Preseason awards: Looks like it's still Kobe, Lakers' world

The opening week of the NBA season is filled with dreams caused by overdoses of optimism.

To keep things lively, sportswriters like to inject healthy amounts of skepticism. So they take the crystal ball out of the closet.

It's the time of year when optimism and skepticism meet at midcourt.

Who will win the top awards, and who will be saddled with the dubious achievement trophies?

Without further ado, let's take a look at the players and teams figuring to be the lightning rods for the best and worst of 2002-2003:

With Shaq on the sideline, Kobe Bryant is the MVP favorite.(AP)

Most Valuable Player

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

While Shaquille O'Neal plays less games to help his problematic feet, Kobe is poised to put a stamp on what could be the Lakers' fourth consecutive title. At the ripe age of 24, this is Kobe's seventh season. It's his turn. O'Neal, obviously, is another top candidate, as is defending MVP Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd. The long shot is Chris Webber.

Least Valuable Player

Juwan Howard, Denver Nuggets

He's making more than $20 million on the worst team in basketball, and already was suspended during the preseason for fighting. The good news for the Nuggets is his contract is finished after this season. Other LVP candidates are Michael Dickerson, Vin Baker, Kenny Anderson and Kelvin Cato.

Coach of the year

Nate McMillan, Seattle SuperSonics

Nobody has done a better job of keeping a team together and competitive than McMillan, particularly with an owner who mouths off about players. He is the quintessential peacemaker and an aggressive coach to boot. Also considered are Phil Jackson, Byron Scott, Jerry Sloan and Doc Rivers.

First coach fired

Sidney Lowe, Memphis Grizzlies

The pressure is on to produce, they aren't ready and president Jerry West has yet to put his stamp on this team. Mike Dunleavy Sr. figures to be Lowe's replacement. Also under heavy pressure are Atlanta's Lon Kruger, Lenny Wilkens in Toronto, and maybe Alvin Gentry if the Clippers don't get out of the gate quickly.

Rookie of the year

Caron Butler, Miami Heat

He's the toughest kid, having overcome a rough teen-age period before going to college and excelling at UConn. Now he has got the toughest coach in Pat Riley and will have to be productive on a rebuilding team. Perfect match. Also, there's Chicago's Jay Williams, Memphis' Drew Gooden, top pick overall Yao Ming. The sleeper is Washington's Jared Jeffries, if he gets minutes.

Biggest rookie bust

Nikoloz Tskitishvili, Denver Nuggets

The scouts all went gaga over this guy before the draft, but the fact is he's years away from being strong enough, savvy enough and even have enough game to be worthy of being the fifth pick overall of the draft. Too much was made of Chris Wilcox being a power forward with a 220-pound frame. Dajuan Wagner doesn't have point-guard instincts and now he's got to overcome internal surgery that has kept him out. And Utah might never see Curtis Borchardt healthy. They picked him despite knowing about his foot problems.

Most improved player

Darius Miles, Cleveland Cavaliers

They key component in the big swapping of Andre Miller to the Clippers, Miles has been called a smaller version of Kevin Garnett since he was in high school, now he's going to prove it with big minutes. His ball-handling and shooting are vastly improved and he'll get minutes on the constantly rebuilding Cavs. Also, Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, Richard Jefferson and Eddie Griffin.

Most deteriorated player

Shawn Kemp, Orlando Magic

It wouldn't be fair to say coach Doc Rivers was even cautiously optimistic that Kemp could get into good enough shape to actually earn enough minutes to actually help the team. It's an abysmal fade for one of the most exciting players of the past 20 years. Also, Terrell Brandon's career is in total jeopardy, and it's tough to say what Marcus Camby will be able to contribute to Denver, if anything at all. Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta in Phoenix are at about 60 percent of what they were, and we'll see if Glen Rice can play any minutes for the Rockets.

