(Teams listed in predicted order of finish)
Atlantic Division
Coach: Byron Scott (78-86 in two seasons)
2001-02 season: 52-30, Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference champions.
Big offseason pickups: C Dikembe Mutombo, F Rodney Rogers
Key offseason losses: F Keith Van Horn, C Todd MacCulloch
In a perfect world ... : Jason Kidd continues to be the best point guard in the league, Richard Jefferson and Kenyon Martin form the best young forward duo in the East and Mutombo is the missing presence in the middle that gets the Nets back to the Finals.
Nightmare scenario: Mutombo shows his age and slows the works, no one matches Van Horn's outside prowess and Kidd thinks about leaving as a free agent at season's end.
Likely outcome: The Nets get back to the Finals, but still can't beat the Lakers.
Coach: Doc Rivers (128-118 in three seasons, all with Orlando)
2001-02 season: 44-38, third in Atlantic, lost in first round to Charlotte.
Big offseason pickups: F Shawn Kemp, G Jacque Vaughn
Key offseason losses: F Monty Williams, G Troy Hudson.
In a perfect world ... : Grant Hill finally gives the Magic a full healthy season, Tracy McGrady passes Kobe Bryant as the best player in the league and Kemp blows up to his "Rain Man" status in Seattle.
Nightmare scenario: Hill gets hurt ... again, McGrady's back flares up again and Kemp just continues to blow up to his blimp status in Cleveland and Portland.
Likely outcome: There may be enough here to get Orlando to the conference finals.
Washington Wizards
Coach: Doug Collins (295-242 in seven seasons, 37-45 in Washington)
2001-02 season: 37-45, fifth in Atlantic, missed playoffs.
Big offseason pickups: G Jerry Stackhouse, G Larry Hughes, F Bryon Russell, F Charles Oakley, F Jared Jeffries, G Juan Dixon.
Key offseason losses: G Richard Hamilton, F Popeye Jones, G Chris Whitney.
In a perfect world ... : Stackhouse and Michael Jordan combine to pull out close games in the fourth quarter, Jordan accepts a new role off the bench and Oakley brings maturity to young front line.
Nightmare scenario: Stackhouse and Jordan fight for shots, Jordan fights with Collins over a starting slot and the forwards don't progress.
Likely outcome: A playoff spot, and then, with Jordan around, who knows?
Coach: Jim O'Brien (73-57 in two seasons)
2001-02 season: 49-33, second in Atlantic, lost to New Jersey in Eastern finals.
Big offseason pickups: F Vin Baker, G Shammond Williams
Key offseason losses: F Rodney Rogers, G Kenny Anderson
In a perfect world ... : Paul Pierce continues his ascendance, Antoine Walker plays the loyal No. 2 role and Baker shakes his Seattle funk to give Boston an inside presence.
Nightmare scenario: Tony Delk and Williams can't replace Anderson, Rogers' combination game is sorely missed and Baker is Seattle-soft again.
Likely outcome: There's enough talent to get back to the playoffs, but a first-round exit looks to be the Celtics' fate.
Philadelphia 76ers
Coach: Larry Brown (831-651 in 19 seasons; 207-171 in five years in Philadelphia)
2001-02 season: 43-39, fourth in Atlantic, lost in first round to Boston.
Big offseason pickups: F Keith Van Horn, C Todd MacCulloch, F Monty Williams, F John Salmons
Key offseason losses: C Dikembe Mutombo, G Speedy Claxton
In a perfect world ... : Brown and Allen Iverson have made nice after last season's dust-up, Van Horn becomes a reliable second offensive option and Aaron McKie and Eric Snow stay healthy.
Nightmare scenario: Iverson reverts to skipping practices or showing up late, Van Horn misses shots and gets booed mercilessly by Sixers fans and MacCulloch looks timid.
Likely outcome: With injuries and the volatility of the Iverson-Brown situation, the Sixers could be on the outside of the playoff picture.
Miami Heat
Coach: Pat Riley (1,085-512 in 20 seasons; 329-213 in seven years in Miami)
2001-02 season: 36-46, sixth in Atlantic, missed playoffs.
Big offseason pickups: F Caron Butler, G Travis Best, F Rasual Butler
Key offseason losses: C Alonzo Mourning, G Kendall Gill, C Chris Gatling
In a perfect world ... : Mourning is somehow able to return this season from complications from his kidney ailment, Caron Butler blossoms into a star and Eddie Jones picks up the scoring slack.
Nightmare scenario: Brian Grant has to log long minutes out of position at center, Jones fades into the woodwork and Miami gets little production out of the no-name backcourt.
Likely outcome: Riley's streak of non-playoff appearances extends to two.
Coach: Don Chaney (285-425 in 10 seasons; 20-43 in part of one year with New York)
2001-02 season: 30-52, seventh in Atlantic, missed playoffs.
Big offseason pickups: F Antonio McDyess, F Michael Doleac
Key offseason losses: C Marcus Camby, G Mark Jackson
In a perfect world ... : Allen Houston shoots more consistently, Latrell Sprewell stays off yachts and someone emerges up front for injured McDyess.
Nightmare scenario: The season starts and the Knicks actually have to play games.
Likely outcome: Massive housecleaning, starting sometime during the season.
Central Division
Coach: Paul Silas (239-278 in seven seasons; 161-120 in four years with the Hornets.
