WIDE OPEN RACES OUT WEST : SEATTLE IS FAVORED, BUT BIG MOVES HAVE ADDED INTRIGUE.Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer There are at least five teams waiting in line for the opportunity to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association. The team winning the Eastern Conference Finals earns one of the two berths in the championship round, with the other going to the team that wins the Western Conference Finals. this season. It was going to be easy for Seattle to return, but with the trade of Charles Barkley This article is about the basketball player. For the politican, see Charles E. Barkley Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player. from Phoenix to Houston and the Lakers picking up Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (pronounced "shak-KEEL") (born March 6, 1972 in Newark, New Jersey), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is an American professional basketball player, generally regarded as one of the most dominant in the National Basketball Association (NBA). , the Western Conference will become a daily battle for survival. And then the winner gets the privilege of probably facing the Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. They play in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1966, and has won six NBA Championships since. . The unenviable position of favorite goes to the Sonics. They are experienced. They picked up a good defensive center from free agency and have the best point guard/power forward tandem in the conference. Sorry Stockton and Malone. George Karl George Matthew Karl (born May 12, 1951 in Penn Hills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) player and current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. finally helped the Sonics reach their potential with the championship appearance last season but fully realizes his quest to bring Seattle its first NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= title in 19 years will be much more difficult this season. Remember, the Sonics barely eeked past Utah in the conference finals with Felton Spencer Felton LaFrance Spencer (born January 15 1968 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a retired American basketball player at the center position in the National Basketball Association. at center. And O'Neal now is in their division. ``There are five great teams in the West,'' Karl said. ``The Lakers, Utah, San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. , Houston and ourselves. I think we're going to be a better basketball team.'' The trendy team to pick in the conference is the Lakers. With a franchise center, an 18-year-old phenom and new attitudes from some malcontents, this team appears ready to make its first serious run at the NBA title since 1991. The question for the Lakers is whether all those potential superstars can reach their potential - together. This could be the last go around for Utah. Coach Jerry Sloan Gerald Eugene Sloan better known as Jerry Sloan, (born March 28, 1942 in McLeansboro, Illinois), is an American National Basketball Association coach. He is one of professional basketball's most successful coaches, with a career win-loss record of 1035-689 (as of April 18, said he hasn't seen a decline in the talent of John Stockton This article is about the professional basketball player. For the U.S. Senator from New Jersey, see John P. Stockton. John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career (1984–2003) as a and Karl Malone And then there are the Spurs. This team must get tougher in order to compete. Will Dominique Wilkins emerge as a team player? The regular season isn't a problem. The big test will be in May. The Rockets don't have much time, but do have all the experience and talent to win with Clyde Drexler Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a former National Basketball Association shooting guard. A ten-time All-Star and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he was named one of basketball's fifty greatest players by the NBA. , Hakeem Olajuwon Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born Akeem Abdul Olajuwon on January 21, 1963) is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). and Barkley. But they did sacrifice four key players the process. ``We didn't need any more teams to be in contention for the title,'' Spurs forward Sean Elliott Sean Michael Elliott (born February 2, 1968 in Tucson, Arizona) is a retired American National Basketball Association player. Elliott played high school basketball at Cholla High School in Tucson, Arizona and played college basketball at the University of Arizona, under the said. ``But now we (have more).'' Meanwhile, the other nine teams will jockey for three playoff spots. What about Dallas? Can two youngsters lead Minnesota to prominence? And will the infusion of four new players and the departure of Barkley mean success in what's likely Cotton Fitzsimmons' last season in Phoenix? A team-by-team look at the conference in predicted order of finish: 1. