From Dennis Velasco,
Your Guide to Basketball.
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25. Seattle Supersonics (35-47): Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis is as deadly a duo as you can find in the NBA. However, there isn't much left over as far as solid producers on the team. Chris Wilcox has potential, but just signed a three-year contract. How hungry is he going to be? Luke Ridnour is also good, but could have his job taken by Earl Watson. Look for Robert Swift to do some things this season and move pass Johan Petro as best big man project in Seattle.

26. New York Knicks (23-59): Going against journalistic decorum, I will admit that I'm a Knicks fan... hmm, maybe I'm actually going against sense in admitting that in public. In any case, the team has talent, but does it have chemistry? Having Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis in the same backcourt is a recipe for disaster. Add another shoot-first point guard in Nate Robinson and you're left wondering who's going to set up the offense? Eddy Curry still needs to learn how to use his derriere to box out and rebound, as well as intimidate the opposing offense with some blocks. For Isiah Thomas' sake, I really hope that Renaldo Balkman pans out so that Thomas can keep his job... for Knicks' fans sake, I hope he doesn't. However, I am looking forward to watching Channing Frye develop and I really hope that David Lee gets more time on the court. I don't think anyone works harder than him on the Knicks. He's basically a white Dennis Rodman.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (33-49): Poor Kevin Garnett. It looks like he's probably going to be playing the regular season with no sight of the postseason in view. The Timberwolves have some nice players in Ricky Davis and Mike James, as well as highly touted rookie, Randy Foye. However, James and Foye will look to make their own shots and this team meshing on the court could be a problem.

28. Memphis Grizzlies (49-33): Wow. How low we sink when we lose our best player. The Grizzlies lost the services of Pau Gasol for at least the first two months of the season thanks to a foot injury suffered during the World Championships. It'll be up to veterans Damon Stoudamire, Eddie Jones, and Mike Miller to try and keep this team from hitting rockbottom. Expect rookie Rudy Gay, some of whom said he was the most talented in his draft class this year, to get his opportunities to prove that statement true.

29. Atanta Hawks (26-56): This will be the year that Josh Smith puts it all together for a full season and play at an All-Star level. Unfortunately, like Joe Johnson's stellar production last season, it won't matter much in the Wins column. With Al Harrington gone to Indiana, expect Marvin Williams to improve on last season's numbers.

30. Portland Trailblazers (21-61): The Blazers made a ton of moves during this past year's draft and didn't improve their team for this season at all. However, there's possible hope for the future in Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Sergio Rodriguez from this year's rookie crop, but also look for second year players, Martell Webster and Jarret Jack to do some things on the court. In particular, I like Roy's prospects of excelling at the pro level, considering his skill set and ability to penetrate easily to the basket. But, the focus of the offense will probably be Zach Randolph, who seems to have gotten lazy and injury prone after signing a multi-year deal a couple of years ago.