Eastern Conference In Predicted Order Of Finish
1. Chicago Bulls
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 72-10
Playoffs: Beat Miami, 3-0; Beat New York, 4-1; Beat Orlando, 4-0; Beat Seattle, 4-2.
Star attractions: Michael Jordan (30.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.3 apg), Scottie Pippen (19.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.9 apg), Toni Kukoc (13.1 ppg), Dennis Rodman (14.9 rpg).
Coach: Phil Jackson (8th yr., 414-160).
Changes-added: C Robert Parish (free agent, Hornets). Lost: C James Edwards (free agent).
In five words or less: A lock for Finals.
2. Indiana Pacers
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 52-30
Playoffs: Lost to Atlanta, 3-2.
Star attractions: Reggie Miller (21.1 ppg, 3.3 apg), Rik Smits (18.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg), Dale Davis (10.3 ppg, 9.1 rpg).
Coach: Larry Brown (14th yr., 585-437; 4th yr., 151-95).
Changes-added: G Jalen Rose and F Reggie Williams (trade with Nuggets), G Jerome Allen (free agent), C Erick Dampier (draft, 10, Mississippi St.). Lost: G Mark Jackson and G Ricky Pierce (traded to Nuggets).
In five words or less: May be second-best in East.
3. New York Knicks
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 47-35
Playoffs: Beat Cleveland, 3-0; Lost to Chicago, 4-1.
Star attractions: Patrick Ewing (22.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 2.4 blocks), Larry Johnson (20.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 4.4 apg), Allan Houston (19.7 ppg), Charles Oakley (11.4 ppg, 8.7 rpg).
Coach: Jeff Van Gundy (2nd yr., 13-9).
Changes-added: F Johnson (trade with Hornets), G Houston (free agent, Pistons), G Chris Childs (free agent, Nets), G Scott Brooks (free agent, Mavericks). F Buck Williams (free agent, Trail Blazers), F John Wallace (draft, 18, Syracuse), F Dontae’ Jones (draft, 21, Mississippi St.), F Walter McCarty (draft, 19, Kentucky). Lost: F Anthony Mason and C Brad Lohaus (traded to Hornets), G Derek Harper (free agent), G Hubert Davis (traded to Raptors), F J.R. Reid (free agent), F Willie Anderson (free agent), G Gary Grant (free agent).
In five words or less: Still can’t get past Chicago.
4. Orlando Magic
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 60-22
Playoffs: Beat Detroit, 3-0; Beat Atlanta, 4-1; Lost to Chicago, 4-0.
Star attractions: Anfernee Hardaway (21.7 ppg, 7.1 apg), Horace Grant (13.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg), Dennis Scott (17.5 ppg, 267 3’s), Nick Anderson (14.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg).
Coach: Brian Hill (4th yr., 167-79).
Changes-added: C Felton Spencer (trade with Jazz), F Derek Strong (free agent, Lakers), F Gerald Wilkins (free agent, Grizzlies), F Brian Evans (draft, 27, Indiana), C Amal McCaskill (draft, 49, Marquette). Lost: C Shaquille O’Neal (free agent), G Anthony Bowie (free agent), G Brooks Thompson (traded to Jazz), C Joe Wolf (free agent).
In five words or less: Lakers game March 23.
5. Atlanta Hawks
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 46-36
Playoffs: Beat Indiana, 3-2; Lost to Orlando, 4-1.
Star attractions: Dikembe Mutombo (11 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.49 blocks), Steve Smith (18.1 ppg), Christian Laettner (16.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg), Mookie Blaylock (15.7 ppg, 5.9 apg, 2.6 steals).
Coach: Lenny Wilkens (24th yr., 1,014-850).
