Scouting Reports

New York still lacks scoring—and a lot of other things—from the small-forward position. Pitino is even trying guard Gerald Wilkins at that spot, though Wilkins is inconsistent. Further, Knick opponents are surely going to erect roadblocks designed to stop point guard Mark Jackson. Rarely has a player so exceeded everyone's expectations as Jackson, last season's Rookie of the Year, did.

But maybe Jackson is that good. And maybe Ewing is ready to break through for the kind of monster season that his monster salary (at least $3 million this year) suggests he should have. Then, and only then, will New York become the toast of Broadway.

7 MILWAUKEE
Have the Bucks been written off too quickly?

Yes. Coach Del Harris says he is committed to a "changeable lineup," at least in the early going, but that's another way of saying he's not sure whom to put on the floor. However, don't forget that this team has some pretty good players—Sidney Moncrief, Jack Sikma, Paul Pressey, Terry Cummings, Ricky Pierce. And if they are no longer young Bucks, they are physical and versatile. Milwaukee also has Randy Breuer, a question mark, at center, but he played well last season until he broke two ribs in January.

8 PHILADELPHIA
Will this franchise stop its slide?

Yes, but only to a degree. After failing to make the playoffs last season, for the first time since 1975, the 76ers should rebound and claim the conference's last playoff spot. That's not very exciting for a major talent like Charles Barkley, but, Barkley excepted, the 76ers aren't a very exciting team.

Philly management, reeling from a series of bad moves it has made over the last few seasons, did something positive by landing Hersey Hawkins, a classic off-guard, in the draft. In Hawkins, who has been slowed by a knee injury suffered in the Olympics, the Sixers have at last found a player who can score and penetrate.

Coach Jim Lynam insists that, despite reports to the contrary, no rift exists between him and Barkley. But no one in management can be sure when Barkley is mad. At any rate, Lynam knows he has to ride Barkley and hope Barkley gets help from slimmed-down center Mike Gminski, talented but injury-prone forward Cliff Robinson, Hawkins and reliable point guard Maurice Cheeks, who has a groin pull.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 SEATTLE
Why can this team challenge for a championship?