European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 5, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday november 5,1987 the stars and stripes Page 19 Aba preview Champion lakers poised to fulfil Riley s guarantee from Pago 17 person but i truly believe this is the Only thing left for them to accomplish. This time i Don t want pressure to come fro the outside. It needs to be internalized. In reality it should have started septem Ber of 1986 when los Angeles opened Camp As runner up in the Western con Ference. We looking at a two Yea window. I want this team to understand that itis shooting for something that could sep Arate it from the Best. This could be a special team in a special Pacific division the lakers return the key players from a team that went a league Best 65-17 during the season and 15-3 in the playoffs. Magic Johnson who took on More scoring responsibilities at the re quest of Riley is coming off his Best sea son. He again led the league in assists 12.2 a game. He was also named league map for the first time and map of then a finals for an unprecedented third time. However the 28-year-old guard missed most of the exhibition season be cause of tendinitis in his Knees. He is expected to be in the lineup opening night. Los Angeles returns Karcic Abdul Jabbar for his 19th season at Cen Ter along with forwards James worthy and . Green. Byron Scott at times a liability at shooting guard in the playoffs is on the squad. In addition there is Mychal Thomp son the key acquisition last year at for Ward Center defensive player of the year Michael Cooper and forum favor Ite Kurt Rambis. Right now i predict them to win then a championship said Aba coach of the year Mike Schuler of Portland. We Are playing for added Karl right now they at least 10 percent better than any team in basketball. The question is they a year older or Are they a year better second in the Pacific division is a toss up. Golden state Portland an Seattle All improved last season. The supersonics behind Dale Ellis Xavier me Daniel and Tom Chambers were a sur prise opponent against the lakers in the Western conference final. Portland finished second in the Divi Sion but lost Sam Bowie to another Bro Ken leg and Are in need of a solid Center. Golden state Hopes for a More mature Chris Washburn at Center with top pick Tallis Frank a 6-10 Forward Center to help underneath. Gene Shue takes Over a los Angeles Clipper team that won just 12 games last year. Phoenix also has a new coach in John Wetzl whose team ended Las sea son mired in a drug scandal. The club is monitoring the situation involving Wal Ter Davis who named teammates Jay Humphries and James Edwards in a grand jury investigation. Atlantic division Boston the elite in the East will Start this season they Way it finished last injured. Kevin me Hale will be out until december after foot surgery and Bill Walton is not expected Back until at least March. But Larry Bird Robert Parish Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge return to form the most solid starting unit inthe league. Washington with 5-3 Tyrone big Cusand 7-6 Manuec Bol will feature a lineup with the league s shortest and tallest players. The bullets signed former no scoring Leader Bernard King late in the preseason to help Moses Malone with inside scoring. Charles Barkley the re bounding Leader last year 14.6 pregame leads the 76crs with Julius Ervig gone. But the retirement of Jeff Ruland leaves Philadelphia without a legitimate enter. The new York area will have Little to look Forward to. Rick piling has taken Over the kicks and installed a running pressing system that relies on a Dee Bench which he does not have. Top draft pick Mark Jackson should add passing savvy to the attack but without Pundur to help Patrick Ewing the kicks should stay near the Bottom. New Jersey missed the playoffs for the first time in five seasons last year. The nets improved their Bac coun by adding John Bagley and top pick Dennis hop son. However they traded Dawkins an need a Center to help Mike Gminski. Midwest division John Macleod takes Over the Dallas Mavericks who won the division but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Seattle. Houston put its House in order by signing Ralph Samp son to a Long term contract but the rockets need to improve their Back Mounif they Are to contend for a league title. The jazz completed the biggest off season Trade giving up Kent Benson for Dairy Dawkins and Mel Turpin in a three Way Deal with new Jersey and Cleveland. We have improved ourselves jazz coach Frank Layden said. But we Haven t improved ourselves to where we can win 56 games. I think we can Chal Lenge for second or Sacramento named Russell coach and Willis Reed his assistant. First round pick Kenny Smith has been impressive peaks and valleys Tyrone Muggsy Bogues a 5-3 first round draft Choice from Wake Forest and Manule Bol a 7-6 Dative of the Sudan give the Washington bullets the distinction of having the Aba s shortest and tallest players on it in roster. With his fir a appear Ance for the bullets Bogues will become the shortest Man Ever o play in the Aba. At Point guard and will allow Reggie thus to move to shooting guard. Denver s season will depend on Cal Vin Nail s resuming to form Afler miss ing the year with a Lorn Achilles Tendon. San Antonio will play the season waiting to Sec if David Robinson will someday become a Spur. Central division probably inc Mosi compel Itic Divi Sion is the Central. Atlanta won a team record 57 games Bui was blown Oul by Detroit in the playoffs. The pistons then took Boston to a seventh game in the conference finals. Dominique Wilkins who improved his Overall game at inc expense of scor ing will again Lead Atlanta. Detroit acquired William Bedford from Phoenix and will be Hal much bigger up front. Del Oil boasts Isiah Thomas Adriand Allcy. Bill Lamb car Dennis Rodman. John Sally and Vinnie Johnson. Chicago drafted Well picking up Scot lie pippin and Horace Grant to help re Lieve scoring Champion Michael Jordan .17.1 Points per game. Milwaukee named Del Harris coach after Don Nelson left in a disagreement with owner Herb Kohl. Harris held train ing Camp without his top four Moncrief will not play the first six weeks because of a Bone Spur. Cleve land will again rely on its rookies in an other rebuilding year and Indianapolis will begin to build around Rookie of the year Chuck person. Pitino faces Tough Job in rebuilding kicks by John a. Torres new York up Rick Pitino. Who grew up a Block from the old Madison Square Garden rooting forthe kicks. Now gels a Chance to actually do something about the team. And it won t be easy for the former Providence col lege coach who at 35 is the Aba s youngest head Man. He inherits a club that has not had a winning season since 1984. The kicks went 84 Days without a Genera manager and 89 without a coach after firing scottly Stirling and Bob Hill following last season. The had no coach or pm for the College draft. I warn them kicks to work As hard As they said. Hard work always pays piling in lands to use a pressing defense. He also wants belter passing to invigorate an offence Hal finished last in the Aba in scoring. On defense we re wearing people Down he said. We re always pressing. It s nol one Guy pressing and the other Guys resting. This team will be a very Good passing team a very Good motion Leam. And they will enjoy the chemistry playing with each other. The adversity they be been through will make them tougher and make them enjoy winning More because they be been at inc piling who guided Providence to last year s Mcaa final four realizes things different in the Aba. In College you Leach the team As a whole he said. In the pros you have to show each individual How be can elevate his
