Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 14 October 2005 — Page 30

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2005

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

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New Jersey forward Vince Carter dunks over Boston forward Al Jefferson.

Stephon Marbury

By ERICKA P. THOMPSON Staff Writer

The Eastern Conference is no longer the ugly stepsister to its Western Conference foes. After the Detroit Pistons won the title in 2004, Shag retreated from Los Angeles to Miami, Chris Webber joined Allen Iverson in Philly, LeBron James brought the fans and plenty of attention back to Cleveland and Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter hooked up in New Jersey, the East is finally proving they can withstand the West's competition. Atlantic Division Boston Celtics (45-37) The Boston Celtics always find a way to win, but with Antoine Walker leaving Paul Pierce to train a load of young players, victories may be difficult to come by. After shipping Walker and Gary Payton to Miami, the Celtics become one of the youngest teams in the NBA after adding high school phenom Gerald Green to the mix whom they chose as their top draft pick. All eyes will be on Pierce who may seem to be happy, but his patience will definitely be tested and that happiness may disappear sooner than later. Still, the Celtics are a talent team and do have some veteran leadership in Raef LaFrentz and Ricky Davis. The challenge will be if coach Doc Rivers can keep the team under control for 82 games. Player to watch: Al Jefferson Though inconsistent during his rookie year, Jefferson showed that he had mounds of talent that just needed to be uncovered. He averaged 6.6 points, 4.8 rebounds playing less than 15 minutes per game. Powerful, mature and willing to learn, Jefferson will be key to how well the Celtics play this season. 2004-05 team stats: Points scored: 101.3 (5th) Points allowed: 100.4 (22nd) Field goal percentage: 46.8 (3rd) Opponents' field goal percentage: 44 .4 (12th) Philadelphia 76ers (43-39) After 10 years in the league Allen Iverson is finally happy and he likes practice. "I feel like in the 10 years that I've been playing, the atmosphere should have always been like it is,” The Answer told the Associated Press. "I should have always wanted to come to work every day and not play hard or go after people because I was upset about something.” Why the new attitude? New coach Maurice Cheeks, former All-Star and 76er point guard. With Cheeks on board and Chris Webber in town for the entire season everyone's feeling the brotherly love. But if either All-star fall to injury, Philly won’t make it to the post season. Player to watch: Andre Iguodala I'm not saying this because I'm an Arizona Wildcat fan, well not really. Truthfully, I believe Iguodala is the most talented player on the roster after Iverson and Webber. He improved noticeably throughout his rookie season and was the only rookie to record a triple-double. He's athletic, explosive and will one day win Defensive Player of the Year. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 99.1 (10th) Points allowed: 99.9 (23rd) Field goal percentage: 43.7 (23rd) Opponents' field goal percentage: 44.3 (11th) New Jersey Nets (42-40) With the Brooklyn movement aside, the New Jersey Nets' main goal will be trying to recapture its spot on the top of the conference. Now that Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter are all seemingly healthy, they're eager to prove that they can play together and win. Not only has Kidd finally been able to rest during the offseason, Nets management found him a legitimate back up in Jeff Mclnnis who will keep the offense moving while he rests. While all of the attention has gone to the changes in Miami, I think the Nets should receive the Best Makeover Award. Along with Mclnnis, the addition of Lamond Murray gives them a 3-point threat off the bench and Marc Jackson and Scott Padgett help give a strong frontline presence that hasn't been seen in recent years. Player to watch: Vince Carter Reborn and happy in New Jersey, if Carter can stay healthy the Nets should be able to compete with Miami, Detroit

