OK, this much everyone knows: The Bulls aren’t going to be winning any more titles.
After all, Scottie Pippen is being seen about as often as Santa Claus, and perhaps he won’t appear until about the same time. Dennis Rodman was furious for weeks, and the season hadn’t even started. They already are trying to find ways to cut down Luc Longley’s minutes. And how long can Michael Jordan go on, especially when his scoring burden has to increase this season?
So one looks for the heir.
Knicks? Heard that one before.
Hawks? Right, and a guy named Mookie is going to be a champion. As soon as Dikembe Mutombo can score in an empty gym.
Heat? Miami, home of champions? Let’s see if P.J. Brown can get away with suckering anyone else but a New Yorker into a fight.
Magic? This is the one where a team gets better once it loses the best center of his era.
Pistons? Brian Williams comes back to haunt the Bulls? Did anyone say, `Help’?
Hornets? Wait until David Wesley finds out what it’s like to be on a team trying to win games.
Pacers? The Rik Smits era continues?
Wizards? Wait until Chris Webber and Juwan Howard find out a jump ball doesn’t mean they both go for it.
“As long as Michael Jordan is there, with the role players they brought in around him, they are going to be a very, very good team,” Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy says. “Right now, because of their situation with Scottie Pippen, they’re trying to soft-sell again how good things are going to be. I think they realize they are going to be a dominant team, but they are still looking for any motivational advantage they can get.
“I think they’re going to use the Pippen situation to their advantage. I would suspect they would be a great team from Day One.”
Of course, that’s not the universal opinion. Those hoping for the Bulls’ demise point to the inevitable injuries, age and internal dissension. Coach Phil Jackson, for instance, has all but said management is forcing him out. Now, for the first time in several years, the rest of the conference has upgraded.
“I don’t know how the smoke is going to clear,” Heat coach Pat Riley says, “but I look for the Eastern Conference to be as good as it has been in a long time.”
So are the celebrations in Chicago over?
“You have teams who have a legitimate shot, providing they remain healthy,” Cleveland coach Mike Fratello says. “New York has to feel that way, as well as Miami, Atlanta, Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana. Those guys all look at Chicago and say they have a real chance of making a run and beating them.”
But as for doing it . . .
1. Bulls
Last season: 69-13
Major changes: Added center Joe Kleine and forward Scott Burrell for center Robert Parish and forward Dickey Simpkins. Forward Scottie Pippen out two months after surgery.
Comment: If not them, then who? No one in the East has played them tough in the playoffs or appears to believe it can beat them.
2. Indiana Pacers
Last season: 39-43
Major changes: F Chris Mullin for C Erick Dampier and F Duane Ferrell. Added free-agent C Mark West.
Comment: The big change is coach Larry Bird, who’ll make them a serious contender as long as C Rik Smits remains relatively healthy. And come midseason, they get F Derrick McKey back from an Achilles’ tendon injury.
3. New York Knicks
Last season: 57-25
Major changes: Added C Chris Dudley, plus F Chris Mills in a trade for most of the end of their bench.
Comment: They have been bold in continuing to add talent. But the big problem is that ability is all around Patrick Ewing, who is failing physically. Yet his pride and accomplishments don’t let him step back.
4. Orlando Magic
Last season: 45-37
Major changes: Landed G Derek Harper for F Dennis Scott, and G Mark Price for G Brian Shaw; signed free-agent C/F Charles Outlaw.
Comment: No, Orlando is not winning any titles without Shaquille O’Neal, but it has upgraded with Harper and Price, and Chuck Daly will get the team to play defense. Remember, Penny Hardaway missed 23 games last season.
5. Miami Heat
Last season: 61-21
Major changes: G Todd Day, G Eric Murdock, F Terry Mills and C Duane Causwell (free agents). Lost G John Crotty (free agent).
Comment: Heat was exposed somewhat in last season’s playoffs, first by Hardaway’s scoring and then by the Knicks until Charlie Ward flipped. And Alonzo Mourning will be out two months after knee surgery.
6. Charlotte Hornets
Last season: 54-28
Major changes: Added G Bobby Phills, F J.R. Reid and G David Wesley (free agents). Waived G Ricky Pierce, F Donald Royal and G Tony Smith.
Comment: They signed a new back court, which was their main weakness last season. If Glen Rice can have another season like his last, they could move up.
7. Atlanta Hawks
Last season: 56-26
Major changes: Lost G Jon Barry and G Henry James (free agents).
Comment: Their plus is another year playing together, but they made big runs at every small forward available and still have Tyrone Corbin.
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Last season: 33-49
Major changes: Traded F Vin Baker and G Sherman Douglas for G Terrell Brandon and F Tyrone Hill. Got F Ervin Johnson for F/C Joe Wolf and F Johnny Newman. Added F Michael Curry.
Comment: They made the biggest shakeup and now seem set at every starting position. If they don’t make the playoffs, there will be more changes.
9. Detroit Pistons
Last season: 54-28
Major changes: Added G Malik Sealy and F/C Brian Williams. Lost F Michael Curry and F Terry Mills (free agents) and traded F Otis Thorpe.
Comment: If they hadn’t lost out on Chris Dudley in a deal, they could be a contender. But Williams is not particularly reliable over a full season.
10. Washington Wizards
Last season: 42-38
Major changes: None.
Comment: They should make the playoffs. But so should the other nine teams ahead of them. That’s the problem in the East. They rely a lot on Rod Strickland, who starts the season injured. They have a lot of talent, but it has yet to show it can mesh.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
Last season: 42-40
Major changes: Got F Shawn Kemp for F Tyrone Hill and G Terrell Brandon. Lost C Mark West, G Bobby Phills and F Chris Mills (free agents).
Comment: They’re making over their team, trying to run with rookies Brevin Knight and Derek Anderson. A tough change for coach Mike Fratello. Kemp always has been somewhat erratic.
12. Toronto Raptors
Last season: 30-52
Major changes: Lost F/C Cliff Rozier and G Hubert Davis (free agents). Added F John Wallace from Knicks.
Comment: They’re young and have potential with Marcus Camby, high-schooler Tracy McGrady and Damon Stoudamire. But they’re weak inside with Sharone Wright out.
13. New Jersey Nets
Last season: 26-56
Major changes: G Jim Jackson and F Eric Montross dealt to Philadelphia for F/C Michael Cage, F Don MacLean and F Keith Van Horn.
Comment: Re-signing G Sam Cassell and the return of F Chris Gatling and F David Benoit gives them firepower with G Kendall Gill and G Kerry Kittles. Van Horn is the hottest rookie this side of Tim Duncan. So they could make a move.
14. Philadelphia 76ers
Last season: 22-60
Major changes: Landed C Eric Montross and G Jim Jackson in trade; added free-agent F Terry Cummings and rookie F Tim Thomas.
Comment: Unfortunately, it all revolves around Allen Iverson and Derrick Coleman. And new coach Larry Brown isn’t the most patient of men.
15. Boston Celtics
Last season: 15-67
Major changes: Added G Tyus Edny, F/C Andrew DeClerq, F/C Roy Rogers, C Travis Knight, F Walter McCarty, F Dontae Jones and G Scott Brooks. Lost F Rick Fox, G Todd Day, G David Wesley, F Eric Williams, F/C Dino Radja, F/C Frank Brickowski and C Alton Lister.
Comment: Help!
