Pacific Division: Kings trying to keep window open
As the window to win gradually closes on the Sacramento Kings, they continue to linger above the fray like a bird tentatively preparing to swoop down on its prey.
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| Following offseason knee surgery, Chris Webber is expected back in early December.(AP) |
"You work really hard to get to a certain point," Adelman said. "Anybody who has been on a team or coached a team that has won as many games as we have in the last three years and you haven't won the whole thing, you always have disappointments."
That's not to say they won't win it this season, and chances are they'll pile up the most victories in the Pacific Division again ... of course that also comes with the caveat that such a title will not guarantee anything in the postseason. The reason is always the Los Angeles Lakers, and they figure to get better as the season progresses.
Again.
But if the postseason in the West belongs to the Lakers with three NBA titles over the past four years, the regular season in the Pacific Division belongs to the Kings. That figures to be the case this season unless injuries again derail their cause.
Yes, they lost Hedo Turkoglu and Scot Pollard in the trade that brought them center/forward Brad Miller from Indiana. Perhaps more important, they lost swingman Jim Jackson to free agency as the new NBA austerity program has even affected the Maloof brothers, owners of the Kings. But the key will be injuries.
Last year, they were never healthy until the postseason, with point guard Mike Bibby breaking a foot, Chris Webber in his annual ankle sprain battle and Pollard out with numerous maladies. And just when they were ready to crank it up against Dallas in the second round, Webber tore up his knee and required surgery.
Webber is still not close to 100 percent and isn't likely to be back before Dec. 1, but this will give Miller time to mesh with Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic up front, along with Bibby, Doug Christie and Bobby Jackson in the backcourt. They're counting on young and athletic Gerald Wallace to provide quality minutes in place of Jackson and Turkoglu.
Will this be the year? Maybe. They have been close, but no cigars have been lit.
Los Angeles Lakers
Really, it comes down to one man. One very large man. One Shaquille O'Neal. You can talk all about the effect the sexual assault trial will have on Kobe Bryant, but as long as he's healthy, and if the trial isn't until after the season, he will still be very productive. Eventually, Gary Payton will ultimately embrace and excel in the triangle offense and Karl Malone will have a million open jump shots.
All of that will work, provided the Big Guy is on board with it. Yes, he and coach Phil Jackson have had their issues. They always will in the war for control of the team. But as long as O'Neal is focused about playing and doesn't lure Payton and Malone into a revolution against the triangle, they'll be fine.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers have changed. No, they haven't cleared their roster of problematic players Rasheed Wallace, Ruben Patterson, Damon Stoudamire and Bonzi Wells. They changed the front office, with president Steve Patterson and general manager John Nash replacing Bob Whitsitt, who did both jobs.
Instead of maneuvering the players whose contracts lapsed -- Scottie Pippen, Arvydas Sabonis and Antonio Daniels, who also happened to be leaders and good guys -- they just let them go. The guys who have caused problems now are their best players, plus veterans Derek Anderson and Dale Davis, still the undersized center. They're aging and struggling a bit physically -- which is their one gross vulnerability.
Otherwise, coach Maurice Cheeks still has a talented if mercurial group that could win more than 50 or struggle to win 45, with young forward Zach Randolph the talented wild card who could give them a big boost. They still have a lot of moxie and toughness, but all of that could evaporate if Cheeks loses control. Then what? This is a franchise clearly on the bubble for a lot of reasons on and off the court.
Phoenix Suns
Last year, the Suns stunningly got into the playoffs and scared the Spurs in the first round. This year, they should be better, although they did lose key frontcourt players Jake Tsakalidis and Bo Outlaw in a trade that was obviously a cost-cutting measure. It upset coach Frank Johnson, but Jake Voskuhl will have to do and they can only hope Scott Williams gets healthy for a change.
The good news is the young core of Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion and Amare Stoudemire is intact, with Joe Johnson rapidly proving that he merited being a lottery pick. Those are four very solid young pieces, with veterans Penny Hardaway and Tom Gugliotta healthier than they have been in years. Rookie Zarko Cabarkapa got hurt in camp, but is a player they are expecting to contribute at forward, and Casey Jacobsen can be instant offense from the bench.
