| | NEW YORK - What we're expecting in the NBA this season, from A to Z:
A: Stands for Allen, as in Iverson, who nobody could defend before they outlawed hand-checking. Now with the new rules, watch for the Sixers' star to defend his scoring title and get to the line about 10 times a night.
|  | | Tim Duncan, the best player in the NBA, could leave San Antonio. |
B: Stands for Barkley, as in Charles, who will leave the game after this season. Unfortunately, he'll head off into the sunset without a championship ring.
C: Stands for Charlotte, the East's sleeper team. But like a lot of contenders, the chemistry is fragile.
D: Stands for Duncan, Tim, the best player in the NBA and favorite to win the MVP. If the Spurs don't re-sign him, the D stands for "disaster."
E: Stands for the East, better known as the JVs. Indiana, Miami and New York will challenge for the No. 1 seed. But none would finish in the top four out West.
F: Stands for Fratello, Mike, former coach of the Cavs. Sitting behind the Turner Broadcasting microphone, he's the new coach-in-waiting.
G: Stands for Golden State, site of the first All-Star Game in two years, but host to an even bigger event: Latrell Sprewell's return for the first time since choking P.J. Carlesimo, on Nov. 20.
H: Stands for Hill, as in Grant. Does Hill leave for Orlando this summer via free agency, or does he stick it out in the Motor City?
I: Stands for Injuries, which have already claimed Kobe Bryant, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone and Jayson Williams. Consequently, the Lakers, New York, Utah and New Jersey can expect to struggle without these key players.
J: Stands for Jackson, Phil, back on the sidelines with the Lakers. If he thinks trying to get Shaq and Kobe to work together is a challenge, wait 'til he tries to win without you-know-who. (Hint: His name begins with a "J.")
K: Stands for the Knicks, who start the season with 10 of 13 games on the road. They'll boast the highest payroll again, but might not get the same bang out of their buck they did last season.
L: Stands for Lockout. Oops, that was last season.
M: Stands for Marijuana. Everybody gets tested for pot now, not just rookies.
N: Stands for Denver's Nuggets, who should be the most improved team in the league. No wonder Dan Issel decided to come back to coach.
O: Stands for Odom, Lamar, Clipper rookie and probably the most gifted player in this year's class. Years from now, people will look back at the draft and ask, 'How did he last until the fourth pick?'
P: Stands for Phoenix, which should easily lead the league in scoring with the additions of Anfernee Hardaway, Rodney Rogers and sleeper Rookie of the Year candidate Shawn Marion. But that doesn't guarantee getting out of the first round.
Q: Stands for Quality. Last year, there wasn't a lot of it, which prompted David Stern and Co. to make several rules changes. Now if anybody could just make a 15-foot shot, maybe we wouldn't need any more tinkering.
R: Stands for Riley, Pat, whose Miami Heat are at a crossroads. If the Heat stumbles in the first round for the third straight season, it's time to make big changes.
S: Stands for Spurs, the defending champs and our pick to win it all again.
T: Stands for Trail Blazers, Scottie Pippen's new team, who made big changes but still won't beat the Spurs.
U: Stands for Utah, the NBA's forgotten team. "The clearest indication that the West has all the elite teams is that nobody is talking about Utah," said the Warriors' P.J. Carlesimo. Until Malone returns and the Jazz can prove they can match up with younger, more athletic teams, what's there to talk about?
V: Stands for Vancouver, the city Steve Francis thumbed his nose at. Grizzlies fans can voice their displeasure with Francis when the Rockets come to town Nov. 29.
W: Stands for Wilt. Now more popular than when he was alive.
X: Stands for X's and O's. If control-freak coaches stopped drawing them and let their teams run, betcha scoring would go up.
Y: Stands for Yonge Street, Toronto's main drag and site of a parade honoring the Raptors for making the playoffs for the first time. Anything less than an eighth-place finish will be a disappointment.
Z: Stands for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavs' oft-injured center. What's he doing here? You come up with a better entry.
Mitch Lawrence, who covers the NBA for the New York Daily News, writes a regular NBA column for ESPN.com. | |
ALSO SEE
NBA Preview 99
Preview '99: Welcome back to the NBA
ESPN experts' picks for 1999-2000
Atlantic Division: Heat, Knicks to battle
Central Division: Improved Hornets take over
Midwest Division: Only voters can stop Spurs, Duncan
Pacific Division: Pippen, Portland ready to rule
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