Thorn in their sides: if the rest of the Atlantic thinks the Cinderella Nets were due to fall back to the ground, New Jersey's superexec set it straight by bolstering his Finalists - Atlantic Division

WHO WAS THAT MASKED man, screaming, ranting, raving and making a general sideline-spectacle of himself at the Shaw's Summer League in Boston? "OK, he wasn't masked--but he was wearing a hat," an oldtime NBA scout, watching in amazement, says. "I was about to call security when I got closer to the guy. And suddenly I realized it was Rod Thorn."

Color the Jersey GM competitive. "Highly, tremendously, and passionately," he says with a smile. Indeed, Thorn could have sat still inside and outside of Beantown over the summer and still will be more than likely to conquer the Eastern Conference once again. His NBA Finalist Nets were that good--and the offseason free agent talent smorgasbord was that insignificant.

Thorn is in fine fighting shape after his worst,to-first Nets' stunning success, and managed to deliver a solid one-two punch to the collective solar plexus of the East with a combination of subtle freebie upgrades (Chris Childs, Rodney Rogers) and a big trade (for potential Shaquille O'Neal neutralizer Dikembe Mutombo). "In this game, if you sit still you're dead," Thorn says. "So we're going for it. The entire enchilada."

Thorn's avid affinity for winning--and Mexican food--then inspired the chief challenger Boston Celtics to make their own huge-and risky--move (getting Vin Baker for, in essence, Kenny Anderson). And, of course, the ever-changing, "it should have been us in the Finals" Philadelphia 76ers had major plastic surgery once again, putting on a new face by exchanging defensively dominating center-piece Mutombo for purer perimeter scoring (Keith Van Horn) and a more youthful upside (Todd MacCulloch) in the paint.

Thorn's course, of course, is risk-laden as well. How much does Mutombo have left in those 36- (some say 46.) year-old legs? And can an older, and overall slower, team become comfortable chemically with fastbreaking maestro Jason Kidd?

Yes, the Nets should be favored--but the Atlantic remains wide open. One-to-seven, it should be a fascinating race thanks, mainly, to the guy wearing a funny hat going banshee-bonkers on the sidelines at a no-matter summer league game.

1. NEW JERSEY NETS

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Drunk from joy--yet curiously sobered. How else could they feel after improving by a full 26 games, then having their rousing run ripped by such a one-sided wipeout in the NBA Finals? And, lest we forget, the damage was done by a Los Angeles Lakers team that, coming off of a royal rumble against the Sacramento Kings, looked vulnerable.

NEW FACES: Besides Mount Mutombo, the Nets attempted to upgrade in the backup point guard (Childs) and blitzkrieg-off-the-bench (Rogers) areas. Second-round swinger Tamar Slay--incandescent over the summer--should make the roster.

ON THE COURT: The Mutombo trade has clearly delineated a desire to win with defense--and to win now (heart-and-soul point guard Kidd is a free agent next summer.) Mutombo, if he has anything left--and he should--probably has only one or two prime years in him. But hey, the man plays O'Neal better than any human has a right to. "More than anyone else in the league, he'll stop you from scoring," Detroit Pistons GM John Hammond says. "And he'll also stop you from getting to the foul line." The avalanche of rebounds and rejects provided by the immense 7'2" intimidator should nicely feed into Kidd's preferred (read: run-n'-stun) mode of attack as well.

Childs and Rogers are also "improvements over what the Nets used to have at those spots," according to Celtics' star Paul Pierce. "In my opinion, they're better players than Anthony [Johnson] and Keith [Van Horn]. But that doesn't necessarily mean that Jersey wins the East. There's still the matter of chemistry."

Which is where new small forward starter Richard Jefferson enters the picture. Perhaps not the Long Ranger Van Horn was, this ultra-athletic driver-slasher-defender has all the tools, and then some, to become one of the premiere "chemistry" players in the entire league.

OFF THE COURT: Offensive architect Eddie Jordan, an essential assistant desired by both the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors for their top jobs, opted to stay put. "I'll know when it's the right time to go," he says. "With this team, at this time, it's the right time to stay. I am Certain that we are fight on the verge of some big things here."

WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIRST: The Nets were clearly the Beast of the East last year--and they got better.

