Pacific Division Preview

Yay! Outside of Minnesota, Sacramento fields the league's strongest starting five, led by a quartet of stars in Mike Bibby, Brad Miller, Chris Webber, and Peja Stojakovic. All are unselfish and knowledgeable players, and the post combination of Miller and Webber is the envy of the NBA. After years of devising various permutations of the pick and roll, Bibby and Peja now casually run complex patterns around Webber at the high post, while defenders appear to be chasing a pigeon in a studio apartment. Meanwhile, Miller is enough of a jerk that he'd be valuable even without his offensive talent, sixth man Bobby Jackson would start for at least 20 teams, and if guard Doug Christie is half as irritating to play against as he is to watch, he is this team's most valuable player.

Boo! The jaunty frat house vibe of seasons past has been replaced in Sacramento by an overwhelming melancholy. While this observer has always been turned off by their constant nudge-wink antics, it seemed to be working reasonably well for the Kings. But when Webber audaciously used the power of the print media to lecture Stojakovic, Miller, and other teammates for their playoff shortcomings, and head jester Vlade Divac defected to their hated rivals, the final cherries were removed from this sundae. Sacramento is no longer the league's cheery traveling ad campaign, and these teammates will be sharing neither Cokes nor smiles this season. That's not to say they won't be good - they're still very much championship contenders - but they won't be fun. And who doesn't like fun?

Los Angeles Lakers

Yay! Though they did give up the league's most game-changing presence, it's nice to get three players for one. Having decided to trade Shaq, L.A. did a reasonable job of acquiring value for him, primarily in the form of Lamar Odom, a nearly unfathomable talent who has finally stopped sabotaging his own career. Odom was effective and wildly competitive in last year's playoffs and this summer's Olympics, departing from the annoying pattern of peppering halfhearted games with occasional highlights. Aside from Odom, Miami also provided aging power forward Brian Grant. Though famously overpaid, opponents aren't concerned with his contract as he's tossing them aside for rebounds. Finally, the Lakers added Caron Butler, who will either settle in as sixth man or be traded, either of which will benefit the team.

Boo! It is said that power is sought by the very people who should not have it. That is certainly true of Bryant, especially in his first year as L.A.'s savior, the position he felt destined to occupy. This year's Lakers have very capable players on their roster - players with toughness, experience, and the capacity to lead - but their considerable abilities interest Bryant only as vehicles with which to further his own stardom. He will manipulate their careers in the same way he toyed with the Clippers this summer to secure his Laker payday. Vlade Divac and Lamar Odom are excellent passers and unselfish players - Kobe gets the ball. Brian Grant and Chris Mihm are good offensive rebounders - Kobe gets the ball. Chucky Atkins is a marginal point guard concerned with keeping his job - Kobe gets the ball. Kareem Rush can shoot from outside, making double teams a less viable strategy - Kobe gets the ball, one-on-one. Determined to win a championship The Way Jordan Did It, Kobe won't let talented teammates obscure the legend he sees in the locker room mirror. Bryant's declared mission is a fool's errand; he'll carry a team that doesn't need it.

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