At 40, a superstar begins a new adventure with an uncertain role
At first glance Gary Payton and Karl Malone look out of place. They developed their games for certain spots on the floor, and the triangle offense puts them in locations where they aren't...
By scoring 30.0 points per game last season, Kobe Bryant joined Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the only Lakers to average 30.
Record: 50-32 (5th in West)Points scored: 100.4 (4th in NBA)Points allowed: 98.0 (23rd)Coach: Phil Jackson (fifth season with Lakers)
Will adding two more big-time scorers make this a dream team?
First, they robbed Golden State of Antawn Jamison, then they not only unloaded Raef LaFrentz's bad contract to Boston but also got one of the NBA's most versatile players, Antoine Walker, in...
Despite selecting 14 players in the last six years, the Mavs were the only team to use none of its former draft picks during 2002-03.
Record: 60-22 (2nd in West)Points scored: 103.0 (1st in NBA)Points allowed: 95.2 (16th)Coach: Don Nelson (seventh season with Mavericks)
The brash new guard says he can take this team to the next level
This is the best talent they've ever had, but the season could still turn ugly if all the strong personalities clash on the court. That's where Kevin Garnett comes in: He is not only an elite...
Kevin Garnett's 68 double doubles were the most since 1992-93, when Hakeem Olajuwon had 71 for the Rockets.
Record: 51-31 (4th in West)Points scored: 98.1 (7th in NBA)Points allowed: 96.0 (18th)Coach: Flip Saunders (ninth season with Timberwolves)
For this rising young team, a journeyman banger will be pivotal
They've always been considered a soft team with finesse players, but they have an opportunity to change that image with their three young stars—Stephon Mar-bury, Amare Stoudemire and Shawn Marion,...
Besides Oscar Robertson, Stephon Marbury is the only player to have averaged more than 20 points and eight assists for his career.
Record: 44-38 (8th in West)Points scored: 95.5 (13th in NBA)Points allowed: 94.4 (14th)Coach: Frank Johnson (third season with Suns)
A tough little coach will put this club back on the playoff track
Rudy Tomjanovich allowed his young players a lot of freedom—the same approach that won him two titles in Houston—but they didn't accept responsibility for themselves. 10 Now they have to deal with...
Guards Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley combined to play 82.7 minutes per game last season, the most by any two teammates.
Record: 43-39 (9th in West)Points scored: 93.8 (21st in NBA)Points allowed: 92.3 (8th)Coach: Jeff Van Gundy (first season with Rockets)
There may be new management, but old habits are hard to break
For the first time in years they're not especially big, they're not as deep or athletic, and they're not a lock for the playoffs. Even if everything goes right, I don't see how they can finish...
Rasheed Wallace's technical fouls dropped from 27 in 2001-02 to 11 last season, while the Blazers' fell from an NBA-high 93 to 58.
Record: 50-32 (6th in West)Points scored: 95.2 (15th in NBA)Points allowed: 92.5 (11th)Coach: Maurice Cheeks (third season with Trail Blazers)
Memo to a deep but callow team aiming to move up: Be like Mike
This is an example of how you build a franchise. The Grizzlies have a lot of young assets who will not only help them move up in the standings this year but also can be traded if Jerry West...
Jason Williams led all starters with an assists-to-turnover ratio of 3.76 to 1, a year after he ranked 25th among starters (2.43 to 1).
Record: 28-54 (12th in West)Points scored: 97.5 (8th in NBA)Points allowed: 100.7 (27th)Coach: Hubie Brown (second season with Grizzlies)
The season hasn't started and already the backup plan is in effect
In Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Brent Barry and Vladimir Radmanovic they have probably the best group of four shooters on one team in the NBA. Each is capable of hitting five three-pointers in a...
With a league-leading 201 three-point field goals, Ray Allen became the first player to make 200 or more treys three times.
Record: 40-42 (10th in West)Points scored: 92.1 (23rd in NBA)Points allowed: 92.3 (6th)Coach: Nate McMillan (fourth season with Sonics)
One volunteer is eager—and able—to pick up the scoring slack
If you're trying to build with young guys like Mike Dunleavy. Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson, why would you expose them to a potentially negative influence like Nick Van Exel? Their decision to...
The Warriors became the first team to rank last in defense for four straight years since the Nuggets(1980-81 to '83-84).
