| Show Top Ten Things This Season Josh Hansen Staff Writer With the 2003 04 season approaching the league is experiencing experiencing experiencing a major changing of the guard Future Hall of Michael Jordan David Robinson John Stockton Hakeem and Patrick Ewing have all aJI left the game within the past year and teen sensations Cleveland's LeBron James and Denver's Carmelo Anthony come into the league with a lot Jot of potential to carry on the legacy of the Along with the retired players players have also switched teams during the summer Eighteen- Eighteen year veteran Karl Malone left the Jazz for Southern California to play for the Los Angeles Lakers after spending his entire career in Utah Among other changes Star All-Star Center Alonzo Mourning left the Miami Heat for New Jersey Brad Miller was traded by Indiana to the Sacramento Kings and in the biggest trade of the summer the acquired Star All-Star Guard Latrell from the theN N New ew York in a four team trade that also saw the acquire Ute ex-Ute Keith Van Horn from Philadelphia W With h all these ch changes the look bok- and feel of the is different F For or good or bad who knows I Iguess Iguess Iguess guess wed we'd have to find out in inJune inJune inJune June 2004 While making up your mind this season here are the top ten things to look for in inthe inthe inthe the in the 2003 04 season u 10 LeBron James will start over Allen Iverson in the Star All-Star Game If we had learned anything anything anything any any- thing from last year it is this being a Superstar doesn't guarantee that you will start in inthe inthe inthe the Star All-Star Game over an unproven rookie Like with Yao Ming and Shaquille 0 ONeal Neal last year it will happen again this year with LeBron James and Allen Iverson 9 The Utah Jazz will NOT make the playoffs Karl Malone left for LA John Stockton left for Spokane Washington and the Jazz are left with table scraps Their run of 20 consecutive years making the playoffs is officially over as of NOW 8 Yanni will sue Denver forward Nene for taking his idea for a singular name Over the summer Brazilian Hilario whose nickname is Nene officially changed his name to simply Nene It is also believed that next year he will once again change his name to The Basketball Player formally known as N Nene ene 7 Scottie Pippen will beg Michael Jordan to return to Chicago After his move back to Chicago Scottie Pippen will beg His to return to the Chicago Bulls for one run last as asa asa asa a player dont don t say its it's impossible look what happened last ast time 6 The Mavericks will average average average aver aver- age points and still give up a night During the summer the Dallas Mavericks added scoring scoring scoring ing small forward Antawn Jamison to their offensive attack Unfortunately their defense is still considered an offensive attack 5 The only thing Greg will lead the Jazz in is fights with Coach Jerry Sloan Greg has the longest tenure of any Utah Jazz player and has already declared his excitement about being a leader on this team Can I laugh now Is that kosher is as much muchas as a leader as is Shaquille ONeal is graceful Please 4 The Coaching Carousel will happen all over again next year During the summer summer summer sum sum- mer Larry Brown Rick Carlisle Mike Dunleavy Dennis Johnson Jeff Van Gundy Rudy Terry Porter George Karl Isiah Thomas Paul Silas Tim Floyd Eddie Jordan Doug Collins Lenny Wilkens Kevin oNiell and Keith Smart all either found or lost jobs as ashead ashead ashead head coaches in the Look for it to happen again next year especially with the Charlotte Hoh Bobcats lt coming in u. u 3 The New J Jersey Nets will repeat as the Eastern Conference Champs Three e years ago who would have thought that the New Jersey Nets would have made the playoffs yet alone the Finals TWICE They say that three times a charm They have Alonzo Mourning on board as well as Kidd Jefferson and Martin Who in the East can stop them But what's worse Having loosing season after loosing loosing loosing loos loos- ing season or loosing the Finals two years in a row If they keep this up you could call them the Buffalo Bills of the 2 The Los Angeles Lakers will have enough basketballs to togo togo togo go around When you have four players Shag Kobe Mailman The Glove that go by word one ed names on the same team you atomically assume that there will not be enough basketballs to go around Not this team Karl Malone and Gary Payton want to get their championship rings and if Kobe is in prison they wont won't have to worry about sharing the ball with him The Lakers will be one of the most exciting teams in inthe inthe inthe the league with leading the way 1 The Mailman will deliver a Ring to LA The Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets will face each other in a rematch of the 2002 Finals The Lakers will sweep the Nets in 4 games Karl Malone will run around the court like a a little schoolgirl while Larry H. H Miller makes a surprise visit with tissues in hand And those folks folks' are the top then things to look for in the 2003 04 2003 season Enjoy the season C |
