NBA 2001 : The Break Down

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NBA 2001 : The Break Down

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Orlando thrived purely on heart and hustle last term but now that Coach of the Year Doc Rivers has two legitimate talents - Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady - can his team step up into the role of contenders ? So far the signs look immensely promising, the Magic going 7-1 in the pre-season with top Brit John Amaechi in fine form.
Miami Heat boast Eddie Jones and Brian Grant but the loss of Alonzo Mourning for the season with kidney problems is a huge blow. New York Knicks have an obvious lack of height while Philadelphia 76ers are still struggling to harness the talents of bad boy Allen Iverson.
Winners: Orlando
Central Division
From the weakest division, Indiana went all the way to the Finals last
season but the Pacers have gutted out their line-up and have a new, untried, coach in ex-Detroit legend Isiah Thomas. Gone is the experience of Mark Jackson and Rik Smits so Indiana must rely on youth.
Toronto Raptors, led by inimitable Vince Carter, should keep improving as will
Milwaukee Bucks who have retained their high-scoring nucleus. Detroit, Charlotte, Cleveland and Atlanta look set to languish in mediocrity and although Chicago's young team have talent, the era of Jordan et al is as far away as ever for the Bulls.
Winners: Indiana

Western Conference
Midwest Division
San Antonio made the biggest signing off the summer in retaining the services of Tim Duncan for a further three years. Sean Elliot is fully recovered from his kidney transplant while Derek Anderson lowers the average age in the Spurs' backcourt.
Utah Jazz continue to rely on veterans Karl Malone and John Stockton but their supporting cast is weak. Dallas Mavericks could rapidly move up the standings while scandal-hit Minnesota Timbewolves might drop down. Houston and Denver remain in re-building mode and although Vancouver have gotten better, a first-ever trip to the play-offs for the Grizzlies is very unlikely.
Winners: San Antonio

Pacific Division
The toughest division by far. As defending champions, the Los Angeles Lakers are the team to beat and with Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant in harness, together with new arrival Horace Grant, they will remain in contention.
Ambitious Portland have brought in Shawn Kemp to counter-act Shaq but the former All-Star is several seasons removed from his best form. The Blazers have also lost retiring German Detlef Schrempf.
Seattle acquired Patrick Ewing from the Knicks while Phoenix have Greek
centre Iakovos Tsakalidis plus former Varese star Daniel Santiago. Both sides should improve.
And while Golden State and the LA Clippers will again flounder, the Clips introduce 18 year old Darius Miles, straight out of high school. Remember his name.
Winners: LA Lakers

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