Capsules in Predicted Order of Finish

1. LAKERS

2000-01 Record: 56-26, second in West.

Offense: 100.6 (3).

Defense: 97.2 (23).

Leaving: Isaiah Rider, Horace Grant, Greg Foster, Tyronn Lue.

Arriving: Mitch Richmond, Lindsey Hunter, Samaki Walker, Jelani McCoy.

Once again, the Lakers control their own destiny, but they have a habit of juggling it. Last season, they waited until April 1 to act interested, before unleashing a 23-1 season-closing run.

This roster is way better, giving Phil Jackson more firepower and size. Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant remain the game’s preeminent tandem, so once again, all eyes will be on them.

Prediction: They could be great, they could get by and still win a title as they did last season, they could actually blow it ... oh, I give up.

LAKERS

Projected Starters

G: Lindsey Hunter

G: Kobe Bryant

F: Rick Fox

F: Samaki Walker

C: Shaquille O’Neal

2. SAN ANTONIO SPURS

2000-01 record: 58-24, first in West.

Offense: 96.2 (12).

Defense: 88.4 (3).

Leaving: Derek Anderson, Avery Johnson, Samaki Walker.

Arriving: Steve Smith, Cherokee Parks, Bruce Bowen.

Didn’t you used to be the Spurs?

Getting swept by your arch-rivals by 22 points a game in the Western Conference finals is bad for your reputation. The Spurs then lost their best athlete, Anderson which didn’t look good--but the creaky Smith is a better player now. With Johnson, their “little general,” gone, Antonio Daniels becomes the starter.

Prediction: Still missing some firepower but size and defense keep them the most viable threat to the Lakers.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

Projected Starters

G: Antonio Daniels

G: Steve Smith

F: Bruce Bowen

F: Tim Duncan

C: David Robinson

3. SACRAMENTO KINGS

2000-01 record: 55-27, third in West.

Offense: 101.7 (1).

Defense: 95.9 (13).

Leaving: Jason Williams.

Arriving: Mike Bibby.

It’s amazing to contemplate but the Kings aren’t even a surprise any more. The Lakers didn’t overhaul them for the top spot in the Pacific until the last week of the season. They went meekly in the second round but by then, Chris Webber was in a funk, figuring he was gone.

Funny how things work out. Webber got no other offers he liked and General Manager Geoff Petrie sent away the flashy problem child, Williams, for the more reliable Bibby.

Prediction: Phil Jackson had better keep his ear plugs ready, Kings fans will be chasing him with cowbells through the foreseeable future.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

Projected Starters

G: Mike Bibby

G: Doug Christie

F: Peja Stojakovic

F: Scot Pollard

C: Vlade Divac

4. UTAH JAZZ

2000-01 record: 53-29, fourth in West.

Offense: 97.1 (10th).

Defense: 92.4 (8th).

Leaving: Olden Polynice, Danny Manning, Jacque Vaughn.

Arriving: John Amaechi, 2000 No. 1 pick Andrei Kirilenko.

Contenders come and contenders go but they remain, worn by the desert wind but still standing. Donyell Marshall’s rise let them move Bryon Russell to guard, but Marshall, who averaged 18 points in January and February, dropped to 10 in their first-round defeat by Dallas. Amaechi can shoot and Kirilenko opened eyes in preseason. If they give the Jazz something, it can compete.

Prediction: What’s his name, the big power forward, and that grizzled little point guard will probably be OK, too.

UTAH JAZZ

Projected Starters

G: John Stockton

G: Bryon Russell

F: Donyell Marshall

F: Karl Malone

C: John Amaechi

5. DALLAS MAVERICKS

2000-01 record: 53-29, fifth in West.

Offense: 100.5 (4).

Defense: 96.2 (15).

Leaving: Calvin Booth, Howard Eisley.

Arriving: Tim Hardaway, Danny Manning, Darrick Martin, Evan Eschmeyer.

After years of pratfalls, Don Nelson has built another team in his own fun-loving image, a successor to his wide-open Warrior teams. The Mavericks can compete in the West where all the other good teams are much bigger and more physical. The Mavericks’ answer is to spread opponents out and let Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash carve them into ribbons. Too bad they’re not in New York. They’d win the East and do wonders for the image of the game.

