European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse Wednesday november 4,1992 sports the stars and stripes a Page 25nba changes bulls stay the same by Bill Barnard a basketball writer inmost everywhere you look the Aba looks different magic Johnson has retired again from the lakers and Larry Bird s Back wont let him play. Charles Barkley is now a Phoenix Sun. Shaquille of Neal is performing magic in Orlando. The new York kicks have seven new players. And nine head coaches Are pacing the sidelines with new teams. One thing Hasni to changed however. The Chicago bulls Are favored to win their third straight championship last season Michael Jordan became the first player in Aba history to win consecutive regular season and postseason map awards. As coach Phil Jackson has said a Michael never plays a bad Scottie Pippen gives every indication that he too will be a consistent All Star and most of the rest of then a 1992-93 cast a Horace Grant John Paxson Bill Cartwright . Armstrong Stacey King a is Back although Paxson and Armstrong Are coming off knee surgeries. The newcomers Are Rodney Mccray Trent Tucker and probably one Rookie replacing Cliff Levingston Bobby Hansen and Craig Hodges. Jackson s Only worry is that the game might become too a mundane a a Jackson ism for the fear that Jordan and Pippen might get burned out and wont be Able to handle the night after night Challenge of teams wanting to Knock off the champions. Deep Down however he believes they will respond like champions. A this Ball club works hard and is motivated a our competitive Zeal is a Given a Jackson said of his less than spartan training Camp regimen for Jordan and Pippen. A sure we Nave different rules for different players. When you have Guys who play 38-40 minutes a night the important thing is getting them to produce in games and the playoffs. Training Camp is More for the Young players and the new players to learn the the fact that no team has won three straight Aba titles since Boston captured eight consecutive championships from 1959-66 is motivation enough for Jordan. A it wont be hard Well be ready to Challenge a Jordan said. A we take the attitude that we will defend our championship. We have to be aggressive to win a third. It Hasni to been done in 26 years so that a enough to drive out West the arrival of Barkley in Phoenix might have a big Impact on the balance of Power. Barkley after a tempestuous career in Philadelphia was traded by the 76ers to Phoenix for Jeff Hornacek Andrew Lang and Tim Perry. But the suns still have Kevin Johnson Tom Chambers Dan Majerle and newly acquired Danny Ainge to dance with Barkley. A we have a versatile offensive team and Well have a balanced team a new coach Paul Westphal said. A we have two players in Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson that no one has demonstrated they can guard 1-on-l. We have to put players around them who can Hurt the other teams if they double team. And if they done to double team Charles he might get 30 shots. If they do Chambers might get 30.�?� Portland which has lost in the finals two of the last three seasons and Utah defending Champion in the Midwest division should Battle the suns and lakers for Western conference supremacy. The Trail blazers stood Pat with its top six players Clyde Drexler Terry Porter Buck Williams Kevin Duckworth Jerome Kersey and Cliff Robinson a but coach Rick Adelman will try to work veterans Rod Strickland and Mario Elie and rookies Tracy Murray and David Johnson into the mix. Utah added Jay Humphries in order to implement a three guard rotation with overworked John Stockton and Jeff Malone. Olympic Power Forward Karl Malone May have to play some at Center to cover for the injured Mark which added Gerald Wilkins to give coach Lenny Wilkens More flexibility has a Strong nucleus in Brad Daugherty Mark Price Larry Nance and John Williams. The cars along with the new look kicks appear to be the most Likely challengers to Chicago in the East. Pat Riley has an entirely new cast around his inside muscle men Center Patrick Ewing and Forward Charles Oakley. Rolando Blackman Doc Rivers Charles Smith Tony Campbell and Rookie Hubert Davis will join Holdover role players John Starks and Anthony Mason to give Riley flexibility at every position. A a in be been impressed with the play of nine or 10 Guys and eventually the process of who functions