2001-02 season: 44-38, second in Central, lost to New Jersey in second round.
Big offseason pickup: G Courtney Alexander
Key offseason loss: None
In a perfect world ... : Alexander exhibits promise that the Wizards were looking for, Jamal Mashburn bounces back from his strange end-of-season ailment and the aging front line doesn't get too old too fast.
Nightmare scenario: Mashburn plays sporadically, Elden Campbell plays lethargically and Baron Davis takes on too much of the offensive load.
Likely outcome: With a little more offense, the relocated Hornets could move to the Finals.
Coach: Rick Carlisle (50-32 in one season)
2001-02 season: 50-32, won Central Division, lost to Boston in second round.
Big offseason pickups: G Richard Hamilton, G Chauncey Billups
Key offseason losses: G Jerry Stackhouse, F Rodney White
In a perfect world ... : Hamilton adds toughness to his game, Billups runs the offense smoothly and C Ben Wallace adds a touch of offense to his stellar defense.
Nightmare scenario: Hamilton is brittle, Wallace's offense doesn't develop and points are hard to come by.
Likely outcome: Pistons tampered with what appeared to be a good formula and may get bounced from the playoffs in the first round as a result.
Coach: Isiah Thomas (83-81 in two seasons, both in Indiana)
2001-02 season: 42-40, fourth in Central, lost to New Jersey in first round.
Big offseason pickup: G Erick Strickland
Key offseason loss: None
In a perfect world ... : Reggie Miller has one more good year left in his jumper, Jermaine O'Neal becomes a monster and Al Harrington and Jonathan Bender get even better.
Nightmare scenario: Miller loses a foot or so off his shot, Jamaal Tinsley has trouble at the point and Bender and Harrington don't advance.
Likely outcome: A make-or- break year for Thomas and the Pacers, with a probable second-round playoff advance necessary.
Coach: Lenny Wilkens (1,268-1,056 in 29 seasons; 89-75 in two seasons in Toronto)
2001-02 season: 42-40, third in Central, lost to Detroit in first round.
Big offseason pickups: G Lindsey Hunter, F Lamond Murray
Key offseason losses: F Keon Clark, G Chris Childs
In a perfect world ... : Vince Carter regains "Vinsanity," Antonio Davis moves back to the pivot and Morris Peterson develops into a solid second scoring threat.
Nightmare scenario: Carter's outside shot stays a tad off, Clark's athleticism is sorely missed and Hunter isn't a good replacement for Childs.
Likely outcome: Wilkens heads to retirement after a first-round playoff exit.
Coach: Lon Kruger (58-106 in two seasons, both in Atlanta)
2001-02 season: 33-49, sixth in Central, missed playoffs.
Big offseason pickups: F Glenn Robinson, G Dan Dickau, F Darvin Ham
Key offseason losses: F Toni Kukoc, G Jacque Vaughn
In a perfect world ... : Robinson provides a solid scoring complement to Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Jason Terry becomes one of the best young guards in the league and Theo Ratliff and Nazr Mohammed anchor the middle.
Nightmare scenario: Robinson takes too many shots and continues to be defensively challenged, the young backcourt doesn't mature and Ratliff continues to be injury-prone.
Likely outcome: The Hawks have promised their fans the playoffs, and with a break or two, they could honor that pledge.
Milwaukee Bucks
Coach: George Karl (666-459 in 15 seasons; 163-133 in four years in Milwaukee)
2001-02 season: 41-41, fifth in Central, missed playoffs.
Big offseason pickups: F Toni Kukoc, F Marcus Haislip
Key offseason losses: F Glenn Robinson, F Darvin Ham
In a perfect world ... : With Robinson gone, Ray Allen gets more shots and makes them, Kukoc helps Sam Cassell run the offense and Tim Thomas makes a smooth transition into the starting lineup.
Nightmare scenario: Cassell blows a gasket over playing time or money or both, Anthony Mason becomes a cancer in the locker room and Allen refuses to be a leader.
Likely outcome: This is an unholy mess that ends with Karl moving on.
Coach: Bill Cartwright (17-38 in part of one season)
2001-02 season: 21-61, eighth in Central, missed playoffs
Big offseason pickups: G Jay Williams, G Roger Mason, F Donyell Marshall
Key offseason losses: G Travis Best, G A.J. Guyton
In a perfect world ... : Williams puts up Rookie of the Year numbers, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry get older and stronger and Jalen Rose provides mentorship.
Nightmare scenario: Chandler and Curry don't develop, Rose is disenchanted and the crowds get hostile.
Likely outcome: The Bulls will be a playoff team soon. But not this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Coach: John Lucas (165-224 in five seasons; 29-53 in one season in Cleveland)
2001-02 season: 29-53, seventh in Central, missed playoffs
Big offseason pickups: F Darius Miles, G Dajuan Wagner, F Michael Stewart
Key offseason losses: G Andre Miller, F Lamond Murray, F Michael Doleac, F Wesley Person
In a perfect world ... : Wagner brings more scoring to the point than Miller, Miles brings athleticism and Ricky Davis' game starts to match his boastfulness.
Nightmare scenario: Wagner is too callow to run the offense, Miles gets disgruntled and Davis' talk outpaces his ability.
Likely outcome: Cleveland is officially on the clock to draft LeBron James.