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics) are an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Their mascot's name is Squatch. Coach: George Karl (sixth season) Last year: 64-18, first in Pacific. Key newcomers: Jim McIlvaine James Michael McIlvaine (born July 30, 1972 in Racine, Wisconsin) is a former professional basketball player who spent seven seasons in the National Basketball Association with the Washington Bullets, Seattle SuperSonics and New Jersey Nets. , Greg Graham Gregory (Greg) Lawrence Graham (born November 26 1970, in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1st round (17th overall) of the 1993 NBA Draft. . Outlook: This season has not started smoothly with the short training-camp hold out of franchise forward Shawn Kemp Shawn T. Kemp (born November 26, 1969, in Elkhart, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He is widely regarded as one of the best slam dunkers of all-time. . But defensively, the Sonics are improved with the addition of McIlvaine, who gives the team a consistent shot blocker. But will his $35 million contract be a source of dissension for a team with a history of internal troubles? With Gary Payton
The Dallas Mavericks chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft, one slot after the Chicago , Hersey Hawkins Hersey R. Hawkins, Jr. (born September 29, 1966, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player. After starring at Westinghouse High School in Chicago, the 6' 3" shooting guard attended Bradley University, where he averaged an NCAA Division I-high 36. and Detlef Schrempf Detlef Schrempf (born January 21 1963, in Leverkusen, Germany) is a former NBA basketball player. High school and college career Schrempf moved to the U.S. his junior year of high school, attending Centralia High in Washington state for two years, leading the Tigers to , the Sonics could be very good. A year of experience in the Finals should teach this club something about big-time basketball. But in the past, Karl's teams have not played well in the role of favorite. 2. LOS ANGELES LAKERS Coach: Del Harris (fourth season) Last year: 53-29, second in Pacific. Key newcomers: Shaquille O'Neal, Byron Scott, Jerome Kersey, Rumeal Robinson, Kobe Bryant. Outlook: There are no more excuses. Magic is gone. Vlade is gone. This club has been injected with the youth and talent of the Showtime Era with a franchise center in O'Neal. Now the only thing Harris has to do is mold these guys, most of whom have never been to the conference finals, into a championship caliber team. The Lakers showed they wanted to win by also picking up veterans Scott, Kersey kersey coarse, narrow cloth used for leg bandages in horses. and Robinson, who were all willing to take the NBA minimum salary to ride on O'Neal's diesel. It will probably take 25-30 games for this team to mesh, but with half the team being under 27, they've got some time. But the patience won't last long. The L.A. fans want another championship. There are no scrubs on this squad. From one to 12, this is a talented team. The 18-year-old Bryant could be an All-Star before he's allowed into a nightclub. 3. SAN ANTONIO SPURS The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and are the current NBA Champions after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2007 NBA Finals. Coach: Bob Hill (third season) Last year: 59-23, first in Midwest. Key newcomers: Dominique Wilkins, Vernon Maxwell. Outlook: A big risk was signing Wilkins and Maxwell, both with All-Star talent but not necessarily consummate team players in the past. Hill's future as coach is riding on these two guys cooperating with the team system. Dennis Rodman couldn't and he ended up in Chicago even though the Spurs were desperate for rebounding. The usual cast is back, David Robinson, Elliott, point guard Avery Johnson, forward Charles Smith and guard Vinny Del Negro Vincent "Vinny" Joseph Del Negro (born August 9 1966 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is a retired American basketball player who is now the assistant general manager of the National Basketball Association's Phoenix Suns. . But another quick playoff exit, and this team could be broken up. Robinson must get tougher in the playoffs. His nice-guy image is great for NBA PR commercials, but under the basket, his Navy background doesn't mean much. The key to this club could be Johnson, and whether he can elevate himself to a legitimate playoff point guard. 4. HOUSTON ROCKETS Coach: Rudy Tomjanovich (sixth season) Last year: 48-34, third in Midwest. Key newcomers: Charles Barkley, Brent Price, Kevin Willis. Outlook: The clock is ticking. Olajuwon is 33, Barkley is 33 and Drexler is 34. But Barkley's presence will give the Rockets the fire it lacked last season. His desire and scoring will give the team more than Mark Bryant and Chucky Brown could combined. That's not the problem. Price is unproven and he will need to be steady at point guard, not spectacular. Remember, he's replacing the underwhelming un·der·whelm tr.v. un·der·whelmed, un·der·whelm·ing, un·der·whelms To fail to excite, stimulate, or impress: Kenny Smith. Inside, Olajuwon will need help from Willis, who was out of place at finesse-oriented Golden State and has plenty of elbows in his reserve tank. The question will be can these three future Hall of Famers spread the ball evenly in the clutch. Olajuwon and Drexler might be satisfied with two titles but Barkley - who doesn't want to be known as the greatest player never to win a title - will make them hungry again. 