and Indiana as one of the top teams in the East. Carter has to prove that he can play consistently at a high level alongside Kidd and Jefferson. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 91.4 (29th) Points allowed: 92.9 (6th) Field goal percentage: 42.9 (29th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 43.9 (9th) Toronto Raptors (33-49) With Vince Carter in New Jersey, the Toronto Raptors unofficially named Chris Bosh as the cornerstone of the franchise. In a rebuilding phase, it's up to Bosh to make sure the Raptors don't disappear amongst the more talented, deeper and powerful teams. Averaging 16.8 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks last season while recording 32 double-doubles, there's no doubt that Bosh has talent, his challenge will be to continue leading the team by his actions. Alongside Bosh there are still talented veterans that will help the Raptors through this rebuilding process including Jalen Rose, Eric Williams and Morris Peterson. Player to watch: Joey Graham Picked No. 16 by the Raptors in the draft, Graham should make an immediate impact on the team. He can shoot and is strong and tough enough to play against more experienced players. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 99.7 (7th) Points allowed: 101.4 (25th) Field goal percentage: 44.4 (19th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 46.7 (29th) New York Knicks (33-49) This is a team full of ifs. If Stephon Marbury can change his style to fit new coach Larry Brown's coaching the Knicks will be a good team. If Brown can figure out a way to undo all of the mess the Knicks have gotten themselves into over the last few years they should be a pretty good team. If Channing Frye proves to be the talented player everyone believes he is, he may start if Eddie Curry isn't ready. If possible, Brown may turn Marbury into a shooting guard (since he likes to shoot so much) and give Jamal Crawford a run at point guard. If teams don’t watch out, the Knicks will come up from behind and surprise you because they have THE best coach in the NBA. Player to watch: Stephon Marbury If Larry Brown can turn Chauncey Billups into a distributor first, shooter second it's highly possible he can do the same for Marbury. Marbury will learn quickly what Allen Iverson and Billups already know, Brown is good. He led Iverson to the Finals in 2001 and Billups has a championship ring. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 97.3 (14th) Points allowed: 99.7 (18th) Field goal percentage: 45.1 (11th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 46.5 (28th) Central Division Detroit Pistons (54-28) The Pistons were 12 minutes away last season from returning to the Finals to try and repeat as NBA champions. The most notable change in the organization is coach Larry Brown who has been replaced by Flip Saunders. Now we'll be able to see who was key to Detroit's success, the team or the coach? The starting line up has remained untouched and is THE best starting five in the league. A weak bench last year, this season the additions of Dale Davis and Maurice Evans should help some. Detroit fans should finally be able to dissect the skills of the former No. 2 pick Darko Milicic. Player to watch: Darko Milicic Several guestions surround Milicic: was he really worthy of the No. 2 pick, can he play, will he play, should he play? Linder Saunders these guestions should be answered. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 93.3 (24th) Points allowed: 89.5 (2nd) Field goal percentage: 44.4 (17th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 43.2 (5th) Chicago Bulls (47-35) Nobody expected the Bulls to be as good as they were. After a 0-9 start, Chicago surprised everyone by not only

making the playoffs but also doing so convincingly. This year though, they won't jump out and yell, "Surprise!" on any team. Returning to the post season should be an attainable task but now that their talent has been exposed it'll be more challenging. After locking down point guard Chris Duhon, Bulls management also signed Tyson Chandler and Othella Harrington to deals. They traded Eddie Curry to the Knicks for Jermaine Jackson, Tim Thomas and Michael Sweetney, which will add depth and power to the Bulls' line up. Player to watch: Tyson Chandler Signing a long-term deal adds more than money to your pocket. After shipping Curry and Antonio Davis to New York, Chandler will be counted on to step up, make plays and provide a presence in the middle. He will have to score the ball more down low now that Curry isn't there. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 94.5 (21st) Points allowed: 93.4 (7th) Field goal percentage: 43.2 (26th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 42.2 (1st) Indiana Pacers (44-38) After a season of injuries and suspensions, the Indiana Pacers are prepared to overtake the Detroit Pistons as the top team in the East. If they can avoid injuries and suspensions, they should be the favorite to win the Eastern Conference. With Jermaine O'Neal in the leadership role - now that Reggie Miller has retired - Ron Artest back in the line up, Jamaal Tinsley recovered from a foot injury with a talented back up in Sarunas Jasikevicius and Stephen Jackson feeling comfortable at his original shooting guard position, the Pacers have the best team in the NBA. If everyone stays on the same page, Indiana may do something they haven't done since the ABA days: win a championship. Player to watch: Ron Artest Artest has been a guestion mark since he entered the NBA. He's talented, arguably the best small forward in the league and has tenacious defense, but no one knows what he's going to do from one minute to the next. He says he's changed and is ready to contribute to help the Pacers win. If so, watch out. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 93.0 (25th) Points allowed: 92.2 (5th) Field goal percentage: 43.2 (25th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 44.0 (10th) Cleveland Cavaliers (42-40) The Cavs were another Eastern Conference team that made big adjustments during the offseason adding Alan Henderson, Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall and Larry Hughes to help LeBron James reach the playoffs. The most significant moves were made in the backcourt with Jones and Hughes both who will add a much needed shooting touch. Though the Cavs re-signed Zydrunas lllgauskas, the frontcourt still isn't strong enough to compete and make an impact in the paint, which could be the team's deciding factor towards the end of the season. Player to watch: LeBron James Who else is there to watch? Last year people thought James had a solid surrounding cast to make a push towards the playoffs but when 82 games started feeling like 82 games they lost their touch and fired their coach, Paul Silas. This year, people are saying it again. James has a talented team around him that he can make better to reach the post season. Let's hope so because if not, James will begin to feel the heat. 2004-05 stats: Points scored: 96.5 (17th) Points allowed: 95.7 (11th) Field goal percentage: 44.7 (15th) Opponents' field goal percentage: 45.2 (19th) Milwaukee Bucks (30-52) If the Bucks can put the pieces together, they're a talented enough team to challenge for the fifth or sixth playoff spot. Luck was on their side during the offseason first landing the No. 1 pick in the draft and choosing Andrew Bogut, then they re-signed Michael Redd, signed Bobby Simmons and T.J. Ford was cleared to play. A new coach in Terry Stotts, who likes to run and score quickly, all the Bucks need is a little oil here and there ► See NBA, D8

Ron Artest

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