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The Gov is right about the east... it's Detroit's to win if Billups and Hamilton stay healthy. Hell, if Billups hadn't gotten hurt, the Pistons may have been the ones to lose to the Spurs instead of the Nets. Chauncey was the hottest player in the playoffs before his injury, and Kidd was very inconsistent.
Billups, Hamilton, Prince, and Okur were all in their first year in Detroit, and Rick Carlyle gave Prince and Okur minutes only grudgingly. Larry Brown likes younger players and a faster paced game. The whole team should be better than last year. Darko can take this year to work and learn... and pump some iron with Ben Wallace... and be ready to contribute next season.
New Jersey replaced one tired Georgetown center with another. Mourning can help Kenyon Martin develop his game, but is he durable enough to last the season? The role players need to improve their game and their attitudes if the Nets wish to repeat.
The Magic act like Juwan Howard is going to be a difference maker. Based on what? Gooden's continued improvement will prove more important. Third in the east is a possibility.
Indiana fans may be treated to a soap opera this year. Artest, O'Neal, and Carlyle could be a great combination, but more likely will tear each other up. O'Neal loved Isaih Thomas, Artest hates everybody, and everybody loves to hate Rick Carlyle (except Larry Bird).
Milwaukee has a lot of gellin' to do. Skinner looks good and Redd has promise.
Boston gained more by subtracting Antoine Walker than Dallas did by adding him, but Danny Ainge has a long-term project on his hands.
Who else is worth mentioning in the east? There's a lot of talented characters (Iverson, Carter, LeBron, Baron Davis) who will play great but still lose, just like last year.
The west? Oh, yeah, there's a few good teams out there, or so I'm told.
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"Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard
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