Mattie T’s Preview of the 2006-07 NBA Season

On Halloween night, 29 teams will try and dethrone the Miami Heat as NBA World Champions.

Now’s the time to see who has the best shot of knocking off the Heat.

1. Miami Heat (52-30 in ‘05, won NBA Finals)

Superstar players: G Dwyane Wade & C Shaquille O’Neal.

Key role players: G Jason Williams, F Antoine Walker, F Udonis Haslem, C Alonzo Mourning, G Gary Payton & F James Posey.

Must improve: Free-throw shooting.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32 in ‘05, lost to Det in Conf. Semifinals)

Superstar player: F/G LeBron James.

Key role players: C Zydrunas Ilgauskas, G Larry Hughes, F Drew Gooden, F Donyell Marshall, F Anderson Varejao, G Damon Jones & G Shannon Brown.
Must improve: Assists.

3. New Jersey Nets (49-33 in ‘05, lost to Mia in Conf. Semifinals)

Superstar players: G/F Vince Carter, F Richard Jefferson & G Jason Kidd.

Key role players: C Nenad Krstic, F Clifford Robinson, G Marcus Williams & G Eddie House.

Must improve: Three-Point shooting, Overall Field Goal percentage & Scoring.

4. Chicago Bulls (41-41 in ‘05, lost to Mia in 1st Round)

Superstar player: C/F Ben Wallace.

Key role players: G Kirk Hinrich, G Ben Gordon, F Andres Nocioni, F Luol Deng, G Chris Duhon, F Michael Sweetney & F Tyrus Thomas.

Must improve: Turnovers, Steals & Personal Fouls.

5. Detroit Pistons (64-18 in ‘05, lost to Mia in Eastern Conf. Finals)

Superstar player: G Chauncey Billups.

Key role players: G Richard Hamilton, F Tayshaun Prince, F/C Rasheed Wallace, F Antonio McDyess, G Lindsey Hunter, C Nazr Mohammed & G Flip Murray.
Must improve: Free-throw shooting, Blocked Shots & Rebounding.

6. Washington Wizards (42-40, lost to Cle in East 1st Round)

Superstar players: G Gilbert Arenas & F Antawn Jamison.

Key role players: F/G Caron Butler, G Antonio Daniels, F Jarvis Hayes, F/C Etan Thomas, C Brendan Haywood, F Darius Songaila & G DeShawn Stevenson.
Must improve: Defense & Assists.

7. Orlando Magic (36-46 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F/C Dwight Howard.

Key role players: F Hedo Turkoglu, G Jameer Nelson, G Carlos Arroyo, F/C Darko Milicic, F Grant Hill & G J.J. Redick.

Must improve: Assists, Steals & Turnovers.

8. Philadelphia 76ers (38-44 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar players: G Allen Iverson & F Chris Webber.

Key role players: F Andre Iguodala, F Kyle Korver, F Rodney Carney, F Bobby Jones, C Samuel Dalembert & G Willie Green.

Must improve: Defense & Rebounding.

9. Milwaukee Bucks (40-42 in ‘05, lost to Det in East 1st Round)

Superstar player: G Michael Redd.

Key role players: F/C Andrew Bogut, F Bobby Simmons, F Charlie Villanueva, G Mo Williams, G Charlie Bell & F Ruben Patterson.

Must improve: Blocked Shots & Turnovers.

10. Indiana Pacers (41-41 in ‘05, lost to NJ in East 1st Round)

Superstar player: F/C Jermaine O’Neal.

Key role players: F/G Stephen Jackson, G Jamaal Tinsley, F/C Jeff Foster, F Al Harrington, & G Marquis Daniels.

Must improve: Scoring, Turnovers & Field Goal percentage.

11. Charlotte Bobcats (26-56 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar players: F Adam Morrison & F/C Emeka Okafor.

Key role players: G Raymond Felton, G Brevin Knight, F Gerald Wallace & C Primoz Brezec.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls, Three Point Shooting & Field Goal Percentage.

12. Toronto Raptors (27-55 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F/C Chris Bosh.

Key role players: F/G Morris Peterson, F Andrea Bargnani, G T.J. Ford, G Fred Jones & F Joey Graham.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls, Blocked Shots & Rebounding.

13. Boston Celtics (33-49 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F/G Paul Pierce.

Key role players: F/G Wally Szczerbiak, C Theo Ratliff, G Allan Ray, G Delonte West, G Sebastian Telfair & F Al Jefferson.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls, Turnovers & Rebounding.

14. New York Knicks (23-59 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: G Stephon Marbury.

Key role players: G Jamal Crawford, C/F Eddy Curry, F/G Jalen Rose, F Channing Frye, G Steve Francis, F/G Quentin Richardson & G Nate Robinson.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls, Blocked Shots, Turnovers & Assists.

15. Atlanta Hawks (26-56 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F/G Joe Johnson.

Key role players: F/C Zaza Pachulia, F Shelden Williams, F Josh Smith, G Tyronn Lue, F Josh Childress, F Marvin Williams & G Salim Stoudamire.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls & Turnovers.

