WHY IT WILL WORK
Reenergized by his escape from Toronto, Skip will happily dump the ball into Yao Ming when he's not dishing to his new running buddies Tracy McGrady and Stromile Swift in Van Gundy's promised up-tempo offense.
WHY IT WON'T WORK
Old dogs don't learn new tricks: Van Gundy is sure to revert to his trademark grind-it-out ways. Steve Francis bit his tongue for a season before being shipped to Orlando; don't bet on Alston's keeping mum that long.
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MARRIAGE
PHIL JACKSON, coach, and KOBE BRYANT, SG
Lakers
WHY IT WILL WORK
Kobe is older, Phil is wiser, and Shaq is elsewhere. A triangle offense focused exclusively on Kobe has the 27-year-old poised for his best season yet. New center Kwame Brown supplies a crucial low-post presence.
WHY IT WON'T WORK