Key issues abound for all 30 NBA teams

02.10.2007 03:00 Sport and Travel - Source: USA Today

•Atlanta Hawks —They finally have a balanced team with additions of rookies Acie Law and Al Horford, which really puts coach Mike Woodson on the spot now.

•Boston Celtics — The new Big Three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce shouldn't have any trouble playing together because they are unselfish veterans who understand that this could be their chance at a ring. The question, however, centers on point guard Rajon Rondo. Can he lead this team or will they have to go out and get a veteran point guard?

•Charlotte Bobcats — Owner Bob Johnson finally opened up his wallet, bringing in high-salaried Jason Richardson and re-signing Gerald Wallace. Sam Vincent was brought in as coach and they will run a lot more than in the past. How does Adam Morrison fit into their plans now, however?

•Chicago Bulls — They kept the team together and have talent galore, but they still don't have a dominant low post offensive threat.

•Cleveland Cavaliers —LeBron James proved last season that he was good enough to lead an otherwise mediocre team to the NBA Finals, but the Cavaliers have made a big gamble by standing pat. James needs another stud and he didn't get one.

•Dallas Mavericks — It's all about psyche with this team. Blowing the 2-0 lead to the Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals and then coming back with the league's best record last season, only to lose in the first round, has to have them thinking.

•Denver Nuggets —Carmelo Anthony is unequivocally the star of this team. How well Allen Iverson adjusts to that reality now that he knows and understands it could hold the key to their success.

•Detroit Pistons — This is a predictable, veteran team that has had to shake things up within. The big experiment is to play Rasheed Wallace at center and to start Antonio McDyess at power forward.

•Golden State Warriors — This team has plenty of offense and rookie Marco Belinelli is a star on the rise, but defense and rebounding are still the big question marks.

•Houston Rockets — After toiling under Jeff Van Gundy's deliberate ball control style, they will be given more offensive freedom under new coach Rick Adelman. The question now is how well they adjust to it.

•Indiana Pacers — Is Jermaine O'Neal going to be happy with the direction of the team or is trading him the best way for the franchise to get back on track?

•Los Angeles Clippers —Do the Clippers have enough to overcome being besieged by injuries? Point guard Shaun Livingston, who missed most of last season with a horrific knee injury, isn't expected back until March. Elton Brand, who tore his Achilles this summer, is also out and oft-injured Sam Cassell will be 37 next month.

•Los Angeles Lakers — Is Kobe Bryant going to be happy and productive if the team he has now is the team he has all season?

•Memphis Grizzlies — With a new young coach in Marc Iavaroni, a proven point guard in Juan Carlos Navarro from Spain and a happy Pau Gasol, they could be ready to make some noise. But it might take close to 50 wins to just make the playoffs in the West, and that would mean a 28-game improvement, a huge task for any team.

•Miami Heat — How much does Shaquille O'Neal have left?

•Milwaukee Bucks — Opponents shot 48% against them last season, and until that changes, nothing else is going to matter much.

•Minnesota Timberwolves — Did they get enough for Kevin Garnett?

•New Jersey Nets — Center Nenad Krstic might not be at full strength until January after a torn knee ligament he sustained early last season. The Nets found out in the playoffs just how valuable he is to them.

•New Orleans Hornets — Is Peja Stojakovic, who played in only 13 games last season because of a back injury, going to be able to contribute anything?

•New York Knicks — How are perhaps their two best players —Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry— going to stay out of each other's way? And will Isiah Thomas be around to give them direction?

•Orlando Magic — Can Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard become the next great inside-outside duo in the NBA?

•Philadelphia 76ers — Is Andre Iguodala really as good as it looks like he is?

•Phoenix Suns — Scoring has never been a problem for this team, but defense and rebounding are still issues

•Portland Trail Blazers — Losing Greg Oden is a devastating loss, but the Blazers must decide what to do with Darius Miles. He missed all of last season with a knee injury and really doesn't seem to fit into their long-range plans.

•Sacramento Kings —For the first time in recent memory, the Kings are in a rebuilding mold. With that scenario, is it best to trade Ron Artest when he is in such demand or make him a part of the rebuilding?

•San Antonio Spurs— They are old and didn't make any major changes, but they are still the champions. The question is do they have one more run in them with the same team?

•Seattle SuperSonics —Who is going to be the point guard: Luke Ridnour, Earl Watson or Delonte West. Somebody is getting traded and who can they get the most for?

•Toronto Raptors— They are deep and versatile, but do they have the interior strength and toughness at the defensive end to take the next step?

•Utah Jazz —Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are as good as any young duo in the league, but this team's heart was questioned in the series against the Spurs during the playoffs. Now Andrei Kirilenko says he wants out from under Jerry Sloan's thumb.

•Washington Wizards — They still don't have an offensive low post presence and the East is still a slow-down, grind-it-out, defense-first conference. There is only so much that can get done from the perimeter.

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