原文出自 nola.com http://www.nola.com/hornets/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/109906898568240.xml SOUTHWEST Sunday, October 31, 2004 How they'll finish -- By John Reid SOUTHWEST DIVISION 1. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (54-28) With Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, the Spurs have one of the best lineups in the league. They won the championship two years ago and have a good chance to make it back. A balanced scoring team that rebounds well. Prediction: Third seed in the West and a dangerous club. 2. HOUSTON ROCKETS (52-30) Center Yao Ming and guard Tracy McGrady already have been hyped as the best duo since Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant won three consecutive championships together. Ming and McGrady will get along better than the former Lakers' duo. But they won't make a trip to the NBA Finals this season. Prediction: Will challenge Spurs, fourth seed in playoffs. 3. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (48-34) The Grizzlies could be a one-season wonder with their team-record 50-win season in 2003-04. But don't bet on it. Coach Hubie Brown is exceptional at getting the most out of players and he has a roster that's deep, especially at forward. Prediction: Playoffs again, tied for sixth seed. 4. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (46-36) Hornets are younger and quicker and Coach Byron Scott's impact already has been felt with a tough training camp and higher expectations placed upon the players. New Orleans still lacks a solid backup power forward and may have problems matching up defensively. But don't be surprised to see the Hornets -- led by Baron Davis, Jamal Magloire and underrated P.J. Brown -- as the fourth team from this division to make the playoffs. Prediction: Better than most expect, eighth seed in the postseason. 5. DALLAS MAVERICKS (42-40) Dirk Nowitzki is going to miss not getting those great passes from point guard Steve Nash. Nash is in Phoenix, and Nowitzki could be competing for shots with guard Jason Terry. Mavericks fans may not want to buy their playoff tickets too early. Prediction: Not what they were. UNDERRATED F DIRK NOWITZKI MAVERICKS He has excellent range on his jump shots, doesn't complain much when things go wrong and is ready to take on a bigger role with Steve Nash bolting to Phoenix as a free agent. C YAO MING ROCKETS The big guy has improved his footwork, rebounding and scoring in his first two seasons in the league. He is now the most dominating center in the Western Conference. F PAU GASOL GRIZZLIES The league lacks quality mid-range shooters. Gasol is one of the best, especially when you consider he is a 50.4-percent career field goal shooter after his first three seasons. Not bad. OVERRATED G-F JERRY STACKHOUSE MAVERICKS He has volunteered to come off the bench as the sixth man because it's his best opportunity to score and not have to worry much about defending. It seems like Stackhouse is never happy on whatever team he plays for. No change will occur this season. STROMILE SWIFT GRIZZLIES After four seasons it's time for Swift to upgrade his game from just being a good dunker to being more of a scoring threat outside the lane. He rarely takes mid-range jumpers. If he wants to be one of the league's elite players, one-dimensional skills won't get it done. ROBERT HORRY SPURS He no longer moves or scores like he used to. But after 13 seasons, and five championships, he still likes the spotlight. It almost appears now like Horry is taking a roster spot from a more deserving younger player. IMPACT NEWCOMERS ERICK DAMPIER MAVERICKS He wanted to play on a playoff contender after not experiencing what the postseason was like in seven seasons with Golden State. How successful the Mavericks become will depend largely on how effective he can be in the post. For several seasons, the Mavericks have lacked a center who can defend and score. J.R. SMITH HORNETS He already has exceeded expectations with his poise and shooting ability. If he improves his defense, he could be starting at shooting guard for the entire season. That's pretty good for a 19-year-old rookie who bypassed college to enter the draft last summer. JUWAN HOWARD ROCKETS He can be a good contributor in the post to help Yao Ming. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy seems to get players to play up their potential, so it appears Howard is finally on the right team. KEEP AN EYE ON . . . TIM DUNCAN SPURS He didn't win the MVP award last season after winning the honor in 2002 and 2003. Another incentive for Duncan is trying to help advance the Spurs further in the playoffs than they fared last season after losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference semifinals. BARON DAVIS HORNETS He entered camp contemplating whether to ask management for a trade. But the Hornets said they are not going to trade him. With the season starting, it will be interesting to see how he handles his role for the full 82-game schedule. Will he remain happy or become disgruntled if the team sputters? TRACY McGRADY ROCKETS A hot topic will be watching McGrady adjust to Jeff Van Gundy's system. For the first time McGrady has been in the NBA, he won't be the first option to take shots. Van Gundy's system is designed to work the ball inside to center Yao Ming. McGrady finished as the league's leading scorer with Orlando last season, averaging 28 points per game. DID YOU KNOW? The Southwest is the only division in the league in which all five teams made the playoffs last season, with the Hornets qualifying in the Eastern Conference. --

※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.117.190.7