Essentially, the Suns are lacking the size and experience to be serious contenders to win the West, but if Marbury, Marion and Stoudemire continue to blossom, they are certainly good enough to be a solid playoff team and potentially pull off an upset in the first round.
Seattle SuperSonics
The Sonics suffered a blow just as training camp began when top draft choice Nick Collison dislocated his shoulder and surgery was needed to clear up weaknesses in both shoulders. It happened right after they let go of Peja Drobnjak, so they are once again woefully weak inside. But they do have All-Star Ray Allen and a potential All-Star in the rapidly developing Rashard Lewis.
The problem is it's tough to tell what else they have. Brent Barry will start at point guard and be excellent at times. But his body will invariably break down, and they are hoping rookie Luke Ridnour, Antonio Daniels or second-year guard Flip Murray will be able to handle the position by committee. Vladimir Radmanovic is a wild card, starting at power forward considering he is a natural small forward, a great offensive player on the perimeter being forced to play inside.
If centers Jerome James and Calvin Booth were worth anywhere near the $50 million committed to them, the Sonics would be a playoff team -- but they're not. It will require a lot of breaks and some surprises for Nate McMillan to coach this team into the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Golden State Warriors
Just when people in the Bay Area were starting to chatter about the Warriors, they were blown up as history repeats itself with Chris Cohan as owner. Eric Musselman did a wonderful job in his first season as coach, but losing three of his top players -- Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Earl Boykins -- with only injured Nick Van Exel and a bunch of marginal talents in return will force Musselman to call on his CBA magic just to make them competitive.
Yes, Troy Murphy developed into an excellent power forward last year, and Mike Dunleavy is potentially a fine scorer, but both are very young. Jason Richardson is a flighty guard talent they wanted to move but had no takers. Rookie Mickeal Pietrus will push Richardson for time, they hope.
Erick Dampier and Adonal Foyle are solid centers who will block shots and rebound and allow this team to push over 30 victories again, but unless Van Exel bounces back strong from knee surgery this week and plays like he did in the playoffs for Dallas last year, they'll be hard-pressed to surpass 35.
Los Angeles Clippers
The revolving door continues for the Clippers; Dennis Johnson was not hired back as coach and Mike Dunleavy was brought in to steer this wobbly ship. Gone are key fee agents Andre Miller, Lamar Odom, Michael Olowokandi and Eric Piatkowski. They did re-sign Elton Brand and Corey Maggette, which was mandatory under the circumstances, but they failed to lure in Gilbert Arenas, and that hurt.
They are still developing 2002 lottery picks Chris Wilcox and Melvin Ely, but they are too young and too thin to make a difference. New lottery pick Chris Kaman is a legit 7-foot center with skills, but he has already been hurt a couple of times and that will be problematic if he doesn't play big minutes this season.
The bigger issue is at point guard, with inexperienced combo guard Keyon Dooling and European import Marko Jaric battling it out with neither player winning. The high hopes of two years ago have vanished, but there still is some talent left and Dunleavy is very capable of making them better. But there are limitations.
Breakout player: Zach Randolph of the Portland Trail Blazers is one of those stoutly built lefties with a touch that melts on the rim. A Willis Reed-style throwback.
Best rookie: Chris Kaman is no soft center from a mid-major. He is big and tough, and a little crazy. The only question so far has been his health, but he should be a good NBA center very soon.
Best defensive player: Shaquille O'Neal will lead the Los Angeles Lakers back to the NBA Finals if he is so inclined. All indications are he is inclined.
Best coach: Phil Jackson has the best winning percentage in NBA history and has a chance to become the first coach to win 10 NBA titles.
Best acquisition: Brad Miller will breathe new life into the frontcourt of the Kings for many years to come ... they hope, compared to the temporary impact on the Lakers from Gary Payton and Karl Malone.
