NBA PREVIEW | The teams

EASTERN CONFERENCECENTRAL DIVISIONCleveland Cavaliers
Last season: 42-40. Coach: Mike Brown. Added: G Larry Hughes, F Donyell Marshall, G Damon Jones, F Alan Henderson, C Martynas Andriuskevicius. Lost: C DeSagana Diop, G Jeff McInnis. Starting five: G Eric Snow, G Hughes, F LeBron James, F Drew Gooden, C Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Outlook: James finally has some help with the addition of Hughes and Jones, and they should be enough to get the Cavs back into the playoffs.
Detroit Pistons
Last season: 54-28. Coach: Flip Saunders. Added: G Alex Acker, C Dale Davis, G Maurice Evans, F Amir Johnson, F Jason Maxiell. Lost: None. Starting five: G Chauncey Billups, G Richard Hamilton, F Tayshaun Prince, F Rasheed Wallace, C Ben Wallace. Outlook: Saunders won't change much on a team that was 12 minutes away from repeating as NBA champion.
Indiana Pacers
Last season: 44-38. Coach: Rick Carlisle. Added: F Danny Granger, G Sarunas Jasikevicius. Lost: F Dale Davis, C John Edwards, F James Jones, G Reggie Miller. Starting five: G Jamaal Tinsley, G Stephen Jackson, F Ron Artest, F Jermaine O'Neal, C Jeff Foster. Outlook: The Pacers will have a new look on the court this season, and it has nothing to do with new players.
Chicago Bulls
Last season: 47-35. Coach: Scott Skiles. Added: F Malik Allen, G Eddie Basden, G Jermaine Jackson, F Darius Songaila, F Michael Sweetney, F Tim Thomas. Lost: F Eddy Curry, C Antonio Davis. Starting five: G Kirk Hinrich, G Chris Duhon, F Luol Deng, F Sweetney, C Tyson Chandler. Outlook: Expectations are high for Chicago, but the Bulls will be hard pressed to improve much on last season.
Milwaukee Bucks
Last season: 30-52. Coach: Terry Stotts. Added: G Charlie Bell, C Andrew Bogut, F Brandon Hunter, F Ersan Ilyasova, C Ervin Johnson, F Bobby Simmons, C Jamaal Magloire. Lost: F Zaza Pachulia, C Calvin Booth, F Desmond Mason. Starting five: G Michael Redd, G T.J. Ford, F Simmons, F Joe Smith, C Bogut. Outlook: With Bogut and the return of Ford from a spinal cord injury there are big expectations in Milwaukee.
ATLANTIC DIVISIONNew Jersey Nets
Last season: 42-40. Coach: Lawrence Frank. Added: G Marc Jackson, F Linton Johnson, G Jeff McInnis, G Lamond Murray, F Scott Padgett, G Antoine Wright. Lost: G Travis Best, F Rodney Buford, G Ron Mercer, F Brian Scalabrine, F Jabari Smith, G Billy Thomas. Starting five: G Jason Kidd, G Vince Carter, F Richard Jefferson, F Jason Collins, C Nenad Krstic. Outlook: With Kidd, Carter and Jefferson all healthy, New Jersey will be the team to beat in the Atlantic Division. The Nets will use an up-tempo offense, showcasing their ability to run.
Philadelphia 76ers
Last season: 43-39. Coach: Maurice Cheeks. Added: F Lee Nailon, F Deng Gai, F Steven Hunter, F Shavlik Randolph, G Louis Williams. Lost: C Marc Jackson, G Aaron McKie. Starting five: G Allen Iverson, G Andre Iguodala, F Kyle Korver, F Chris Webber, C Samuel Dalembert. Outlook: Cheeks just might be the coach of the year if he truly can get Webber and Iverson to coexist and share the ball.
New York Knicks
Last season: 33-49. Coach: Larry Brown. Added: F Eddy Curry, C Antonio Davis, C Channing Frye, C Jerome James, F David Lee, G Quentin Richardson, G Nate Robinson. Lost: G Jermaine Jackson, F Michael Sweetney, C Kurt Thomas, F Tim Thomas, F Jerome Williams, G Allan Houston. Starting five: G Stephon Marbury, G Jamal Crawford, F Quentin Richardson, F Malik Rose, C Curry. Outlook: Brown returns home to New York and brings instant credibility to the Knicks.
