Rice
World's 4th Annual2001-2002 NBA Season Preview
(brought to you by Miss Rice World 2000)
By: Gerry Wang
Rice
World's 4th Annual
2001-2002 NBA Season Preview
(brought to you by Miss Rice World 2000)
By: Gerry
Wang
Here are my predictions for the Eastern Conference.
*E A S T E R N
C O N F E R E N C E*
1.)
Philadelphia 76ers (2)
– Although they are decimated by injuries, their solid core of players will
return sooner or later, and they have plenty of playoff experience.
3.)
New York Knicks (6)
– The Knicks find a way to win, no matter how ugly, and they are also very
well coached. In the East, that’s all you really need.
4.)
Miami Heat (7)
– The Heat is a franchise on the skids, but they still got a lot of pride and
a warrior head coach in Pat Riley. PG Rod Strickland will make or break them.
5.)
Washington Wizards (8)
– Who woulda thunk it? The Wizards are playoff-bound, thanks to Jordan’s
presence. He’ll will his team to victory, but this team’s just too thin.
6.)
Boston Celtics
– They’ll narrowly miss the playoffs, and then heads will roll. They got
some great players there, but somehow the team’s never gelled.
7.)
New Jersey Nets
– Even though the Nets will finish last in their division, one bright note is
that they’ll probably have twice the wins of the Chicago Bulls.
1.)
Milwaukee Bucks (1)
– W/ the addition of Anthony Mason, the Bucks have 5 players who could score
at will. This is a team that should feast off the zones w/ their sharp shooting.
2.)
Charlotte Hornets (3)
– Every year I pick the Hornets to go far, and every year they stink it up.
They should’ve beat the Bucks last year, but this year they’ll go by the
wayside.
3.)
Toronto Raptors (5)
– Toronto re-signed all its major free agents, further solidifying the
chemistry of this team. The emergence of Alvin Williams will carry them to the
conference semis.
4.)
Indiana Pacers
– The Pacers will miss the playoffs, but they’re slowly building a pretty
balanced. They’re just one free agent away from being a perennial dark horse.
5.)
Atlanta Hawks
– One of the most improved teams. They traded for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, and
Theo Ratliff should return to form at some point in the season.
6.)
Detroit Pistons
– I’m not sure about this team. They’ve abandoned their wretched teal
uniforms for their original red, white, and blue garb. Will they play like the
Bad Boys of old?
7.)
Cleveland Cavaliers
– There are some teams that just consistently lose. The Cavs don’t have the
talent to do anything this year, or next year, or the next, and so on…..
8.)
Chicago Bulls
– They stink and have only gotten stinkier this season by trading their only
star, Elton Brand, and drafting a bunch of high school tykes.