NBA '97-98/SCOUTING REPORTS

ATLANTIC DIVISION
Projected finish

1 MIAMI HEAT
2 NEW YORK KNICKS
3 WASHINGTON WIZARDS
4 ORLANDO MAGIC
5 BOSTON CELTICS
6 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
7 NEW JERSEY NETS

CENTRAL DIVISON

1 CHICAGO BULLS
2 CHARLOTTE HORNETS
3 DETROIT PISTONS
4 ATLANTA HAWKS
5 INDIANA PACERS
6 MILWAUKEE BUCKS
7 TORONTO RAPTORS
8 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

MIDWEST DIVISION

1 UTAH JAZZ
2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS
3 HOUSTON ROCKETS
4 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
5 DENVER NUGGETS
6 DALLAS MAVERICKS
7 VANCOUVER GRIZZLIES

PACIFIC DIVISION

1 LOS ANGELES LAKERS
2 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS
3 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
4 PHOENIX SUNS
5 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
6 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
7 SACRAMENTO KINGS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

KNICKS OVER BULLS

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

JAZZ OVER LAKERS

NBA FINALS

KNICKS OVER JAZZ

Projections by SI Senior Writer PHIL TAYLOR

Statistical boxes in scouting reports compiled by
THE ELIAS SPORTS BUREAU

COLOR PHOTO: PHOTOGRAPH BY MANNY MILLAN THE WELL-ARMED KNICKS ARE AGAIN LED BY PATRICK EWING, HERE MUSCLING OVER THE HEAT'S ALONZO MOURNING IN LAST SEASON'S PLAYOFFS