Prediction: Unfortunately, they’ll have to continue playing in the West.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

Projected Starters

G: Steve Nash

G: Michael Finley

F: Dirk Nowitzki

F: Juwan Howard

C: Shawn Bradley

6. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

2000-01 record: 47-35, eighth in West.

Offense: 97.3 (7).

Defense: 96.0 (14).

Leaving: LaPhonso Ellis.

Arriving: Joe Smith, Gary Trent, No. 2 pick Loren Woods.

The West’s Little Engine That Could is still chugging after the defection of Stephon Marbury, the death of Malik Sealy, the Joe Smith incident. ... Kevin Garnett is one of the game’s two or three best all-around players but the front line is as muscular as he is. Woods, who dropped into the second round on fears about his back, fits right in at a willowy 7-0, 240. Efforts to trade Terrell Brandon, who is wearing out yet another welcome, were a no go.

Prediction: They’ll be the same Timberwolves, gallant enough, just not big enough.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Projected Starters

G: Terrell Brandon

G: Wally Szczerbiak

F: Kevin Garnett

F: Joe Smith

C: Rasho Nesterovic

7. PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

2000-01 record: 50-32, seventh in West.

Offense: 95.4 (14).

Defense: 91.2 (6).

Leaving: Coach Mike Dunleavy, Arvydas Sabonis, Greg Anthony, Stacey Augmon, Steve Smith.

Arriving: Coach Maurice Cheeks, Ruben Paterson, Chris Dudley, Derek Anderson.

General Manager Bob Whitsitt is imaginative, although with the occasional blind spot: For instance, he couldn’t imagine why it was dangerous to get Rod Strickland. The Trail Blazers, then 42-18, dropped from No. 1 to No. 7 and were swept by the Lakers in the first round. Whitsitt then acquired Anderson and Patterson to add to his glut of disgruntled big guards and small forwards.

Prediction: If they come in seventh again, it won’t be a surprise.

8. PHOENIX SUNS

2000-01 record: 51-31, sixth in West.

Offense: 94.0 (17).

Defense: 91.8 (7).

Leaving: Jason Kidd, Clifford Robinson.

Arriving: Stephon Marbury, Dan Majerle, Judd Buechler, Johnny Newman, John Wallace.

Underrated, hard-bitten Scott Skiles kept the Suns respectable, without Penny Hardaway..But it’s only getting harder. Management traded Kidd, the playmaker of his generation, for Marbury, the headstrong youth of his generation: He had problems with Tom Gugliotta when they were in Minnesota, before going to New Jersey where he had problems with everyone. But Hardaway is back and Gugliotta looks OK for the first time since knee surgery two seasons ago.

Prediction: Marbury can’t blow another team up can he?

PHOENIX SUNS

Projected Starters

G: Stephon Marbury

G: Penny Hardaway

F: Shawn Marion

F: Tom Gugliotta

C: Jake Tsakalidis

9. CLIPPERS

2000-01 record: (31-51, 12th in West.)

Offense: 92.5 (21).

Defense: 95.3 (11).

Leaving: Cherokee Parks.

Arriving: Elton Brand, Will Perdue.

These crowd-pleasers came a long way but have a long way to go. Brand is perfect, a mature young man, who stood up and took the heat for the woeful Bulls. The key is Michael Olowokandi, still trying to come to grips with the suggestion that he be a defender and rebounder, rather than worrying about scoring and proving to people he’s a worthy No. 1 overall pick. Happily, Donald T. Sterling is not a key. This team is so good, so young and so optimistic--and so contractually tied up--for the moment, it’s Donald-proof.

Prediction: Anything could happen but the Clippers will have to finish growing up fast.

CLIPPERS

Projected Starters

G: Jeff McInnis

G: Eric Piatkowski

F: Lamar Odom

F: Elton Brand

C: Michael Olowokandi

10. SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

2000-01 record: 44-38, 10th in West.

Offense: 97.3 (8).

Defense: 97.3 (24, tie).

Leaving: Patrick Ewing, Ruben Patterson.

Arriving: Calvin Booth, No. 1 pick Vladimir Radmanovic.