Record: 38-44 (11th in West)Points scored: 102.4 (2nd in NBA)Points allowed: 103.6 (29th)Coach: Eric Musselman (second season with Warriors)
Can feeding hungry shooters cure a point guard's Clipperitis?
Last year they had the worst collection of talent I've seen on an NBA team. They were last in turnovers and in all the shooting categories, but they pulled off upsets in 17 games by playing hard...
The Nuggets' average of 84.2 points last year was the lowest ever for a full season. (Chicago scored 81.9 per game in lockout-shortened 1998-99.)
Record: 17-65 (14th in West)Points scored: 84.2 (29th in NBA)Points allowed: 92.4 (9th)Coach: Jeff Bzdelik (second season with Nuggets)
The money is (finally) flowing, but it won't pay dividends this year
I don't want to hear about a 'new era' because Donald Sterling gave big free-agent contracts to Elton Brand and Corey Maggette. They could have spent close to $20 million more and still stayed...
Elton Brand was the NBA's top offensive rebounder the past two seasons with an average of 5.0 in 2001-02 and 4.6 last season.
Record: 27-55 (13th in West)Points scored: 93.8 (20th in NBA)Points allowed: 97.9 (22nd)Coach: Mike Dunleavy (first season with Clippers)
With a legend gone, a talent-starved team has a new point to make
Forget everything about the Stockton and Malone era. If this team wins 20 games I'll be surprised. Its only hope is to take on the personality of coach Jerry Sloan and become the NBA's...
Karl Malone's 20.6 points per game last season marked the lowest team-high scoring average in the 29-year history of the Jazz.
Record: 47-35 (7th in West)Points scored: 94.7 (17th in NBA)Points allowed: 92.3 (7th)Coach: Jerry Sloan (16th season with Jazz)
A bullish center in a finesse offense? A change for the better
Alonzo Mourning gives them a scoring option in the half-court offense, which was their big weakness in the Finals whenever the Spurs shut down the running game. His health is going to be in...
Jason Kidd led the Nets with a career-high 18.7 points per game, the first time in nine NBA seasons that he was tops on his team in scoring.
Record: 49-33 (2nd in East)Points scored: 95.4 (14th in NBA)Points allowed: 90.1 (2nd)Coach: Byron Scott (fourth season with Nets)
A scrawny swingman must pick up where he left off in the playoffs
This is a true team with depth at every position—but when all is said and done, I don't see the Pistons getting past New Jersey in the East....
By winning all eight overtime games they played, the Pistons set a season record for most victories without a defeat in OT.
Record: 50-32 (1st in East)Points scored: 91.4 (26th in NBA)Points allowed: 87.7 (1st)Coach: Larry Brown (first season with Pistons)
Will a shotgun marriage of coach and players lead to playoff bliss?
Detroit jumped to the top rungs of the East the last two years, and Indiana will do the same, because of Rick Carlisle's little-known strength: He teaches spacing as well as any coach in the...
Jermaine O'Neal was the first Pacer to average 20 points and 10 rebounds since Clark Kellogg (20.1 ppg, 10.6 rpg) did it in 1982-83.
Record: 48-34 (3rd in East)Points scored: 96.8 (10th in NBA)Points allowed: 93.3 (13th)Coach: Rick Carlisle (first season with Pacers)
A star's newly chiseled body gives the team a healthy outlook
With his poor record from his days as the scapegoat for the Bulls, Tim Floyd (49-190) is going to have to earn the respect of the veterans, who loved playing for Paul Silas. A good start is going...
For the 13th time in 14 seasons the Hornets had a better record after the All-Star break (21-11) than they did before it (26-24).
Record: 47-35 (5th in East)Points scored: 93.9 (19th in NBA)Points allowed: 91.8 (5th)Coach: Tim Floyd (first season with Hornets)
Inside help came relatively cheap, but it could be worth a lot
Their big weakness has been interior defense, and it might get worse because they no longer have Darrell Armstrong and Jacque Vaughn pressuring the ball for 48 minutes. They need that pressure to...
Tracy McGrady won his first scoring title with a 32.1 average, the highest in the league since Michael Jordan's 32.6 in 1992-93.
Record: 42-40 (8th in East)Paints scored: 98.5 (6th in NBA)Points allowed: 98.4 (24th)Coach: Doc Rivers (fifth season with Magic)
The Answer has a new playmate. The question is, Will they share?
