European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 23, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday october 23, 1386 the stars and stripes Page 19 celts the Choice again in Aba East by Bill Barnar associated press basketball writer with the a Alionna basketball association season set to tip off saturday la question on the minds of most basketball enthusiasts is whether or not the Bosto celtics Are invincible. Philadelphia Milwaukee and washing ton put Moses Malone. Jack Sikma Jef Fruland and Roy Hinson in different uni forms during the off season in a bid to Chal Lenge Boston s Eastern dominance. Bui will it work out West where los Angeles missed la finals for the first time since 1981 last year nearly everyone is standing Pat Here s a closer look at How each Aba team stands entering the 1986-87 season by conference and division in the order of predicted finish Eastern conference Atlantic division Boston celtics they mad important changes before last season bringing in Bill Walton and Jerry Sichl ing to provide Hel for a Brilliant but overworked Start ing five. The cel tics clicked go Ingall the Way to their i sch title. The Only newcomer this Rea son is. Free agent Fred Roberts audit s not a sure thing that he will eve make the team. No matter. Three time Bird map Larry Bird Kevin Schaje Robert Parish Dennis Johnson and Danny inc arc enough to fend off the other contenders. Philadelphia 76ers i Twain t easy to dump Malone and the first pick in the College draft and still find a Way to improve but the 76ers May have pull edit off. This will be a deep talented team. Budding superstar Charles Barkley is joined on the front line by newcomers Hin son and Ruland with Cliff Robinson Tim Mccormick and Danny Vranes in  Erving and Point Man Maurice Cheeks will pull guard duty. Andrew Toney Hopes to return from fool problems. Washington bullets meet the must and jul towers 7-7 Man ule to and the 6-10 Malone who reportedly is slim and motivated Uin. The Bullet also acquired three other veterans Darwin Cook from new Jersey  from the r 76ers and Dallas " Jay Vincent who will Start the season on the injured Listin the backcourt. The question Marks Are injured fran Johnson and aging Gus Williams. New Jersey nets  who has had personality dashes with coaches in the past,.� acquired to add much needed Point production up front alongside Buck Wil Liam and Mike Gminski Albert King Long a disappointment at Forward is moving to guard where he can share time with Otis Birdsong Bui the key u the team is whether Point guard Dwayne Pearl Washington can run the Ottens Farryl Dawki return from injuries is another question Mark new York kicks then a s answer to general to spill. Re turns for another year of rehabilitation. Patrick swing. Pat Cummings Rory Sparrow Anabil cart Ruhl. Alt Hope to rebound from injuries and to Fones woo played from two to 7i5" the 1985 scoring Champ Benwar taking who a injured his right knee again when be helped in a Bof while jew was week says Letl return when which could be never. Central Dit Alon Milwaukee Bucks with the addition of Sikma to play Center for team with six straight division titles the Bucks should win again Sikma joins Strong nucleus of Terry Cummings Sid Ney Muncrief and Paul Pressey Asvul supporting cast that includes Craig Hodges Ricky Pierce and Randy Breuer. Detroit pistons the Pis tons with below average height at every position i give up plenty of Points nut i be just As Lough to Stop on the offensive end. Any doubt that Premier Point guard Isiah Thomas could Tea with former tearing Champion Adrian Sanlley was an swered in their first exhibition game when Thomas had nine assists and Dan Ley scored 17 Thomas Points in the first period Center Bill Laimbeer the Aba s lop rebound Der Las season and a solid Korer will gel re bounding and scoring help it big Forward from Sidney Green who had a Strong second half in Chicago last season. Joe outrun s and Vinnie Johnson join Thom As at guard. Atlanta Hawks the Hawks surprised everyone with a 50-32 record last season and will Rise or fall on the brilliance of Dominique Wilton then a j leading scorer. Wilkins got plenty of help a year ago with Kevin Willis Glenn Rivers Randy wit Man and Spud Webb All emerging. Cleveland Cavaliers perhaps no team in the Aba is harder to figure. Everyone on the team seems Ca Pable of brilliance or bust. Starting with the front court the cars have to draft pick Brad Daugherty me Turpin Keith Lee Phil Hubbard and John Williams cleared in a Gam bling scandal at Tulane. The backcourt is just As talented and volatile with world b. Free John Bagley and Rookie Ron Harper. Indiana pacers Jack ram say takes a turn at turning around a team that always teems to bring in new Talent hat Doest produce. The pacers have the makings of a Betler than average front Tine with Herb Williams Way Antisdale Steve Stipanovich and Clark Kellogg. The latest import Chuck per son could persuade Ramsay to forget Tus tendency to ignore rookies. The Back court is still the team s weakness. Chicago bulls picking a team with Michael Jordan on it for the cellar seems incongruous but the magnificent guard could be faced with scoring 40 Points  to keep the bulls Heads above water. Orlando Woolridge and Sid Ney Green could have taken some of the pressure off Jor Dan but they were traded away for draft choices and Earl cure Lon. The Jordan top Rookie i 7-0 Brad Sellers possible Small  Western conference Munt division m Houston rockets the Rock Els who reached the finals  us season Are Young As Welt As Good. Twin town Ralph Sampson