Gary Payton was so sure he’d be traded, he took out a newspaper ad to say good-by. The new owner, Starbucks magnate Howard Schultz, zinged Vin Baker, seeming to presage Baker’s long-awaited ticket to ride. But, with luxury tax fears, nobody made a killer bid for Payton, and even the Knicks wouldn’t touch Baker. Payton, normally churlish with the press, was a sunbeam in camp and Baker came in fitNow to see what happens when the season starts.

Prediction: Coach Nate McMillan is a comer but this cast of characters is on its way out.

SEATTLE SUPERSONICS

Projected Starters

G: Gary Payton

G: Brent Barry

F: Rashard Lewis

F: Vin Baker

C: Calvin Booth

11. HOUSTON ROCKETS

2000-01 record: 45-37, ninth in West.

Offense: 97.2 (9).

Defense: 94.9 (10).

Leaving: Hakeem Olajuwon.

Arriving: Glen Rice, Kevin Willis, No. 1 pick Eddie Griffin.

Rudy Tomjanovich was doing fine in his continuing effort to rebuild, turning three mid-round picks into the promising Griffin on draft day.Then thefront line disappeared. Olajuwon decided to return ... to Toronto. Maurice Taylor blew out a knee after signing a $48-million contract. They signed Marc Jackson to an offer sheet but the Warriors matched it. Now at center, it’s the aging Kevin Willis or Kelvin Cato, who languished on the bench for a reason (ZZZZZ) and 6-7 Kenny Thomas at power forward.

Prediction: So much for the playoff race.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

Projected Starters

G: Steve Francis

G: Cuttino Mobley

F: Glen Rice

F: Kenny Thomas

C: Kelvin Cato

12. DENVER NUGGETS

2000-01 record: 40-42, 11th in West.

Offense: 96.6 (11).

Defense: 99.9 (27).

Leaving: Kevin Willis.

Arriving: Isaiah Rider, Avery Johnson, Scott Williams.

Coach and former General Manager Dan Issel was allowed to stay, either out of compassion or disinterest. In a town wild about the Avalanche , Broncos and Rockies, fans barely remember the Nuggets exist. To his credit, Issel acquired talented players. To his detriment, he wasn’t good at coaching them. Then Antonio McDyess blew out a knee and Issel decided to give Isaiah Rider one more chance. “We don’t even have chemistry,” said Nick Van Exel after the trade of Willis, “so I don’t know how we could disrupt it.”

Prediction: Nice knowing you, Dan.

DENVER NUGGETS

Projected Starters

G: Nick Van Exel

G: James Posey

F: Tariq Abdul-Wahad

F: Raef LaFrentz

C: Scott Williams

13. GOLDEN STATE

2000-01 record: 17-65, 14th in West.

Offense: 92.5 (25).

Defense: 101.5 (29).

Leaving: No one of note.

Arriving: No. 1 picks Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy, No. 2 pick Gilbert Arenas.

With impressive size and talent, but lacking organization and a sense of purpose, they remind you of the Clippers about two years ago. It’s been seven seasons since they won as many as 36 games. They drafted a shooting guard, Richardson (major upside, not quite ready) and said they could make room for him by moving Larry Hughes (major upside, not ready after three years in league) to the point, then dropped that plan in preseason. Oh well, back to the drawing board

Prediction: If Coach Dave Cowens could get them to play, they’d be a lot better.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Projected Starters

G :Larry Hughes

G: Bob Sura

F: Antawn Jamison

F: Danny Fortson

C: Erick Dampier

14. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

2000-01 record: 23-59, 13th in West.

Offense: 91.7 (25).

Defense: 97.5 (26).

Leaving: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Mike Bibby.

Arriving: Jason Williams, Lorenzen Wright, Brevin Knight, No. 1 pick Pao Gasol.

Some towns have all the luck. Vancouver, which had the Grizzlies, and Memphis, which gets them, aren’t two of those. Going into a new town with few expectations, owner Michael Heisley chopped payroll, giving away Abdur-Rahim and Bibby. Getting carried away, Heisley then signed the problematic Williams to a six-year, $43-million deal. The other hope is the 7-foot Spaniard, Gasol, who showed in camp, it will be a while.

Prediction: President Dick Versace will fire Coach Sidney Lowe and take over. Heisley will fire Versace. Then Heisley will sell the team.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

Projected Starters

G: Jason Williams

G: Michael Dickerson

F: Shane Battier

F: Stromile Swift

C: Lorenzen Wright