Boston Celtics
Last season: 45-37. Coach: Doc Rivers. Added: G Will Bynum, G Dan Dickau, F Ryan Gomes, F Gerald Green, G Orien Greene, F Brian Scalabrine, F Qyntel Woods. Lost: G Gary Payton, F Antoine Walker. Starting five: G Dickau, G Paul Pierce, F Scalabrine, F Al Jefferson, C Raef Lafrentz. Outlook: Can Pierce stay happy in Boston with a young core of players around him?
Toronto Raptors
Last season: 33-49. Coach: Sam Mitchell, second season. Added: G Jose Calderon, F Joey Graham, G Mike James, F Charlie Villanueva. Lost: G Rafer Alston, F Donyell Marshall, G Lamond Murray, G Milt Palacio. Starting five: G Mike James, G Morris Peterson, F Jalen Rose, F Chris Bosh, C Loren Woods. Outlook: The Raptors won't have problems putting points on the board with Rose, Bosh and Peterson, but stopping opponents and rebounding still will be a problem.
SOUTHEAST DIVISIONMiami Heat
Last season: 59-23. Coach: Stan Van Gundy. Added: G Gary Payton, F Antoine Walker, G Jason Williams, G James Posey, C Earl Barron, F Wayne Simien. Lost: G Eddie Jones, G Keyon Dooling, G Damon Jones, G Rasual Butler. Starting five: G Williams, G Dwyane Wade, F James Posey, F Udonis Haslem, C Shaquille O'Neal. Outlook: The most talented team in the East, with the additions of Payton, Walker and Williams to complement Shaq and Wade.
Orlando Magic
Last season: 36-46. Coach: Brian Hill. Added: G Keyon Dooling, F Bo Outlaw, C Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje, G Travis Diener. Lost: G Doug Christie, F Brandon Hunter. Starting five: G Steve Francis, G DeShawn Stevenson, F Grant Hill, F Dwight Howard, C Kelvin Cato. Outlook: Coach Hill returns to the team that he won 50 games with three times from 1993-96. Has a good nucleus with Francis, Grant Hill and all-rookie first teamer Howard, but not much else to work with.
Washington Wizards
Last season: 45-37. Coach: Eddie Jordan. Added: G Antonio Daniels, F Caron Butler, G Chucky Atkins, C Calvin Booth, F Andray Blatche. Lost: G Larry Hughes, F Kwame Brown, G Juan Dixon, G Steve Blake, G Anthony Peeler, G Laron Profit. Starting five: G Antonio Daniels, G Gilbert Arenas, F Butler, F Antawn Jamison, C Brendan Haywood. Outlook: Have many talented guards to compliment Arenas, but will need Butler to keep maturing as a player to take away some of the loss of Hughes and help Wizards return to playoffs.
Charlotte Bobcats
Last season: 18-64. Coach: Bernie Bickerstaff. Added: F Sean May, G Raymond Felton, C Jake Voskuhl. Lost: G Jason Hart, F Malik Allen. Starting five: G Felton, G Kareem Rush, F Gerald Wallace, F Emeka Okafor, C Primoz Brezec. Outlook: They probably won't make the playoffs, but the Bobcats are headed in the right direction.
Atlanta Hawks
Last season: 13-69. Coach: Mike Woodson. Added: G Joe Johnson, G Salim Stoudamire, F Marvin Williams, C John Edwards, C Zaza Pachulia, F Esteban Batista. Lost: G Boris Diaw, C Predrag Drobnjak, C Kevin Willis, F Tom Gugliotta, F Michael Stewart. Starting five: G Johnson, G Josh Childress, F Josh Smith, F Al Harrington, C Pachulia. Outlook: No one knows how much the unexpected preseason death of backup center Jason Collier will weigh on the Hawks.