1. Dallas Mavericks (60-22 in ‘05, lost to Mia in NBA Finals)

Superstar player: F/C Dirk Nowitzki.

Key role players: G Jason Terry, F/G Josh Howard, F/G Jerry Stackhouse, C Erick Dampier, G Devin Harris, F Keith Van Horn & G Greg Buckner.

Must improve: Assists.

2. Phoenix Suns (60-22, lost to Dal in West. Conf Finals)

Superstar player: G Steve Nash.

Key role players: F Shawn Marion, F/C Amare Stoudemire, F/G Raja Bell, F/C Boris Diaw, & G Leandro Barbosa.

Must improve: Defense & Steals.

3. San Antonio Spurs (63-19 in ‘05, lost to Dal in West. Conf Semifinals)

Superstar player: F/C Tim Duncan.

Key role players: G Tony Parker, G Manu Ginobili, F/G Michael Finley, F Bruce Bowen & F Brent Barry.

Must improve: Steals & Free-Throw shooting.

4. Los Angeles Clippers (47-35 in ‘05, lost to Phx in Western Conf. Semifinals)

Superstar player: F/C Elton Brand.

Key role players: F/G Corey Maggette, G Sam Cassell, G Cuttino Mobley, C Chris Kaman & F Tim Thomas.

Must improve: Steals.

5. Denver Nuggets (44-38 in ‘05, lost to LAC in West 1st Round)

Superstar player: F Carmelo Anthony.

Key role players: G Andre Miller, F Kenyon Martin, C Marcus Camby, G Earl Boykins & C Nene Hilario.
Must improve: Defense, Turnovers & Three Point shooting.

6. Los Angeles Lakers (45-37 in ‘05, lost to Phx in West 1st Round)

Superstar player: G Kobe Bryant.

Key role players: F Lamar Odom, G Smush Parker, C Chris Mihm, F/C Kwame Brown, F Vladimir Radmanovic & F Luke Walton.

Must improve: Personal Fouls & Field Goal percentage.

7. Houston Rockets (34-48 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar players: F/G Tracy McGrady & C Yao Ming.

Key role players: G Rafer Alston, F Juwan Howard, G Luther Head, F/G Shane Battier & F/G Bonzi Wells.

Must improve: Scoring, Blocked Shots,Three Point Shooting & Field Goal Percentage.

8. New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (38-44 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: G Chris Paul.

Key role players: F Peja Stojakovic, F David West, F Desmond Mason, C Marc Jackson & F/C Tyson Chandler & G Bobby Jackson.
Must improve: Scoring, Blocked Shots, Assists, Three Point Shooting & Field Goal Percentage.

9. Utah Jazz (41-41 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F/G Andrei Kirileinko.

Key role players: F/C Mehmet Okur, F/C Carlos Boozer, F Matt Harpring, G Deron Williams G Gordan Giricek, G Derek Fisher & G Dee Brown.
Must improve: Scoring, Personal Fouls, Steals, Turnovers, Free Throw shooting, Three Point shooting & Field Goal percentage.

10. Golden State Warriors (34-48 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar players: G Jason Richardson & G Baron Davis.

Key role players: F Troy Murphy, F Mike Dunleavy & F/G Michael Pietrus.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls & Turnovers.

11. Sacramento Kings (44-38 in ‘05, lost to SA in West 1st Round)

Superstar player: F Ron Artest.

Key role players: G Mike Bibby, C Brad Miller, F Shareef Abdur-Rahim, G Kevin Martin & F Kenny Thomas.

Must improve: Defense, Blocked Shots & Turnovers.

12. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F Kevin Garnett.

Key role players: G Ricky Davis, G Mike James, F/C Mark Blount, F/C Eddie Griffin, G Trenton Hassell & G Rashad McCcants.

Must improve: Scoring, Rebounding & Three Point Shooting.

13. Seattle SuperSonics (35-47 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: G Ray Allen.

Key role players: F Rashard Lewis, G Luke Ridnour, F Chris Wilcox, & G Earl Watson.

Must improve: Defense, Personal Fouls, Blocked Shots, Turnovers, & Rebounding.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (49-33 in ‘05, lost to Dal in West 1st Round)

Superstar player: F/C Pau Gasol.

Key role players: F/G Mike Miller, F/G Eddie Jones, G Damon Stoudamire, G Chucky Atkins, F Stromile Swift & F Rudy Gay.

Must improve: Scoring, Rebounding, & Free Throw Shooting.

15. Portland Trail Blazers (21-61 in ‘05, missed playoffs)

Superstar player: F Zach Randolph.

Key role players: F Darius Miles, G Jarrett Jack, C Joel Przybilla, F LaMarcus Aldridge, G Brandon Roy, & C Jamaal Magloire.

Must improve: Defense, Scoring, Steals, Assists, Rebounding, & Free Throw shooting,
That’s a wrap!!!

Later tonight (or tomorrow morning), i’ll have my Top 25 College Football Recap. I’ll also have my Weekly Recap in the World of Sports blog tomorrow night.

Until then,

Mattie T

Sports Writer for BMS Radio Chicago

www.bmsradio.com