5. UTAH JAZZ Coach: Jerry Sloan (ninth season) Last year: 55-27, second in Midwest. Key newcomers: Brooks Thompson. Outlook: Are you kidding? The only player the Jazz decided to pickup was Thompson, a dependable backup to Stockton, but not nearly what this team needs to reach the top. This could be the last run for Stockton and Malone, who came extremely close to the NBA Finals last season. Those two will be enough to make the playoffs and win in the first round. But can Malone look at center Greg Ostertag with confidence? The scoring guard is Jeff Hornacek, not a young man himself. Third-year player Bryon Russell will need to provide scoring. The best move was getting rid of David Benoit, who's sitting out the year in New Jersey with a bad Achillies tendon. The Jazz, who will be sporting new uniforms, will need to conserve all its energy for a final go-around. 6. DALLAS MAVERICKS Coach: Jim Cleamons (first season) Last year: 26-56, tied for fifth in Midwest. Key newcomers: Eric Montross, Chris Gatling, Samaki Walker, Derek Harper. Outlook: Team Discontent did a lot to help itself in the offseason. Now only if Jason Kidd and Jimmy Jackson can spend 48 minutes together. This is potentially one of the most talented squads in the conference. Jamal Mashburn is still experiencing knee problems but he could be one of the best small forwards in the NBA. Then again, he took Kidd's side in the feud with Jackson. Will he get an entry pass from Jackson? Gatling and Montross give Dallas an inside presence while Harper will be a mentor to Kidd and enjoy being back home as well. Cleamons will have more patience than departed Dick Motta and his experience with the Bulls will help him deal with this team of spoiled brats. A good start can give Dallas the confidence to compete for the Midwest championship, but it'll be satisfied with its first playoff appearance in seven years. 7. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS Coach: P.J. Carlesimo (third season) Last year: 44-38, third in Pacific. Key newcomers: Kenny Anderson, Isaiah Rider, Rasheed Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal. Outlook: With Rod Strickland gone and Anderson in town determined to return to All-Star form, the Blazers could be a sleeper. Rider's already in trouble, having been suspended for the opener for missing the team bus in an exhibition game. But he's talented. Wallace was dealt from Washington after a decent rookie season and could develop more quickly 3,000 miles from his hometown of Philly. He'll stay out of trouble. Clifford Robinson has made trade demands but he remains the leader of this team. If Rider can be a secondary scorer and he and Wallace don't poison the 18-year-old O'Neal, Portland could be dangerous - in a positive way. Carlesimo's no-nonsense style should be effective with this club. If not, the Blazers, hungry to win after trips to the Finals 1990 and 1992, will get a new coach. 8. PHOENIX SUNS Coach: Cotton Fitzsimmons (second season). Last year: 41-41, fourth in Pacific. Key newcomers: Sam Cassell, Steve Nash, Robert Horry, Mark Bryant, Chucky Brown,. Outlook: With no pressure to win because of Barkley's departure, the Suns could prosper. By season's end, look for Cassell to displace oft-injured Kevin Johnson at point guard and team with all-rookie teamer Michael Finley, Horry and Wesley Person to form a talented guard base. Fitzsimmons says Person is ready for a breakout year. For the first time in several seasons, the people of Phoenix are not expecting a championship. They're still enthralled en·thrall tr.v. en·thralled, en·thrall·ing, en·thralls 1. To hold spellbound; captivate: The magic show enthralled the audience. 2. To enslave. with hockey's Phoenix Coyotes. The ex-Rockets proved it could win championships, and with Danny Manning and John Williams in the middle, the Suns won't be a bad ballclub, which makes the Pacific Division look all the more tough. This team could be very strong by the time the Danny Ainge era begins next season. 9. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES Coach: Flip Saunders (second season). Last year: 26-56, tied for fifth in Midwest. Key newcomers:Stephon Marbury, James Robinson, Cherokee Parks, Stojko Vrankovic. Outlook: There's excitement in Minneapolis. The arrival of 19-year-old Marbury to join 20-year-old buddy Kevin Garnett gives the Timberwolves a young, but potentially superb tandem. Dumping Rider was a blessing. This plagued franchise might actually be headed in the right direction. Saunders is a young coach who can relate better to today's players. With consistent Tom Gugliotta at small forward and Terry Porter to nurture Marbury, Minnesota will no longer be the laughingstock laugh·ing·stock n. An object of jokes or ridicule; a butt. Noun 1. laughingstock - a victim of ridicule or pranks goat, stooge, butt April fool - the butt of a prank played on April 1st of the NBA. A playoff run will depend on whether the club can depend on two guys who only recently were allowed into R-rated movies. 10. SACRAMENTO KINGS Coach: Garry St. Jean Garry St. Jean is a former professional basketball coach and executive. St. Jean has been the head coach of two NBA teams. From 1992 through 1997, he coached the Sacramento Kings. (third season). Last year: 39-43, fifth in Pacific. Key newcomers: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Billy Owens, Kevin Gamble. Outlook: The acquisition of Abdul-Rauf will help this club with scoring, and he and Tyus Edney are going to give teams problems with quickness. Then again, the Kings have a bunch of guys A Bunch of Guys (BOGs), or Group of Guys (GOGs) are terms used by counter-terrorism officials to refer to small, self-organizing terrorist cells.