WESTERN CONFERENCENORTHWEST DIVISIONDenver Nuggets
Last season: 49-33. Coach: George Karl. Added: F Axel Hervelle, G Julius Hodge, F Linas Kleiz, F Ricky Sanchez, C Luke Schenscher, G Earl Watson. Lost: G Luis Flores. Starting five: G Andre Miller, G Voshon Lenard, F Carmelo Anthony, F Kenyon Martin, C Marcus Camby. Outlook: Nuggets went 32-8 with Karl at the helm and didn't make any huge changes in the offseason.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Last season: 44-38. Coach: Dwane Casey. Added: G Richie Frahm, G Marko Jaric, C Dwayne Jones, G Rashad McCants, F Nikoloz Tskitishvili, G Bracey Wright. Lost: G Sam Cassell, G Fred Hoiberg, C Ervin Johnson. Starting five: G Jaric, G Trenton Hassell, F Wally Szczerbiak, F Kevin Garnett, C Michael Olowokandi. Outlook: A new young backcourt led by Jaric and McCants should help Minnesota develop more of a running game, and coach Casey is going to have them playing better defense.
Seattle SuperSonics
Last season: 52-30. Coach: Bob Weiss. Added: G Rick Brunson, C Mikki Moore, C Johan Petro. Lost: G Antonio Daniels, C Jerome James. Starting five: G Luke Ridnour, G Ray Allen, F Rashard Lewis, F Reggie Evans, C Vitaly Potapenko. Outlook: Surprising winner of division last season, the Sonics may be hard pressed to repeat their success.
Utah Jazz
Last season: 26-56. Coach: Jerry Sloan. Added: G Devin Brown, G C.J. Miles, C Greg Ostertag, G Milt Palacio, C Robert Whaley, G Deron Williams. Lost: G Raja Bell, C Curtis Borchardt, G Raul Lopez, G Kirk Snyder. Starting five: G Williams, G Gordan Giricek, F Andrei Kirilenko, F Carlos Boozer, C Mehmet Okur. Outlook: Sloan has made sure that Williams can run the pick-and-roll.
Portland Trail Blazers
Last season: 27-55. Coach: Nate McMillan. Added: G Steve Blake, G Juan Dixon, G Jarrett Jack, G Martell Webster. Lost: F Shareef Abdur-Rahim, G Derek Anderson, G Richie Frahm, G Damon Stoudamire, G Nick Van Exel. Starting five: G Sebastian Telfair, G Juan Dixon, F Darius Miles, F Zach Randolph, C Joel Przybilla. Outlook: McMillan was brought in to instill order and discipline.
SOUTHWEST DIVISIONSan Antonio Spurs
Last season: 59-23. Coach: Gregg Popovich. Added: G Michael Finley, C Fabricio Oberto, G Nick Van Exel. Lost: G Devin Brown, F Linton Johnson. Starting five: G Tony Parker, G Manu Ginobili, F Bruce Bowen, F Tim Duncan, C Nazr Mohammad. Outlook: It's tough to improve upon an NBA title, with all the key players returning to defend it, but the Spurs did just that with the addition of Finley.
Houston Rockets
Last season: 51-31. Coach: Jeff Van Gundy. Added: G Rafer Alston, G Derek Anderson, F Lonny Baxter, F Stromile Swift, G Luther Head. Lost: G Mike James, C Scott Padgett, F Clarence Weatherspoon. Starting five: G Alston, G Anderson, F Tracy McGrady, F Swift, C Yao Ming. Outlook: Adding Swift will give Van Gundy another shot blocker to go along with Yao, making the Rockets difficult to score on.
Dallas Mavericks
Last season: 58-24. Coach: Avery Johnson. Added: G Doug Christie, F Josh Powell, C DeSagana Diop, G Rawle Marshall. Lost: G Michael Finley, F Alan Henderson. Starting five: G Jason Terry, G Christie, F Josh Howard, F Dirk Nowitzki, C Erick Dampier. Outlook: Mavericks core has dwindled over the last two years with the loss of Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker and now Michael Finley.