Executive of the year

Geoff Petrie, Sacramento Kings

It's almost annoying to focus on Petrie again, but he has built such a powerhouse, and this year added free agent Keon Clark and a future first-round draft choice from Atlanta in exchange for this year's 29th pick. Also ... Rod Thorn gambled big for New Jersey by trading Keith Van Horn and Todd MacCulloch for aging Dikembe Mutombo and signed Rodney Rogers. ... Elgin Baylor brought the Clippers Andre Miller, their much-needed point guard and added two more lottery picks to their frontcourt. ... Joe Dumars stole free agent point Chauncey Billups from Minnesota and added draft choice Tayshaun Prince. ... And the Blazers' Bob Whitsitt stockpiled more talent with Antonio Daniels, Jeff McInnis and coaxed Arvydas Sabonis out of retirement.

Worst executive of the year

Kevin McHale, Minnesota Timberwolves

They didn't have a first-round draft choice again from the 1999 Joe Smith fiasco, lost Billups for nothing and didn't get aging and problematic point guard Rod Strickland until this week. Also ... Golden State's Garry St. Jean still hasn't taken advantage of having so many draft choices and frontcourt talent to find a real point guard. ... Jerry Krause is begging for trouble by hanging on to Jamal Crawford and Marcus Fizer, two recent lottery picks who want to play but don't. ... Scott Layden gambled the fifth pick and Marcus Camby for Antonio McDyess and No. 25; McDyess is out for the year again and his' future now looks too much like LaPhonso Ellis.

Defensive player of the year

Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves

He is the prototype for team defense, since he's so long and quick and team oriented. Garnett is the one player who can make every team better just on the defensive end. Also ... Ben Wallace is a good choice to win it again after leading the league in rebounding and defense last year for the Pistons. ... Doug Christie is a very subtle key ingredient that makes the Kings work from the defensive end. ... And Dikembe Mutombo could help the Nets win the East for the second consecutive year.

Worst defensive player

Jason Williams, Memphis Grizzlies

The one reason he's no longer in Sacramento is a lack of discipline. It wasn't just the ridiculous passes or shots, he might forget to guard somebody when it counts the most. Glenn Robinson going to Atlanta certainly makes the Milwaukee defense better immediately; and two Texas aging gunners -- Houston's Glen Rice and Dallas' Walt Williams -- never saw a shot they didn't like, nor a shooter they liked to guard.

Best sixth man

Hedo Turkoglu, Sacramento Kings

A star in the making. He'll start with Mike Bibby injured, which will give him more confidence. Then, when Bibby comes back, he'll be even more effective coming in at both guard positions and small forward. Also to be considered are Washington's Michael Jordan, defending winner in Detroit's Corliss Williamson, Rodney Rogers in New Jersey and Seattle's Desmond Mason.

Worst starter

Eddy Curry, Chicago Bulls

In all fairness, he looks like he will be decent by the end of March, and he's just 19, but the Bulls are starting a center that should be in college. He has so little experience. Also, you can take anybody starting on the Nuggets except for journeymen Juwan Howard and Chris Whitney.

All-NBA first team

• F -- Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
• F -- Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
• C -- Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
• G -- Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
• G -- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

All-NBA worst (underachieving) team

• F -- Vin Baker, Boston Celtics
• F -- Shawn Kemp, Orlando Magic
• C -- Erick Dampier, Golden State Warriors
• G -- Ron Mercer, Indiana Pacers
• G -- Chris Childs, New Jersey Nets

NBA champion

Los Angeles Lakers

Fourth title in a row seems to be on the horizon for a team that has worked like a well-oiled machine the past three years in the playoffs at 45-13 (30-5 over the last two). But should they falter the Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs and New Jersey Nets will be there to pick up the pieces.

Worst NBA team

Denver Nuggets

General manager Kiki Vandeweghe is in the process of clearing out the overpaid, under-talented roster with youth.

Meanwhile, they have no chance of winning more than 20 games and probably will be closer to 10. The Chicago Bulls are handing Jalen Rose the basketball to win games for them, which is dangerous, considering all of their youth and the selfishness that might ensue. Also, the Golden State Warriors move along at a snail's pace with all that young talent and nobody to distribute the ball.