1. Is the Miami Heat the team to beat?Miami is the defending champion, but there are a lot of questions, from the health of Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Williams to the support crew, including whether Antoine Walker can flourish as a reserve when his pouting seems to suggest otherwise. 2. Is Dallas ready for a breakthrough?It's hard to think otherwise. The Mavericks still sting from blowing a 2-0 Finals lead against the Heat. Dallas actually improved over the summer, adding Anthony Johnson, Greg Buckner and Devean George for depth, and there might not be a hungrier group. 3. Will Big Ben toll loudly for the Chicago Bulls?The Bulls are counting on it as they spend $60 million for four years in the biggest offseason move. Ben Wallace was a difference maker in the most brutish sense for the Detroit Pistons. But has he suddenly become more high maintenance? He wants the ball on offense, for heaven's sake.4. Will the addition of Bonzi Wells boost the Houston Rockets?The moment Wells had 18 rebounds against Houston while with the Kings early last season, the Rockets daydreamed about his penchant to board. Wells will be motivated after turning away an offer to return to Sacramento, but unless Tracy McGrady can stay healthy, the Rockets will not close the gap on their twin Texas rivals, Dallas and San Antonio. 5. Is Dwyane Wade the NBA's top talent?Did you catch his Finals act? He's a humble star, and he's still improving. He's also the first to admit he needs a healthy "Diesel" named Shaq to remain upright. 6. Can 'Nellie' improve Golden State?Yes. Don Nelson won't bore some of the most underrated fans in pro sports, be it with his words or style of play. And the Warriors are well past due, having missed the playoffs an NBA-high 12 seasons or since "Nellie" last was in town as the Warriors' coach. 7. What more can LeBron James do?Win more playoff series. Everyone knows he is a triple double threat even on his worst day, but the real mark of his greatness _ much like his idol, Michael Jordan _ will be how many playoff series he can win. For now, the Cavs are in the shadow of the Heat and Pistons, perhaps even the Bulls. 8. Can Amare Stoudemire return to form for Phoenix?The rest of the NBA is hoping not. And medical history shows most athletes do not fully recover from microfracture knee surgery. Then again, Stoudemire isn't like most athletes. 9. Could this be the beginning of the end for the Kevin Garnett-Timberwolves and Allen Iverson-Sixers eras?Absolutely. If Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaq can be traded, anyone can. KG and AI still have a wealth of skills, but their teams are going nowhere. They could land with a contender.10. Will Kobe and Phil get the Lakers back to the postseason?It'll be a chore. The Western Conference is loaded. Kobe Bryant must learn to share the ball because 81-point outbursts don't clinch playoff berths. Phil Jackson, his coach, won't even be around to remind him; he'll miss training camp because of hip replacement surgery. http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/14326
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JRICH23 @ Nov 2 2006, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Will the pistons finish higher than 3rd in the Central Division?Or maybe even 4th.</div>Yes. They will win the division.