2. BOSTON CELTICS

THEY LEFT OFF: Elated--but also annoyed with themselves. Another one of the shocking surprises of 2002--they improved 13 games over 2000-01--just reaching the Eastern Conference finals amounted to a huge success for the Celts. But, after a historic comeback in the third game of that series--they were down 21 in the fourth quarter and went on to win--Boston failed to finish the job and win the series.

NEW FACES: Vin Baker was the reason for Boston's blockbuster trade while--how shall we put this--Shammond Williams wasn't. The Celtics have also added free agent center Bruno Sundov and putative point guard J. R. Bremer.

OH THE COURT: The Baker trade has left Boston with such a gaping abyss at the all important point position that the at-best-questionable Williams could be the starter. And if it's not him, it's Tony Delk a shoot-first, ask-questions-latex type of player.

The once-able Baker had better be worth it (he has four years and $56 million left on his cap-busting contract). "Boston had no choice," NBA scout Walter Szczerbiak says. "They needed to add an inside dimension to get to the next level. They could not go any further with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker, who are both primarily perimeter players, as their lone legitimate offensive threats."

But can Baker be that inside dimension? A onetime All-Star, he's had all kinds of confidence-cum-motivation-cum-weight problems over the last few seasons. Most of the time, according to NBA scuttlebutt, a player with such problems never comes all the way back. "But remember, now he's playing in the East, a conference with far less quality length," Szczerbiak warns. Indeed, Baker--who averaged 14.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg last season--tallied more than 19 ppg against the lilliputian Eastern competition last season.

OFF THE COURT: Shackled tightly by luxury tax constraints, the Celtics were not able to re-sign the versatile Rogers or much-vaunted defensive devastator Erick Strickland. "It's a little frustrating," coach Jim O'Brien admits. "You spend years building a unit and, just when you're finally starting to accomplish something, you lose important pieces for reasons that have nothing to do with basketball."

WHY THEY'LL FINISH SECOND: Anchored by bouncer Tony Battle, Boston plays fine "D," tying for second in the league in defensive field-goal percentage. On the other end of the parquet, the magnificent Pierce and streak-sizzler Walker form one deliciously diverse and powerful duo. And how can a healthy Baker not be better than the negligible nonentities Boston used for an inside attack last season?

3. PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Feeling frustrated and furious. All season, the 2000 NBA Finalists were thwarted in their return-intentions either by players having major injuries--or coming off of them (and, to their credit, they still went 43-39). Just when they appeared to pull things together and begin to play really well, Allen Iverson broke his left wrist, sentencing the team to an early playoff exit in the vastly winnable East.

NEW FACES: Got a week? How about starters Van Horn and MacCulloch (acquired in the Mutombo trade), forward Mark Bryant (part of the draft-day Speedy Claxton swap), free agents Greg Buckner, Monty Williams, Brian Skinner, and Efthimios Rentzias, and rookies John Salmons, Sam Clancy, and Randy Holcomb?

ON THE COURT: "General Hospital?" "The Old and the Restless?" Whatever the Philly soap opera may be, in Iverson, point guard Eric Snow, and super-solid sixth-man Aaron McKie, the impatient Sixers have only three players left of that fine 2000 Finalist roster. "It's all about AI anyway," an opposing conference coach says. "However Iverson goes, the team goes."

Well, yes--and no. The stunning success of two years back was also due to exceptional team defense and a special group of players around Iverson who were complimentary both in their offensive abilities and in their lack of need for the ball. The defense--one of only two last season holding opponents under 90 ppg--won't be the same sans the forbidding Mutombo, but "Larry Brown will make those guys play `D," Hammond says. "That guy could make a group of statues play `D.'"

Still, these annual shakeups can't be all that helpful. A team like Philly, built so much around a single superstar's singular skills, needs chemistry above all. Again, these guys will spend the whole season just getting to know each other.

OFF THE COURT: Please. In a summer straight from Hades, Iverson and Brown quarreled after the untimely playoff outage due to some inflammatory (read: honest) comments by the coach regarding AI's lack of leadership and lax practice habits. The Answer answered by getting arrested on a series of serious felony charges in July. He was going to jail, he was going to be traded--and then he wasn't. In addition (subtraction?) perennially-playful power forward Derrick Coleman--already perhaps the most vast waste of pure talent in NBA history--was first arrested for a DUI, then got hurt (knee), and is not going to play until November.