What can they expect to get out of 36-year-old Derrick Coleman at center? He's coming off a tremendous year, but I wonder how much that had to do with Larry Brown's positive way of dealing with...
Allen Iverson became the fourth player to win three steals titles—and the first to lead the league in steals for three straight years.
Record: 48-34 (4th in East)Points scored: 96.8 (9th in NBA)Points allowed: 94.5 (15th)Coach: Randy Ayers (first season with 76ers)
Rebounding will be a tall order for this height-challenged club
The story of Lamar Odom's brief career is that he's been a good offensive player when he hasn't been injured or suspended. I was shocked that he wanted to play for I Pat Riley because with the...
Miami was the only team whose winning percentage fell in each of the last six years—from .744 in 1996-97 to .305 last season.
Record: 25-57 (13th in East)Paints scored: 85.6 (28th in NBA)Points allowed: 90.6 (4th)Coach: Pat Riley (ninth season with Heat)
Will a hot finish from last year be the start of something big now?
"I'm sure Jalen Rose thinks this is his team, but he's a shoot-first guy who dominates the ball, and that isn't the best thing for the development of Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler....
Eddy Curry became the first player in six years to average more than 10 points despite playing less than 20 minutes per game.
Record: 30-52 (12th in East)Points scored: 95.0 (16th in NBA)Points allowed: 100.1 (26th)Coach: Bill Cartwright (third season with Bulls)
The rebuilding begins. To wit: A bargain free agent starts at point
They're no longer a playoff team after trading their two most experienced playmakers, Antoine Walker and Tony Delk, to the Mavs on Monday for Raef LaFrentz, Chris Mills, Jiri Welsch and a...
Paul Pierce's 604 free throws made not only led the NBA but also broke the Celtics' record of 574, set by Cedric Maxwell in 1978-79.
Record: 44-38 (6th in East)Points scored: 92.7 (22nd in NBA)Points allowed: 93.1 (12th)Coach: Jim O'Brien (fourth season with Celtics)
New coach Kevin O'Neill has many worries, but in Vince he trusts
Kevin O'Neill is a defensive specialist from the Riley-Van Gundy school. He'll keep the lane compact, demand that teammates provide help and put a stop to easy layups. bet they'll go from being...
The Raptors lost 519 man-games to injuries last season, the most since the inception of that stat in 1986-87. (Boston lost 480 in '96-97.)
Record: 24-58 (14th in East)Point scored: 90.9 (27th in NBA)Points allowed: 96.8 (19th)Coach: Kevin O'Neill (first season with Raptors)
October 27, 2003
Bronc RiderHow can you call Jake Plummer "one of the NFL's most efficient signal-callers" after only four games (Snake Eyes, Oct. 6)? In Arizona he was always trying to get out of holes he created...
October 27, 2003
LETTERS•Please e-mail us at letters@si.timeinc.com or fax us at 212-467-4049. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space.
On a team of explosive young talent, an old standby is the fuse
With such a young team, I'm surprised they didn't hire a recent NBA player for their coaching staff. Paul Silas is a terrific coach who won three championships as a player in the 1970s, but even...
Ricky Davis's jump in points per game—from 11.7 to 20.6—was the best among players with at least 40 games in each of the last two seasons.
Record: 17-65 (15th in East)Points scored: 91.4 (25th in NBA)Points allowed: 101.0 (28th)Coach: Paul Silas (first season with Cavaliers)
Trying to replace Latrell Sprewell won't be a walk in the Garden
Signing Dikembe Mutombo will help, but because he can give them only about 20 minutes a game, all they can expect is a half dozen points and rebounds plus a blocked shot or two. At least Mutombo...
The Hawks' Theo Ratliff (3.23) and the Pistons' Ben Wallace (3.15) averaged more blocks per game than the Knicks did as a team (3.11).
Record: 37-45 (10th in East)Points scored: 95.9 (11th in NBA)Points allowed: 97.2 (20th)Coach: Don Chaney (third season with Knicks)
The franchise forward is still getting bigger, but is he any better?
They ran a lot of set plays to get the ball in Michael Jordan's hands over the last two years. That's going to change with new coach Eddie Jordan, whose Princeton offense will teach the young...
Washington's 15 years without a playoff win ties the NBA record of the 1990-91 Clippers (né Buffalo Braves, when their drought started).