[1] BOGs typically have little to no contact with global terrorist groups like al Qaeda, so they independently plan and languishing lan·guish intr.v. lan·guished, lan·guish·ing, lan·guish·es 1. To be or become weak or feeble; lose strength or vigor. 2. in Sacramento with unfulfilled potential. Lionel Simmons hasn't been heard from in two seasons, Corliss Williamson had a useless rookie season, Owens has never reached his All-Star expectations and Duane Causwell wants out of Sacramento altogether. But there still is dream-teamer Mitch Richmond, Michael Smith, Brian Grant and Olden Polynice. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , the Kings have the physical strength of an Eastern Conference team but probably not enough to challenge the big boys. 11. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS The Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. The team plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Franchise history Philadelphia Warriors Coach: Rick Adelman (second season). Last year: 36-46, sixth in Pacific. Key newcomers: Todd Fuller, Mark Price. Outlook: If all those rumors about Price and Chris Mullin being in career-best shape are true, the Warriors could be heard from in their temporary home of San Jose. Price, as it turns out, was not acquired just to be traded again and will team with B.J. Armstrong for a strong point-guard tandem. Mullin is nearing the end of a good career but has only one or maybe two seasons left. Second-year forward Joe Smith and shooting guard Latrell Sprewell make Golden State a competitive club. But the team must rely on rookie Fuller in the middle to replace disgruntled dis·grun·tle tr.v. dis·grun·tled, dis·grun·tling, dis·grun·tles To make discontented. [dis- + gruntle, to grumble (from Middle English gruntelen; see Rony Seikaly. Golden State hasn't had a good center since Robert Parish, and he might still be better than anyone it have now. 12. DENVER NUGGETS Nuggets can refer to several branches of interest:
Coach: Bernie Bickerstaff (third season). Last year: 35-47, fourth in Midwest. Key newcomers: Ervin Johnson, Mark Jackson, Ricky Pierce, Sarunas Marciulionis. Outlook: Bickerstaff would have left had the organization not added some experience and dumped some attitudes. He's back and Denver appears to be a happier team, if not improved. The hunger and youth at forward is present with Antonio McDyess and a healthy LaPhonso Ellis. Jackson provides stability at point guard. But what about center? Johnson will attempt to take the place of to be substituted for. - Berkeley. See also: Place Dikembe Mutombo, Pierce will step in for Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, while Brian Stith and Dale Ellis remain two underrated players. This team could surprise and even edge out Dallas and Minnesota. Happiness means something. 13. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS Coach: Bill Fitch (third season). Last year: 29-53, seventh in Pacific. Key newcomers: Kevin Duckworth, Lorenzen Wright. Outlook: With Brian Williams, this team could make the playoffs. Without him, the Clippers could be lost at sea once again. Their success depends on several players having breakthrough seasons. Loy Vaught is a model of consistency at power forward and Rodney Rogers appears ready for a strong season. The middle is where the mess begins. Duckworth will team with Stanley Roberts. All Fitch wants is someone to rebound and get outlet passes to the guards. Neither center can play 25 minutes at the moment, let alone be a force. Can these Clippers forget the past and provide hope for the future? A lot depends on togetherness. 14. VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES The name Grizzlies may refer to:
Coach: Brian Winters (second season). Last year: 15-67, seventh in Midwest. Key newcomers: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, George Lynch, Anthony Peeler, Roy Rogers. Outlook: The way to warm up these Grizzlies is through offense. The addition of Peeler and rookie Abdur-Rahim should help. But this team is a year away from competiting for anything, except a 20-win season. With Bryant Reeves and Rogers, Vancouver won't get pushed around inside and it will be more competitive than last season. The Canadian fans are patient, so they will allow another building season, but it won't be long before Vancouver is seen as more than just a nice vacation spot. 196-97 NBA COUNTDOWN Today: Capsule previews of the Western Conference and a look at the top 50 players in NBA history. Page 6. Thursday: Staff writers Marc Stein and Gary Washburn preview the Lakers and Clippers. Friday: The Lakers made the biggest free-agent signing in the offseason, luring center Shaquille O'Neal away from the Orlando Magic for $120 million over seven years. With the big contract comes big expectations for the franchise, which seeks a return to the glory days of the Showtime era. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box PHOTO (1--color) SuperSonics forward Shawn Kemp and his teammates are going to be tough to beat again this season. David Sprague / Daily News (2) Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon, ousted by the Sonics last year, now have Charles Barkley on their side. Daily News File Photo Box: 1996-97 NBA COUNTDOWN (see text) |
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