Want more? Well, MacCulloch suffers from persistent plantar fasciitis and his new primary backup--Rentzias--showed no inclination whatsoever for mixing it up under the basket at the Shaw's Summer League.

WHY THEY'LL FINISH THIRD: While this fidgety franchise appears to be heading slightly southward, AI is still a miracle and canny complimentaries like McKie, Snow, Buckner, and Williams know how to play team ball and defense. Also, it doesn't hurt that the rest of teams in the division leave loads to be desired.

4. ORLANDO MAGIC

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Happy just to make the playoffs. Once there, nobody who was anybody in hoops expected Orlando to create much magic--and they didn't, losing in bur to the Charlotte Hornets.

NEW FACES: Shawn Kemp? Jacque Vaughn? Olumide Oyedeji? Mario Kasun? Rookie Ryan Humphrey--traded for seven-foot foot problem Curtis Borchardt--as a first round draft choice? Is Magic management kidding, or what?

ON THE COURT: Common knowledge--and common sense---dictates that Orlando--forever considered a fly free agent destination--is traveling coach this season in the order to save caverns of cap room for next year's astoundingly arousing (Jason Kidd, Tim Duncan, etc.) freebie market.

In the meanwhile, there's that rousing uptempo attack (100.5 ppg, fourth in the NBA), led by the terrific Tracy McGrady--"As long as he's around they'll win half their games," Szczerbiak says--and maybe, just maybe, a healthy Grant Hill. "He looked real good working out this summer." GM John Gabriel says. "But we'll see." What there isn't is much of a defensive presence--or size of any quality or verticality. The Kemp signing alone should tell you just how bad they are up front in Disney World.

OFF THE COURT: After being literally dragged into retirement by both feet, Patrick Ewing wanted to become either an assistant coach or a broadcaster with either the Magic or New York Knicks. Since he has displayed all the charm and the communication skills of a mute Albanian sheepherder throughout his career, we were less than stunned when both teams declined. On both jobs.

WHY THEY'LL FINISH FOURTH: McGrady is The Bomb--so if the superb Hill's healthy, watch out. Doc Rivers can motivate and coach this overachieving bunch with the best of them.

5. NEW YORK KNICKS

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Dazed. Though New York hasn't won any championships lately, the team--always at least good--also has not had a losing season since what feels like the Eisenhower Administration, so last year's 30-42 horror-showing had to feel like a Lennox Lewis left in the stomach.

NEW FACES: Antonio McDyess, if back in full health after a patella tendon repair in the left knee, should go a long way toward curing the `Bockers' inside ills. First-round (No. 25) pick Frank Williams may, or may not, be "point guard of the future" caliber. Michael Doleac? Well, on a team that operates too dose to the floor, you can't teach height.

ON THE COURT. The Knicks' lamentable lack of verticality was the No. 1 problem--and now seven-foot soarer Marcus Camby is gone. Of course, when he was on the team Camby was gone most of the time as well--playing in only 29 games last year and never in more than 65, due to a seemingly neverending series of injuries--which is why he got shipped west for the 6'9" McDyess.

The explosive Dice is the post attacker the Knicks have craved for so long, drawing double teams and freeing up sizzling scorers Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston for wider lanes and better shots. But file team still doesn't have a life-size center--you may be able to get away with that in the miniaturized East up to a point--or a premiere penetrating point guard.

OFF THE COURT: Second-round pick Milos Vujanic, not due in New York from Yugoslavia until 2004, is the "second best quarterback in Europe, behind [new Los Angeles Clipper] Marko Jaric," assistant GM Jeff Nix says. "He penetrates, he pushes, and he's got excellent instincts for finding the open man."

WHY THEY'LL FINISH FIFTH: A healthy McDyess is the best power forward in the East, a just-what-the-doctor-ordered post-monster who's capable of creating the chemistry that could propel the Knicks back toward the playoffs.

6. WASHINGTON WIZARDS

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Satisfied with the team's 18-game improvement--but wondering about what could have been if Michael Jordan did not get hurt for the stretch run.

