This guy is pitiful. He ranks the Rockets at #18 and in his little explanation says they could be pretty good. huh? I was angry when he lsted them at 17. now he's move them down? I am usually a tad overluy optimistic when it comes to the Rockets. But this guy is horrible. Kahn is a con. 1. Los Angeles Lakers Everybody is getting into shape. Shaquille O'Neal has bounced back from toe surgery faster than expected, and he's already pushing Kobe Bryant for MVP. Yeah, go ahead and challenge them. Make their day. 2. San Antonio Spurs (2): The Spurs appear to be in fine shape and certainly the top challenger to the Lakers until we see the confidence level of Tim Duncan and David Robinson. All eyes are on Antonio Daniels and how he handles being the guy with the ball. 3. Milwaukee Bucks (7): Now that the Bucks have signed Anthony Mason, and budding star Tim Thomas has replaced achy-breaky Glenn Robinson in the starting lineup, they appear to be the team to beat in the East. At least they think they are. 4. Toronto Raptors (5): The Raptors are healthy and have more self-esteem than ever before. Their point guard situation still isn't great, but they really have everything else in place to win the East as Vince Carter continues to bloom. 5. Dallas Mavericks (6): It's hard to believe the Mavs really merit being this high, but for now, it will work. Nobody else has looked particularly strong in the preseason, so let's let them play their way down ... unless they don't. 6. Utah Jazz (8): This is typical of the Jazz, in better shape than anyone else to start, will be more consistent coming out of the blocks, and then we'll see. Keep an eye on hot rookie Andrei Kirilenko, who is drawing raves. 7. Sacramento Kings (3): It's tough to get excited about the Kings with Chris Webber riding the bike with a sprained ankle. And we still have to wonder about their lack of depth up front. But they can score, fast, and they're better with Mike Bibby than Jason Williams. 8. Philadelphia 76ers (4): With Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie still trying to get into playing shape after surgery, they'll probably be slow coming out of the blocks. As for the addition of Derrick Coleman, there will be no in-between ... either great, or they'll want to dump him immediately. 9. Charlotte Hornets (11): The Hornets have come a long way lately, and they feel even better with Derrick Coleman's large shadow gone. Unlike the past, nobody is talking about them, and that makes them dangerous. 10. Orlando Magic (9): Healthy, this team could win the East. But their footing right now is about as stable as the Everglades. Grant Hill sprained his foot, Tracy McGrady hurt his back and Mike Miller broke a toe ... and Patrick Ewing and Horace Grant are the old guys! 11. Portland Trail Blazers (10): They clearly have a big hole in the middle with Arvydas Sabonis' retirement, and even though coach Mo Cheeks handed the ball to Damon Stoudamire and said it's his, there are question marks lingering around this team's psyche. 12. Minnesota Timberwolves (14): Every time it seems we should be writing off the 'Wolves as a team on the cusp of disaster, coach Flip Saunders spins a new angle that works. Wally Szczerbiak at shooting guard is going to work and make them better. 13. Phoenix Suns (12): The pieces aren't quite fitting together yet for the Suns; it took nearly the entire camp for Stephon Marbury and Penny Hardaway to be healthy enough to play together. If they stay that way, they'll get better as the year progresses. 14. Miami Heat (15): Pat Riley keeps adding veterans, and with his history, that's a good thing for the start of the season. How long they'll last and the future of Alonzo Mourning's health are something else. But look for them to get off to a surprising start. 15. New York Knicks (13): This oddly constructed team has no chance in the big picture but will be tough along the way because of individual talent. As long as Marcus Camby is in and out of the lineup, they'll be hard pressed to win more than 45 games. 16. New Jersey Nets (23): There is a buzz around the East that these guys are going to make the playoffs. Kerry Kittles has been physically sound, Jason Kidd has all his teammates happy, and if they stay healthy, they could be just as good as those guys across the river. 17. Atlanta Hawks (18): The Hawks haven't been particularly healthy for all the new pieces to fit together seamlessly, but they do have more talent up front than just about anybody in the East. They've got a chance to be really good before spring even arrives. 18. Houston Rockets (17): Even without much help up front, the superior guard play of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley will prevent these guys from being embarrassed. In fact, they'll probably get better as the season wears on, and even be pretty good if Kelvin Cato and Kenny Thomas develop. 19. Seattle SuperSonics (16): Already Vin Baker (back) and Calvin Booth (ankle) are shaky, and even with them, they were thin up front. Good thing Gary Payton gained 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, because he'll need to carry even more of the load. 20. Indiana Pacers (20): Coach Isiah Thomas never lets on to exactly what he has or what he's doing, but suffice it to say he wants to develop his young talent, with rookie Jamaal Tinsley starting at point guard. If he listens, he'll pass to Jalen Rose and Reggie Miller, a lot! 21. Los Angeles Clippers (21): A lot of what happens to the Clippers will be contingent on how well Jeff McInnis and Keyon Dooling handle point guard. Both extremely quick and talented, these guys will shoot to hit .500 this season and just might do it. 22. Boston Celtics (22): The Celtics are continuing to get better, and if early indications that Kenny Anderson has experienced a renaissance at point guard are right, they've got a great shot at making the playoffs behind Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. 23. Denver Nuggets (19): With Antonio McDyess out until around January following knee surgery, this team is going nowhere. They have a lot of pieces that just don't fit, and the biggest one may just be coach Dan Issel, who appears to have run out of patience, again. 24. Washington Wizards (24): Michael Jordan played many more minutes than anyone expected in the preseason, working his way into shape. He's still a fabulous talent, although not with the same explosiveness as his last time around. They'll be tougher early in the season. 25. Detroit Pistons (25): New coach Rick Carlisle appears to have decided on a rotation, and he's counting heavily on aging guard Dana Barros to give them stability. Rookie Rodney White is in the mix, and Corliss Williamson might have already played his way out of it. 26. Golden State Warriors (27): The Warriors are loaded with young talent, but everybody seems to be off one position. Rather than force-feed Larry Hughes as a point guard, trade center Adonal Foyle for one and watch Hughes and Jason Richardson fight it out at the off guard. 27. Cleveland Cavaliers (26): As expected, center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is out for months as his foot continues to heal (maybe), and not even the energy of new coach John Lucas can get this group of average players to win against the far superior talent around them. 28. Memphis Grizzlies (29): The Grizzlies are excited about what they're getting already from rookie Shane Battier and Pau Gasol, but they can't find any takers for Bryant Reeves, and Michael Dickerson isn't particularly pleased that they haven't extended his contract with the Oct. 31 deadline. 29. Chicago Bulls (28): At second glance, there was no reason to pull the Bulls out of the basement. Their coy veterans are too old, their youngsters are too young and everybody else in between isn't any good. So they're rebuilding? Didn't we just go through this three years ago?
