay and Kapono can shoot, and Okafor has a great work ethic and is the leading candidate to become Rookie of the Year. Anything beyond that is really reaching.

Weaknesses: Got a few days to kill? Seriously, with the exception of Okafor, everyone on the roster was a benchwarmer for another team. There’s a reason these guys are here.

Outlook: Okafor and Wallace may be the only two people on the roster who will do more than just wear a uniform so Charlotte can have a team. Even for an expansion club, the Bobcats are very bad. That’s not an indictment, as building a competitor in pro basketball takes a long time. The good news is, the Bobcats will be able to stockpile lottery picks for years to come.

Prediction: 16-66.