Record: 37-45 (9th in East)Points scored: 91.5 (24th in NBA)Points allowed: 92.5 (10th)Coach: Eddie Jordan (first season with Wizards)
One man's happiness: getting to play out of position on a bad team
At least with Glenn Robinson gone to the 76ers they won't have to deal with his negativity after losses. But the guy they'll miss more than Big Dog is Ira Newble [now with the Cavaliers], who at...
The Hawks were the only team to rank in the bottom five in the league in turnovers (16.7, 25th) and opponents' turnovers (13.0, 29th).
Record: 35-47 (11th in East)Points scored: 94.1 (18th in NBA)Points allowed: 97.6 (21st)Coach: Terry Stotts (second season with Hawks)
Not even the artist in the lineup can make a pretty picture out of this
I'll get some arguments on this, but the Bucks get my vote for worst team in the league....
As a scorer off the bench (minimum 20 games as a reserve) Michael Redd averaged a league-high 15.2 points in 68 games.
Record: 42-40 (8th in East)Points scored: 99.5 (5th in NBA)Points allowed: 99.3 (25th)Coach: Terry Porter (first season with Bucks)
October 27, 2003
College Football
Defense of TroyUSC's title hopes have been boosted by a sack-happy, ball-hawking D modeled on the Super Bowl champs'
Purdue QB Kyle OrtonversusMichigan CB Markus Curry
More college football coverage at si.com/football/ncaa.
WRIST SLAPS
Trial by FireFor better or worse, the Ravens are sticking with rookie Kyle Boller
Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback, every week on si.com/football.
TRADING E-MAIL WITH...Bucs quarterback Brad Johnson
JANUARY 29, 1979
Tampa Bay is the Mike Tyson of the NFL—a punishing brawler that can be beaten. And Sunday's performance against the 49ers showed that the Bucs are at the stage where they can be beaten badly. But...
Dr. Z's Inside Football, every week during the season at si.com/football.
Flyers FrictionJeremy Roenick takes exception to coach Ken Hitchcock's tactics
A bad sign for the Capitals, who were 1-4-1-0 through Sunday: Jaromir Jagr, who has scored only two goals and played sluggishly this season, seems uninterested even before the games. During...
That ball is back! That ball is way back! That ball is over the tarmac and the weeds and the tactical truck for a home run!
It was almost certainly the most historic meeting ever convened in the shadow of Knuckles, the sports bar in Chicago's Hyatt Regency O'Hare. But it remains to be seen if last week's college...
...and the Yankees Do Most of It
Will track's latest drug bust taint Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi?
October 27, 2003
Why he gets the Blackhawks downThe Chicagoan has spent the last 12 years skewering his favorite team and its owner, Bill Wirtz. Weinberg, 41, a civil rights lawyer, recently won a suit against the...
16,354Crowd for the Oct. 13 Cavaliers-Bucks exhibition game, in which LeBron James made his Gund Arena professional debut.
October 27, 2003
DeemedLegal by the NFL, hair pulling. A recent league officiating tape features footage of Dolphins running back Ricky Williams being tackled by his dreadlocks—as he has been on several occasions...
October 27, 2003
Descended
October 27, 2003 | Bill Scheft
Good to be here. Just wondering. Do you think, for daylight savings, Grady Little will set his clocks back four batters?
The 35-year-old Oscar-winning actor (Jerry Maguire) stars as the title character in Radio, which opens on Oct. 24.
October 27, 2003
The tennis career of Anna Kournikova, which has never been as aesthetically pleasing as certain other aspects of the 22-year-old Russian player, could soon be put out of its misery. Kournikova...
October 27, 2003
The day after Game 6 of the NLCS, Hollywood was already developing a movie about a fan who interferes with play in a critical game.
October 27, 2003
Folks going over the New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, W.Va., can now tell people George Washington leapt here. Parachutist Paul Kokne took a header off the span—at 876 feet above the...
October 27, 2003
DWIGHT SMITHBuccaneers safety, speaking to The Tampa Tribune about whether his teammates could make Mr. Blackwell's best-dressed list: "A lot of us aren't going to make anybody's anything, besides...
WHAT TO WATCH AND WATCH FOR
•FOX'S BEAR MARKET
October 27, 2003
Mike Hart, NEDROW, N.Y.FootballMike, a senior tailback at Onondaga Junior-Senior High, has rushed for 100 yards or more in 41 consecutive games, breaking the varsity record of 38, set in 1975 by...