NEW FACES: The additions of free agent Larry Hughes and rookies Jared Jeffries, Juan Dixon, and Rod Grizzard were overwhelmed by Washington's late-summer trade of Richard Hamilton for Jerry Stackhouse, who will plug fight into the 2-spot for the Wizards.

ON THE COURT: Will he or won't he? Even Jordan himself is up in the Air about his return. "I won't know whether I'll be playing until the last minute," he says. "I want the team to prepare as if I'm not going to be there."

That's tough because, sans Jordan, the Wiz look too much like a lottery team. There's but one go-to-type talent--the rapid-firing Stackhouse. The too-numerous youngsters are terrifically gifted, but if summer league play is any indication, they are still Not Ready For Prime Time Players.

Worst of all, the team (read: MJ) expects a me-first finisher such as Hughes to suddenly become a pass-first point guard. You know, it's one of those "I'm Michael Jordan, and if anyone can turn this otherwise talented guy around, it's me" type of deals. Note to MJ: We've seen Larry Hughes play. And we'd rather have Howard Hughes at point guard.

OFF THE COURT: Besides Hughes--a curious pickup, to say the least--other free agents have not been moths to MJ's flame. The trade for Stackhouse--a move we dare say is even curiouser than the Hughes signing--means Washington's money-time backcourt (Hughes, Stack, and MJ) shot a collective .411 from the floor last year.

WHY THEY'LL FINISH SIXTH: Jordan might not play. And if he does, he claims he'll be, a "20-minute backup to Rip [Hamilton]." Without him, the Wiz still have all kinds of youthful talent that could jell into a unit all of a sudden. But that's not going to happen if the divisive Hughes is running the show.

7. MIAMI HEAT

WHERE THEY LEFT OFF: Feeling like New York South. Another consistent contender, they were scratching their heads wondering what went wrong during last year's 36-46 abomination.

NEW FACES: In need of domestic help, the Heat drafted not one but two Buffers (potential starter Caron, and Rasual). Travis Best signed on to run the point, promising to shoot 90% on the roll end of Miami's pick-and-roll system. Miami also added itinerant gunslinger Luke Recker, a sweetstroking swinger full of potential.

ON THE COURT: This is another team concerned with at least the appearance of the insidious "we must get worse before we get better" syndrome. In fact, the "wait for next year" rumors got so hot and heavy over the summer that GM/coach Pat Riley felt the need to publicly announce that, no, all-essential Heat center Alonzo Mourning was not on the trading block. Then he qualified that by murkily stating "in order to gain assets, sometimes you have to give up crucial assets."

Zo, of course, entered 2002-03 as the Heat's key asset But Mourning's kidney problem--which is likely to shelve his season--casts' his career, and the Heat's fortunes, in considerable doubt

OFF THE COURT: Mourning's absence has forced Riley to admit that the Heat are in "rebuilding mode" for the first time in his tenure. It's going to be a long road back, and Riley isn't likely to still be sunning in South Beach when Miami rises again.

WHY THEY'LL FINISH SEVEN: Do-it-all Caron Buffer was an outstanding choice at No. 10 pick and no-relation Rasual can also put the ball in the hole. But it's too much to count on rookies to counter the heartbreaking loss of Mourning.

New Jersey Nets

Probable Starting Lineup

PG Jason Kidd          14.7 ppg, 9.9 apg, 2.13 spg
SG Kerry Klttles       13.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 46.6% FG
SF Richard Jefferson    9.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 45.7% FG
PF Kenyon Martin       14.9 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.66 bpg
 C Dikembe Mutombo     11.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.38 bpg

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Kenyon Martin 14.9 ppg
Rebounding: Keith Van Horn, 7.5 rpg
Assists: Jason Kidd, 9.9 apg
Blocked shots: Kenyon Martin, 1.66 bpg
Steal: Jason Kidd, 2.13 spg