Memphis Grizzlies
Last season: 45-37. Coach: Mike Fratello. Added: G Eddie Jones, G Bobby Jackson, F Hakim Warrick F Lawrence Roberts, G Damon Stoudamire. Lost: F Stromile Swift, G Earl Watson, G Bonzi Wells, G James Posey, G Jason Williams. Starting five: G Stoudamire, G Mike Miller, F Jones, F Pau Gasol, C Lorenzen Wright. Outlook: The Grizzlies shipped away three of the supposed malcontents in Wells, Posey and Williams and replaced them with three talented veteran players in Jones, Jackson and Stoudamire.
New Orleans Hornets
Last season: 18-64. Coach: Byron Scott. Added: G Arvydas Macijauskas, G Chris Paul, F Rasual Butler, F Brandon Bass, G Kirk Snyder, F Desmond Mason. Lost: F Lee Nailon, C Jamaal Magloire. Starting five: G Paul, G J.R. Smith, F Butler, F Chris Andersen, C P.J. Brown. Outlook: New Orleans has a very talented young backcourt in rookie Paul and second-year player Smith, but coming in anywhere above the bottom will be tough in this division.
PACIFIC DIVISIONSacramento Kings
Last season: 50-32. Coach: Rich Adelman. Added: F Shareef Abdur-Rahim, G Francisco Garcia, G Jason Hart, F Jamal Sampson, G Bonzi Wells. Lost: G Maurice Evans, G Eddie House, G Bobby Jackson, G Cuttino Mobley, C Greg Ostertag, F Darius Songaila. Starting five: G Mike Bibby, G Wells, F Peja Stojakovic, F Abdur-Rahim, C Brad Miller. Outlook: Coming off a "down" year with only 50 wins, the Kings had a busy offseason, adding Abdur-Rahim and Wells to an already potent lineup featuring Bibby, Stojakovic and Miller.
Phoenix Suns
Last season: 62-20. Coach: Mike D'Antoni. Added: G Raja Bell, G Boris Diaw, C Brian Grant, G Eddie House, F James Jones, F Kurt Thomas, G Dijon Thompson. Lost: F Steven Hunter, G Joe Johnson, F Walter McCarty, F Bo Outlaw, G Quentin Richardson, C Jake Voskuhl. Starting five: G Steve Nash, G Bell, F Jones, F Shawn Marion, C Thomas. Outlook: Even if the Suns hadn't lost Amare Stoudamire for four months after having knee surgery they'd be hard pressed to be better than last year.
Los Angeles Lakers
Last season: 34-48. Coach: Phil Jackson. Added: F Kwame Brown, C Andrew Bynum, G Aaron McKie, G Smush Parker, G Laron Profit, F Ronny Turiaf, G Von Wafer. Lost: G Chucky Atkins, F Caron Butler, F Brian Grant. Starting five: G Lamar Odom, G Kobe Bryant, F Luke Walton, F Brown, C Chris Mihm. Outlook: Jackson returned to the bench after the Lakers missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.
Golden State Warriors
Last season: 34-48. Coach: Mike Montgomery. Added: F Ike Diogu, G Monta Ellis, C Mamadou N'diaye, F Chris Taft. Lost: F Nikoloz Tskitishvili, F Rodney White. Starting five: G Baron Davis, G Jason Richardson, F Mike Dunleavy, F Troy Murphy, C Adonal Foyle. Outlook: The Warriors went 18-10 after Baron Davis' arrival. Golden State is poised to reach the playoffs this season for the first time since 1994.
Los Angeles Clippers
Last season: 37-45. Coach: Mike Dunleavy. Added: G Sam Cassell, G Daniel Ewing, F Yaroslav Korolev, F Walter McCarty, G Cuttino Mobley, C Jared Reiner, F James Singleton, G Yuta Tabuse, G Frank Williams. Lost: G Rick Brunson, G Lionel Chalmers, G Marko Jaric, G Kerry Kittles, C Mikki Moore, C Mamadou N'diaye, F Bobby Simmons. Starting five: G Cassell, G Mobley, F Corey Maggette, F Elton Brand, C Chris Kaman. Outlook: Clippers have enough talent to make the playoffs with the additions of Cassell and Mobley.
Associated Press