Freshman Class
October 27, 2003
To submit a candidate for Faces in the Crowd, go to si.com/faces.
FALSE STARTS: c. Cardinals outfielder Wally Moon batted .304 with 12 HRs and 76 RBIs to beat out Aaron (.322, 13, 69) and Banks (.275, 19, 79). Moon went on to hit .289 with 142 homers in 12 seasons.
The IRONMAN TRIATHLON proved again that it is the world's foremost test of athletic endurance
For more about sports in Hawaii and the other 49 states, go to si.com/50.
For this champion there was no better way to grow up than on a surfboard
Hawaiians weigh in on sports*
More on Aloha State sports, including an SI Flashback about the Island's favorite sumo wrestler; famous Hawaiian Faces in the Crowd; and a gallery of every surfing cover, at...
October 27, 2003
To sign up for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED's free subscriber-only e-mail newsletter, go to sicustomerservice.com/siextra.
October 27, 2003
Get the lowdown on the Lakers and LeBron James from SI's Marty Burns, who'll cover the NBA's opening week live from Los Angeles and Sacramento.
With a 72-year-old manage making his World Series debut and a time-tested style of play (but no curses, jinxes or hexes to speak of) the Marlins stood up to those perennials of the postseason, the...
The Cubs and the Red Sox again fell victim to cruel fate
In a stunning turnaround, Quincy Carter has taken the reins in Dallas and won five straight
Quincy carter has been turning heads with his play this season, but here are three other players who have also found their games.
October 27, 2003
BrainstormTitans wideout Justin McCareins came to a meeting of the minds with the Panthers' Mike Caldwell (59) and Jarrod Cooper after catching a 17-yard pass in the second quarter of Tennessee's...
There's no tighter duo in the nation than Georgia's David Greene and David Pollack, who've been teammates since the age of six
After a star turn in Seabiscuit and a real-life brush with death, Gary Stevens is riding high again
Tim Layden's Viewpoint, every Friday at si.com.
Can an 18-year-old shoulder the burden of a league, a city and a few corporations?
October 27, 2003
Throwing an outlet pass? Easy. Running the pick-and-roll? A snap. Here are tips from the pros on the really hard stuff
The Raptors' MICHAEL CURRY does it by working around the clock now
Try this: You get all the rebounds and let them get all the baskets, a la BEN WALLACE
There's more to it, says the racers SCOT POLLARD, than painting your nails and dressing as a samurai
After his star turn with the Spurs, MANU GINOBILI is all the rage in Argentina
Amid friends and on a fabled franchise, SCOTTIE PIPPEN finishes up where he started in 1987
No one pushes around the Warriors' TROY MURPHY anymore
By weighing in at 15 pounds less, ANTOINE WALKER made the Mavs want him more
STEPHEN JACKSON let his ego be his agent—and paid a very high price for it
You can be sure that PATRICK EWING has YAO MING's ear
It's a paternity predicament when the Clippers' MIKE DUNLEAVY SR. faces MIKE JR.
Make most of your shots in crunch time, like the Bucks' MICHAEL REDD, and you are gold
New Kings center Brad Miller knows how to have a good time. Just give him an ATV and a soybean field to play in
October 27, 2003
HOW WE RANK THEM
October 27, 2003
NBA scores and stats, complete PVR listings, and news and analysis from Jack McCallum and Marty Burns, at si.com/basketball.
A jokester forward can make a serious impact on this contender
The best anyone can say is that the Kings—like the Spurs, the Lakers and the Mavs—can win the West. It's too close to call....
Offensive-minded Sacramento led the league in opponents' field goal percentage (42.0) and defensive rebounds(33.5 per game).
Record: 59-23 (3rd in West)Points scored: 101.7 (3rd in NBA)Points allowed: 95.2 (17th)Coach: Rick Adelman (sixth season with Kings)
A still-developing Slovenian newcomer is the center of attention
They're the defending champions, but they're not the same without David Robinson, Stephen Jackson, Speedy Claxton and Steve Kerr. The Spurs can still win the West, but so can three or four other...
Since 1972 only Phil Jackson (1995-96 Bulls) and Gregg Popovich (2002-03) won a title and Coach of the Year in the same season.
Record: 60-22 (1st in West)Points scored: 95.8 (12th in NBA)Points allowed: 90.4 (3rd)Coach: Gregg Popovich (eighth season with Spurs)
