Decent advanced preview. In the middle of this is an overview of how the playoffs will work
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...analysis_x.htm
Inbounds with a whole new look
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
The landscape of the NBA will have a dramatically different look after the trade and frenzy of free-agent signings in the offseason, not to mention the new alignment with six five-team divisions. USA TODAY's David DuPree looks at where players and teams have moved when the season tips off:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Teams: Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors.
Outlook: Looks like it could be the weakest division in the NBA. Not one team seems to have improved that much, and the Nets, the only division team that had a winning record, traded Kenyon Martin to Denver for three first-round picks.
The buzz: "I like our team and our chances," Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury says. "What division we're in doesn't matter. You just have to win no matter where you are."
Central Division
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks.
Outlook: Detroit and Indiana will battle for the division title. The loser can be no better than a No. 4 seed and likely will face a No. 1 seed in the second round of the playoffs.
The buzz: "It's more than just us and Indiana, but I'm not too disappointed that New Orleans is in the West now," Detroit coach Larry Brown says. "All I want us to do is get better as the season progresses so we are playing our best when the playoffs get here."
Southeast Division
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards.
Outlook: The Heat moved to the head of the class with the addition of Shaquille O'Neal and could be the only team in the division to make the playoffs — unless Grant Hill makes a successful comeback in Orlando.
The buzz: "We've got an angry, motivated Shaq on our team, and who wouldn't want that?" says Heat point guard Dwyane Wade. "He's already promised me we're going to win a championship together."
The playoffs
The three regular-season division winners in each conference, plus the other team in the conference with the best record, will make the playoffs and get the top four seeds.
The remaining four playoff teams in each conference will be based on regular-season record with no regard to divisional alignment.
Home-court advantage will be based solely on regular-season record, not playoff seeding.
Western Conference
Southwest Division
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs.
Outlook: This is the toughest division in the NBA and the only one in which every team reached the playoffs. Three of the teams (Dallas, San Antonio and Memphis) in the division each won at least 50 games.
The buzz: "There's an evil person some place who made this decision and I don't think he, she or they are going to own up, ever," quips Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "It's definitely a Mel Gibson Conspiracy situation."
Northwest Division
Teams: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz.
Outlook: Minnesota will be the team to beat, but two of the league's most improved teams will challenge the Timberwolves — Denver (with the addition of Kenyon Martin from New Jersey) and Utah (with Mehmet Okur from Detroit and Carlos Boozer from Cleveland).
The buzz: "The divisions don't matter," Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony says. "We're going to be good, real good. I got better and we as a team got better."
Pacific Division
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings.
Outlook: The Kings are the favorites with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic. But without Shaquille O'Neal or the triangle offense, Kobe Bryant will probably lead the league in shot attempts and scoring.
The buzz: "It's still the West, and we're still going to see everyone four times," Phoenix forward Shawn Marion says. "Our rookies came through last year, and we've gotten better in the offseason with (Steve) Nash."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...analysis_x.htm
Inbounds with a whole new look
By David DuPree, USA TODAY
The landscape of the NBA will have a dramatically different look after the trade and frenzy of free-agent signings in the offseason, not to mention the new alignment with six five-team divisions. USA TODAY's David DuPree looks at where players and teams have moved when the season tips off:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Teams: Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors.
Outlook: Looks like it could be the weakest division in the NBA. Not one team seems to have improved that much, and the Nets, the only division team that had a winning record, traded Kenyon Martin to Denver for three first-round picks.
The buzz: "I like our team and our chances," Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury says. "What division we're in doesn't matter. You just have to win no matter where you are."
Central Division
Teams: Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks.
Outlook: Detroit and Indiana will battle for the division title. The loser can be no better than a No. 4 seed and likely will face a No. 1 seed in the second round of the playoffs.
The buzz: "It's more than just us and Indiana, but I'm not too disappointed that New Orleans is in the West now," Detroit coach Larry Brown says. "All I want us to do is get better as the season progresses so we are playing our best when the playoffs get here."
Southeast Division
Teams: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards.
Outlook: The Heat moved to the head of the class with the addition of Shaquille O'Neal and could be the only team in the division to make the playoffs — unless Grant Hill makes a successful comeback in Orlando.
The buzz: "We've got an angry, motivated Shaq on our team, and who wouldn't want that?" says Heat point guard Dwyane Wade. "He's already promised me we're going to win a championship together."
The playoffs
The three regular-season division winners in each conference, plus the other team in the conference with the best record, will make the playoffs and get the top four seeds.
The remaining four playoff teams in each conference will be based on regular-season record with no regard to divisional alignment.
Home-court advantage will be based solely on regular-season record, not playoff seeding.
Western Conference
Southwest Division
Teams: Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs.
Outlook: This is the toughest division in the NBA and the only one in which every team reached the playoffs. Three of the teams (Dallas, San Antonio and Memphis) in the division each won at least 50 games.
The buzz: "There's an evil person some place who made this decision and I don't think he, she or they are going to own up, ever," quips Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. "It's definitely a Mel Gibson Conspiracy situation."
Northwest Division
Teams: Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz.
Outlook: Minnesota will be the team to beat, but two of the league's most improved teams will challenge the Timberwolves — Denver (with the addition of Kenyon Martin from New Jersey) and Utah (with Mehmet Okur from Detroit and Carlos Boozer from Cleveland).
The buzz: "The divisions don't matter," Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony says. "We're going to be good, real good. I got better and we as a team got better."
Pacific Division
Teams: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, L.A. Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings.
Outlook: The Kings are the favorites with Chris Webber, Mike Bibby and Peja Stojakovic. But without Shaquille O'Neal or the triangle offense, Kobe Bryant will probably lead the league in shot attempts and scoring.
The buzz: "It's still the West, and we're still going to see everyone four times," Phoenix forward Shawn Marion says. "Our rookies came through last year, and we've gotten better in the offseason with (Steve) Nash."
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