together the Best will work itself out a Riley said. I feel most comfortable with Patrick and Oak starting together and after that Well have to see what happens. The selection of Reggie Lewis As Captain is the Clar fhe 2 Orlando paid $40 million for Shaquille of Neal left and instant respectability but Michael Jordan is expected to Lead Chicago to its third straight Aba world championship. Ion Call for the beginning of a new Era for the Boston celtics who edged the kicks for the Atlantic division title last Spring. Bird who led the team to three Aba championships retired when it became obvious that his Back would not let him play without pain. Robert Parish and Kevin Mchale holdovers from the Bird Era picked Lewis As Captain. A chief and Mchale they decide who becomes Captain of the team Quot said Lewis who led the team with a 20.8 scoring average last season and is starting his sixth Aba season. A the Way the team is in a transition period i guess they Felt it would be Good to let a Young Guy assume leadership Mchale is still around although his health has been As tenuous As Birds in recent years. The Prospect of another pain filled season is not attractive to him. A if i could look into a Crystal Ball and know i could be healthy id be excited a Mchale said. A if i looked in a Crystal Ball and knew i be healthy i Orlando so Neal leads a Trio of Rookie big men that could make an Impact for years to come a i have to put More Arch on my shot and work on my defense a the 7-foot-l, 302-Pound of Neal said. A when i do that ill be a hard player to the suns and lakers Are among the nine teams with new coaches. Westphal Long the Neir apparent to cot ton Fitzsimmons is in Phoenix Randy Pfund takes Over in los Angeles replacing Mike Dunleavy who is returning to Milwaukee. Chuck Daly a two time championship Winner for Detroit moves to new Jersey and his spot with the pistons is being filled by Ron Rothstein. Other newcomers Are pan Issel in Denver Jerry Tarkanian in san Antonio Doug Moe in Philadelphia and Garry St. Jean in , Adams Jordan approach milestones this is going to be a season of Milestone achievements in the Aba with the superstars of today setting standards for tomorrows players and chasing Marks established Long ago by Hall of earners. The assault on the record Book could Start As Early As opening night when the new York kicks visit the at Lanta Hawks and in relatively Short order Dominique Wilkins Michael Adams Jordan and Robert Parish figure to add to their resumes and their places in hoop history. Wilkins was closing in on 20,000 Points when he ruptured an Achilles Tendon on Jan. 29 last season. Lie went to the sidelines just 25 Points shy of the Mark and will be the 17th player in history to reach it. If Wilkins scores less than 25 Points on opening night he figures to join the elite ranks the next night in Chicago when the Hawks visit the bulls in the two time defending champions Chicago stadium opener. Once Wilkins hits his Mark attention will turn toward Washington a Adams who is closing in on the career 3-Point Field goal Lead. With 783 lifetime treys Adams is 12 away from former Aba guard Louie Dampier Sall time record and 17 shy of becoming the first player in history to reach 800. Dale Ellis of san Antonio needs 32 3-Pointcrs to pass Dampier and 37 for 800. Mark Eaton of the Utah jazz will Start the season on the sidelines following knee surgery but when the 7-foot-4 Center does return hell quickly join Kareem Abdul Jabbar in select company a the 3,000 blocks club. Eaton has 2,985 for his career and is 205 shy of passing Abdul Jabbar the All time Leader. The spotlight never strays too far from Jordan a three time map but it will Shine a Little brighter on him in late december or january when he makes his push to join Wilkins in the 20,000-Point club. Already the a bad Sall time average Leader with a 32.3 Norm through 589 games Jordan needs 1,000 Points for 20,000 and will become the second fastest to reach the plateau when he gets there. Only Wilt Chamberlain no needed just 499 games got to 20,000 faster. Oscar Robertson 671 and Kareem Abdul Jabbar 684by the Way Are the Only other players to reach the Mark before playing in 700 games. Jordan is also seeking his seventh straight scoring title this year. If he achieves that hell tie chamberlains Mark for consecutive scoring crowns established from 1959-60 to 1965-66