Changes-added: C Mutombo (free agent, Nuggets), G Jon Barry (free agent, Warriors), G Willie Burton (free agent, 76ers), F Tyrone Corbin (free agent, Heat), C Priest Lauderdale (draft, 28, Greece), F Zarko Paspalj (free agent, Greece), G Eldridge Recasner (free agent, Rockets). Lost: F Grant Long and F Stacey Augmon (traded to Pistons), G Craig Ehlo (free agent), C Sean Rooks (free agent), F Matt Bullard (free agent).
In five words or less: Not a serious contender.
6. Washington Bullets
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 39-43
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Chris Webber (23.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 5 apg), Juwan Howard (22.1 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Rod Strickland (18.7 ppg, 9.6 apg), Gheorghe Muresan (14.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.26 blocks).
Coach: Jim Lynam (10th yr., 306-368; 3rd yr., 60-104).
Changes-added: G Strickland and F Harvey Grant (trade with Trail Blazers), G Tracy Murray (free agent, Raptors), C Lorenzo Williams (free agent, Mavericks), G Ronnie Henderson (draft, 55, LSU). Lost: G Brent Price (free agent), G Mark Price (free agent), G Robert Pack (free agent), G Mitchell Butler and F Rasheed Wallace (traded to Blazers), C Jim McIlvaine (free agent).
In five words or less: Improved.
7. Miami Heat
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 42-40
Playoffs: Lost to Chicago, 3-0.
Star attractions: Alonzo Mourning (23.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 2.7 blocks), Tim Hardaway (15.2 ppg, 8 apg), P.J. Brown (11.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg).
Coach: Pat Riley (15th yr., 798-339; 2nd yr., 42-40).
Changes-added: F Brown (free agent, Nets), G Dan Majerle (free agent, Cavaliers), G Gary Grant (free agent, Knicks), F Martin Muursepp (draft, 25, Estonia). Lost: G Rex Chapman (free agent), F Chris Gatling (free agent), F Walt Williams (free agent), F Tyrone Corbin (free agent), C Dan Schayes (free agent), G Tony Smith (free agent).
In five words or less: Riley isn’t happy.
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
1995-96 record: 47-35
Playoffs: Lost to New York, 3-0
Star attractions: Terrell Brandon (19.3 ppg, 6.5 apg), Chris Mills (15.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Bobby Phills (14.6 ppg, 3.8 apg).
Coach: Mike Fratello (12th yr., 461-362; 4th yr., 137-109).
Changes-added: C Mark West (free agent, Pistons), F-C Vitaly Potapenko (draft, 12, Wright St.), C Zydrunas Ilgauskas (draft, 20, Lithuania). Lost: C Michael Cage (free agent), G John Crotty (free agent), C Brad Daugherty (retired), G Dan Majerle (free agent), G Harold Miner (free agent).
In five words or less: Up-tempo now?
9. Milwaukee Bucks
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 25-57
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Vin Baker (21.1 ppg, 9.9 rpg), Glenn Robinson (20.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Sherman Douglas (11.3 ppg, 5.5 apg), rookie Ray Allen.
Coach: Chris Ford (6th yr., 222-188; 1st yr.)
Changes-added: G Allen (draft, 5, UConn), F Armon Gilliam (free agent, Nets), C Andrew Lang (trade with Timberwolves), C Joe Wolf (free agent, Magic). Lost: C Benoit Benjamin (free agent), C Kevin Duckworth (free agent), F Marty Conlon (free agent), G Lee Mayberry (free agent).
In five words or less:Should be better.
10. Detroit Pistons
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 46-36
Playoffs: Lost to Orlando, 3-0.
Star attractions: Grant Hill (20.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 6.9 apg), Otis Thorpe (14.2 ppg, 8.4 rpg), Grant Long (13.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg).
Coach: Doug Collins (5th yr., 183-145; 2nd yr., 46-36).
Changes-added: G Kenny Smith (free agent), F Stacey Augmon and F Long (trade with Hawks), C Rick Mahorn (free agent, Nets), F Jerome Williams (draft, 26, Georgetown). Lost: G Allan Houston (free agent), C Eric Leckner (free agent), C Mark West (free agent).
