The Dallas Mavericks could become a contender this season for the first time in many years, since the days of Fat Lever to be exact. This team is poised to make a return to contention. Starring on the Dallas Mavericks is Michael Finley, the explosive scorer from Wisconsin who averaged 22.6 ppg last year. He and Steve Nash (8.6 ppg) make up a potentially explosive backcourt. Up front, young star Dik Nowitzki, who scored 17.6 ppg to go along with 6.5 rpg, teams with the tough Gary Trent, who scored 13.7 ppg. That is a tandem that could be very dangerous. At center, the Mavs have the talented but fragile Shawn Bradley, who did block 2.47 shots per game. However, if Bradley is not the answer the team hopes that Christian Laettner is. He scored 12.2 per game last year for Detroit. Off the bench, Dallas is also a deep club. Hubert Davis, a premier shooter, teams with newcomer Howard Eisley and rookies Courtney Alexander (24.8 ppg led the nation) and Etan Thomas (9.3 rpg and 3.69 bpg are a testament to how he plays defense). WWW.NBA.COM/MAVERICKS


The Denver Nuggets are a team searching for an identity. Long gone are the days when Dikembe Mutombo would swat shots away and the team would make the postseason. This team is led by Antonio McDyess, an Olympian who averaged 19.1 ppg last year to go alone with 8.5 rpg. He and Nick Van Exel (16.1 ppg) are one of the top scoring tandems in the league. James Posey and Raef LaFrentz, both college stars at Xavier and Kansas, respectively, must step up for the Nuggets to become a respectable team. Tariq Abdul-Wahad must produce more than his 11.4 ppg that he had for the Kings for this team to contend. Off the bench the Nuggest have several shooters. George McCloud (10.1 ppg), Tracy Murray (10.2 ppg), and Terry Davis all can score. Robert Pack, a member of the team that shocked the Seattle Sonics in the 1994 playoffs, returns to bring much needed energy to the team.
WWW.NBA.COM/NUGGETS


The Houston Rockets have gone from preseason playoff contenders to a team that is in the rebuilding phase. Steve Francis is the cornerstone of this young team. He led the Rockets in scoring (18 ppg), rebounding (5.5 rpg), steals (1.53 spg), and assists (6.6 apg). He is truly a franchise player. Shandon Anderon (12.3 ppg) joins Francis in the Houston backcourt. Off the bench the Rockets bring explosive pg Cuttino Mobley, who was second on the team in scoring with 15.8 per game. Up front the Rockets hope they can get something out of Hakeem Olajuwon, who could be playing his last season in the NBA. He scored 10.3 ppg last year to go along with 6.2 rebounds per game, but his touches could be limited this year with the youth movement taking place. Walt Williams (10.9 ppg) and the free agent Maurice Taylor (17.1 ppg to go along with 6.5 rpg while with LAC) make up a relatively young and talented frontcourt. Kelvin Cato (8.7 ppg and 1.91 bpg) and Kenny Thomas (8.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg) are big players than Houston can bring off the bench.
WWW.NBA.COM/ROCKETS


The Minnesota Timberwolves cost themselves 5 draft picks when they illegally signed Joe Smith to a lucrative contract. However, this team is still a solid ball club. The franchise player is Kevin Garnett, who carried the team last year, scoring 22.9 ppg and grabbin 11.8 rpg. At center, Radoslav Nesterovic is a big body but puts little up offensively (5.7 ppg). In the backcourt, Terrell Brandon makes this team go. He scored 17.1 ppg and added 8.9 assists. Chauncey Billups, who scored 8.6 ppg last season, was an addition that Minnesota hopes will benefit them. Off the bench, the Timberwolves bring the young scorer Wally Szczerbiak (11.6 ppg), Anthony Peeler (9.8 ppg), LaPhonso Ellis (8.4 ppg) and the former Blue Devil William Avery, who scored 2.6 ppg in limited minutes.
WWW.NBA.COM/TIMBERWOLVES


The San Antonio Spurs are one of the elite teams in the NBA. Their frontcourt is the best in the leauge. David Robinson, former scoring champion and 2 time Olympian, is still a force in the middle. He averaged 17.8 ppg last season to go along with 9.6 rpg and 2.29 bpg. The star of this team is stud power forward Tim Duncan, the 1999 NBA Finals MVP. In a season during which he was forced to miss the playoffs due to injury, Duncan averaged 23.2 ppg and 12.4 rpg. He also was second on the Spurs in shot blocking, averaging 2.23 per game. At small forward, Sean Elliott made a remarkable return from a kidney disease last year. He only averaged 6 points per game, but should improve this year. Derek Anderson, a guard who averaged 16.9 ppg for the Clippers last season, was added to the lineup to help ease the pressure on Duncan and Robinson. Avery Johnson, who scored 11.2 last year, returns as the point guard. On the bench, the Spurs bring the explosive Antonio Daniels (6.2 ppg), the improved Samaki Walker (5.1 ppg), the defensive minded Malik Rose (4.5 rpg), and the veteran Terry Porter (9.4 ppg to lead all San Antonio bench players).
WWW.NBA.COM/SPURS


The Utah Jazz are one of the most experienced teams in the NBA and still a contender because of their star talent. Karl Malone continues to star in the league. Coming off a season during which Malone scored 25.5 ppg, he is still one of the premier players in the game. Veteran John Stockton, in possibly his last season, scored 12.1 ppg and dished out 8.6 assists. He is still a solid defender, as his 1.74 steals per game attest to. This duo is the most accurate in the NBA, both hitting over 50% of their shots from the field. John Starks (13.9 ppg with Golden State/Chicago) and Donyell Marshall get a shot at a playoff run with the Jazz. Bryon Russell (14.1 ppg) and C Olden Polynice (5.5 rpg) will play a role in the team's playoff run. Danny Manning, who scored 4.6 ppg with Milwaukee last year, will be a factor off the bench. Quincy Lewis and Jacque Vaughn, all collegiate stars, will have to play a large role for the Jazz to be successful.
WWW.NBA.COM/JAZZ


The Vancouver Grizzlies could be a team on the rise, despite seasons of terrible records and of players who do not want to play for them. They have one of the best starting lineups in the league. Shareef Abdur-Rahim, one of the best players in the league, anchors this unit. He scored 20.3 ppg last season and grabbed 10.3 rpg. He made the Olympic team in 2000 and finally received the recognition that he deserved. Othella Harrington, who scored 13.1 ppg last season and at times played very well, joins Abdur-Rahim up front. At center, Bryant Reeves only scored 8.9 ppg last season and is on the decline. The Grizzlies have a young and talented backcourt. Mike Bibby, who scored 14.5 ppg last year and also dished out 8.1 assists per game, is a budding star. Michael Dickerson proved to be one of the league's most improved players, scoring 18.2 ppg to place second on the team. Off the bench the Grizzlies bring Stromine Swift, a high flying rookie out of LSU. Isaac Austin, the former Miami Heat forward, has been brought in to toughen up the team. Former T-Wolves swingman Doug West and tough rebounder Grant Long also should help the Grizzlies this season.
WWW.NBA.COM/GRIZZLIES