a Dakeem Olajuwon Are 26 and 23, timely and Forward Rodney Mccray is free Aguirre 25. Robert Reid who moved to Point guard after the departure of John Lucas fast season will play out of position again. Mitchell Wiggins and second year Man Steve Harris May get More playing time at guard intend of Lewis Lloyd. Dallas Mavericks the Mavericks unloaded forwards Jay Vin cent and Dale Ellis to give More playing time to Ditlef Schrempf. Coach Dick Motta also is said to be impressed with Rookie Roy Tarpley. But the guts of the team Wilt again be the solid starters for wards Mark Aguirre and Sam Perkins James Donaldson at Cen  and guards re Tando Blackman and Derek Harper. Alwood was picked up from Seattle in Exchange for Ellis and will Back up Black Man. Utah jazz the loss of Adrian Dantly leaves a big void but the jazz have played surprisingly Well in the past when he was injured and relations be tween him and coach Frank Layden were strained anyway. Kelly Tripucka Isan Able replacement and he win Benefit from having a 7-4, shot blocking Center like Mark Eaton behind him on  addition the Points should come easier if Darren Griffith comes Back from injury. Karl Malone and sixth Man Thurl Bailey Are both capable up front while John Stockton and Rickey Green share the Point spot. Denver nuggets a Strong playoff performance by Center Blair Ras Mussen could propel him into the Start ing lineup for the nuggets moving Wayne Cooper to Forward alongside High scoring ale English and shifting sore kneed Calvin Nail to a sixth manhole. Lafayette fat lever is Strong Point guard and . Dunn helped the nug gals become the Best in English the Aba at turnover ratio but they could use some scoring punch at off guard from Rookie Maurice Martin. San Antonio spurs the spurs have lost strength in recent years As Center Artis Gilmore aged and go Little help Al Forward. Swapping Steve Johnson to Portland for Mychal Thomp son should improve that spot. Forward Mike Mitchell s scoring and guard Alvi Robertson s All around brilliance should keep san Antonio out of the division cel Lar especially if Rookie Johnny Dawkins its in with new coach Bob Weiss run Ning game. Sacramento Kings the Kings traded solid Point guard Larry Drew and sixth Man Mike Woodcox to e Derek Smith can come Bac from injury and that Junior Bridge Man has t seen better Day. Lasal Ethompson continued to improve at Center while guard Reggie Theus and Forward Eddie Johnson were con to bpm Sis Tel forces. Sacramento won t make the playoffs unless Forward Otis Thorpe or Joe Kline contribute significantly Pacific Dit Sim los Angeles lakers they started 24-j last season and looked read to break the 17-year Streak of failure by defending champions. Alas however. They even missed the finals for Only the second time in the 1980s As Houston exploited the i bikers physical shortcomings up front. In the of season he Lak ers responded to this weakness by releasing Tough Guy Maurice Lucas. Look for magic Johnson James worthy Mihael Cooper and Byron Scott to outrun the opposition again a strategy that works almost every time. When it does to passing the Ball in to Karcic Abdul Jabbar is still a wonderful alternative. When it s time to play the rockets or celtics the lakers could be in trouble. Portland Trail blazers coming in second in the Aba s most unbalanced division is no great feat but Portland fills the Bill. If Center Sam Bowie can Sta healthy a big if the blazers can almost keep up with the lakers. Portland has two offensive forces in Clyde Droxler and Kiki Vandeweghe but Drexler s arrival Al guard shunted aside another promising Berry backcourt player Jim Pax Sott who was abuse As a backup. Portland fell so comfortable with Point guard Terry Porte that it traded Steve Colter to Chicago. Another injury plagued season by for Ward Kenny Carr would give College player of the year Walter Berry a Chanceton prove that his Low draft spot was a mistake. Los Angeles clippers other than Alvin Robertson in san an Tonio no one in the Aba improved More than clippers Center a Noil Benja min. He still in t among the elite but lie could be Good enough to put a second los Angeles team in the playoffs. Norm Nixon wrecked a knee playing softball inthe of season but was header far a Back scat to Larry Drew at Point guard. Trans planted Forward Marques Johnson should help. If the clippers gel capable play from reserves Kurt Nimphius Cedric Maxwell and Michael Cage they will make the playoffs for the first time Phoenix suns the suns arc a blend of Young and old with Little in be tween. On the old Side arc Walter Davis Alvan Adams and James Edwards while Jay Humphries Larry Nance and Rookie William Bedford have to improve. The suns missed the playoff for the first time in nine Yean last sea son and they will have to struggle Towel Back in. Atom Golden state warriors Joe Barry Carroll Purvis Short Erie Floyd and Chreti Musliu can score Larry Smith rebounds and Rookie Chris Washbum May have More natural Talent than any  Why do the warriors miss the playoffs year after year defense or rather Lack fit. They gave up 111 or Mync Points 42 times. Unless they can get that number Down to about  Tong Cason for new coach be Onekki Seattle superson1cs Sikma. The test a pfc 10 the 1919 championship team n gone and the zanies Are the worst for this replacements Alton Lister an Demon Johnson. Dont approach his ail Star Caliper. Seattle is solid Al Forward with Xavier Mcdaniel Tom Chambers to Dale Ellis but be sonics have the lbt league s weakest Bick court com  ence Stansbury a reject from Indiana could bet steer