2001-02 Atlantic Division Standing

                    W   L   PCT   GB    Conf   Division  Home   Road

New Jersey Nets     52  30  .634    --  35-19  16-8      33-8   19-22
Boston Celtics      49  33  .598   3.0  35-19  17-7      27-14  22-19
Orlando Magic       44  38  .537   8.0  29-25  12-12     27-14  17-24
Philadelphia 76ers  43  39  .524   9.0  31-23  14-11     22-19  21-20
Washington Wizards  37  45  .451  15.0  25-29  12-13     22-19  15-26
Miami Heat          36  46  .439  16.0  22-32  10-14     18-23  18-23
New York Knicks     30  52  .366  22.0  20-34   4-20     19-22  11-30

Boston Celtics

Probable Starting Lineup

PG  Tony Delk        7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.3 apg
SG Paul Pierce      26.1 ppg, 1.88 spg, 1.05 bpg
SF Antoine Walker   22.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 39.4% FG
PF Vin Baker        14.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 48.5% FG
 C Tony Battle       6.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 54.1% FG

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Paul Pierce, 26.1 ppg
Rebounding: Antoine Walker, 8.8 rpg
Assists: Kenny Anderson, 5.3 apg
Blocked shots: Paul Pierce, 1.05 bpg
Steals: Paul Pierce, 1.88 spg

Philadelphia 76ers

PG Eric Snow         12.1 ppg, 6.6 apg, 3.5 rpg
SG Allen Iverson     31.4 ppg, 5.5 apg, 2.80 spg
SF Keith Van Horn    14.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 34.5% 3PT
PF Derrick Coleman   15.1 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 45.0% FG
 C Todd MacCulloch    9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 53.1% FG

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Allen Iverson, 31.4 ppg
Rebounding: Dikembe Mutombo, 10.8 rpg
Assists: Eric Snow, 6.6 apg
Blocked shots: Dikembe Mutombo, 2.38 bpg
Steals: Allen Iverson, 2.80 spg

Orlando Magic

Probable Starting Lineup

PG Darrell Armstrong   12.4 ppg, 5.5 apg, 1.91 spg
SG Grant Hill          16.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 14 games
SF Tracy McGrady       25.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 0.96 bpg
PF Pat Garrity         11.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 42.7% 3PT
 C Shawn Kmnp           6.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 16.4 mpg

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Tracy McGrady, 25.6 ppg
Rebounding: Grant Hill, 8.9 rpg
Assists: Darrell Armstrong, 5.5 apg
Blocked shots: Tracy McGrady, 0.96 BPG
Steals: Darrell Armstrong, 1.91 spg

New York Knicks

Probable Starting Lineup

PG Charlie Ward        5.2 ppg, 3.2 apg, 1.08 spg
SG Allan Houston      20.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
SF Latrell Sprewell   19.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.9 apg
PF Antonio McDyess    11.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 57.3% FG
 C Kurt Thomas        13.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 49.4% FG

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Allan Houston, 20.4 ppg
Rebound: Marcus Camby, 11.1 rpg
Assists: Mark Jackson, 7.4 apg
Blocked shots: Marcus Camby, 1.72 bpg
Steals: Marcus Camby, 1.17 spg

Washington Wizards

Probable Starting Lineup

PG Larry Hughes         12.3 ppg, 1.55 spg, 42.3% FG
SG Jerry Stackhouse     21.4 ppg, 5.3 apg, 39.7% FG
SF Michael Jordan       22.9 ppg, 5.2 apg, 41.6% FG
PF Christian Laettner    7.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.6 apg
 C Brendan Haywood       5.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.47 bpg

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Michael Jordan, 22.9 ppg
Rebounding: Popeye Jones, 7.3 rpg
Assists: Michael Jordan, 5.2 apg.
Blocked shots: Brendan Haywood, 1.47 bpg
Steals: Michael Jordan, 1.42 spg

Miami Heat

Probable Starting Lineup

PG Travis Best       7.9 ppg, 4.4 apg, 23.6 mpg
SG Caren Butler
SF Eddie Jones      18.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.44 spg
PF LaPhonso Ellis    7.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 41.8% FG
 C Brian Grant       9.3 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 46.9% FG

2001-02 Season Leaders

Scoring: Eddie Jones, 18.3 ppg
Rebounding: Alonzo Mourning, 8.4 rpg
Assists: Rod Strickland, 6.1 apg
Blocked shots:. Alonzo Mourning, 2:48 bpg
Steals: Eddie Jones, 1144 spg

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