In five words or less: Hill must lead.
11. Charlotte Hornets
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 41-41
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Glen Rice (21.6 ppg), Vlade Divac (12.9 ppg, 8.6 rpg), Anthony Mason (14.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 4.4 apg).
Coach: Dave Cowens (no record).
Changes-added: C Divac (trade with Lakers), F Mason and F Brad Lohaus (trade with Knicks), G Tony Delk (draft, 16, Kentucky), F Malik Rose (draft, 44, Drexel). Lost: F Larry Johnson (traded to Knicks), C Robert Parish (free agent), G Kenny Anderson (free agent), G Michael Adams (free agent).
In five words or less: Divac’s no Cowens.
12. Boston Celtics
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 33-49
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Dino Radja (19.7 ppg, 9.8 rpg), Rick Fox (14 ppg, 4.6 apg), rookie Antoine Walker.
Coach: M.L. Carr (2nd yr., 33-49).
Changes-added: F Walker (draft, 6, Kentucky), C Frank Brickowski (free agent, Seattle), F Julius Nwosu (free agent), C Steve Hamer (draft, 38, Tennessee). Lost: C Eric Montross (traded to Dallas), F Doug Smith (released), C Thomas Hamilton (released).
In five words or less: Celtic pride?
13. Philadelphia 76ers
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 18-64
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Jerry Stackhouse (19.2 ppg, 3.9 apg), Clarence Weatherspoon (16.7 ppg, 9.7 rpg), Derrick Coleman (11.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg), rookie Allen Iverson.
Coach: Johnny Davis (no record).
Changes-added: G Iverson (draft, 1, Georgetown), F Don MacLean (free agent, Nuggets), C Michael Cage (free agent, Cavaliers), G Lucious Harris (free agent, Mavericks), F Mark Hendrickson (draft, 31, Washington St.), F Ryan Minor (draft, 32, Oklahoma). Lost: F Richard Dumas (free agent), F Tony Massenburg (free agent), F Ed Pinckney (free agent), F Sean Higgins (free agent), F Derrick Alston (free agent), G Vernon Maxwell (free agent), G Trevor Ruffin (free agent), G Greg Sutton (free agent), C LaSalle Thompson (free agent).
In five words or less: How many games for Derrick?
14. Toronto Raptors
Division: Central
1995-96 record: 21-61
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Damon Stoudamire (19 ppg, 9.3 apg), Walt Williams (13.6 ppg, 3.2 apg), Popeye Jones (11.3 ppg, 10.8 rpg), rookie Marcus Camby.
Coach: Darrell Walker (no record).
Changes-added: F Jones (trade with Mavericks), G Hubert Davis (trade with Knicks), F Williams (free agent, Heat), C Marcus Camby (draft, 2, UMass). Lost: C Oliver Miller (free agent), G Jimmy King (traded to Mavericks), G Tracy Murray (free agent), G Alvin Robertson (free agent), F Dwayne Whitfield (free agent), G Martin Lewis (free agent), G Vincenzo Esposito (free agent).
In five words or less: Can’t win yet.
15. New Jersey Nets
Division: Atlantic
1995-96 record: 30-52
Playoffs: None.
Star attractions: Kendall Gill (14 ppg, 5.5 apg), Shawn Bradley (11.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 3.6 blocks), Robert Pack (18.1 ppg, 7.8 apg), rookie Kerry Kittles.
Coach: John Calipari (no record).
Changes-added: G Pack (free agent, Bullets), F David Benoit (free agent, Utah), G Vincent Askew (trade with Sonics), F Tony Massenburg (free agent, 76ers), G Kittles (draft, 8, Villanova), F Xavier McDaniel (free agent, Greece). Lost: F Armon Gilliam (free agent), F P.J. Brown (free agent), G Chris Childs (free agent), G Greg Graham (traded to Sonics), G Vern Fleming (free agent), C Rick Mahorn (free agent).
In five words or less: Still the Nets.