October 23, 2006 Table Of Contents
SI Bonus Section: SI Fantasy Plus
Presenting the heroes and zeros of the 2006 season so far--and five of the major issues facing fantasy owners the rest of the way
By Gene Menez
WE LIKE THE MATCHUP
By David Sabino
DON'T LIKE THE MATCHUP
Ready for some hoops? Here are your baseline numbers for '06--07
Player Rankings
By David Sabino
SI Players: Life on and Off the Field
Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall uses an extensive training regimen that adheres to some core truths
By Bill Syken
PATRIOTS STRONG SAFETY
A young Giant is feathering his nest
Even your momma knows you can't take it personally when players run their mouths
Air and Space
By Steve Rushin
SI Players: Life On and Off the Field
Blue Jackets Left Wing
Features
The auto industry has taken a beating and, for the better part of the last two decades, so too has Detroit's baseball team, but Jim Leyland's Tigers have lit up the Motor City with their overpowering run to the World Series
By Tom Verducci
Last year Carlos Delgado carried a grudge against the Mets; this October he's carried their offense
Led by first-year coach Sean Payton and a host of new players--from a no-name linebacking trio to flashy rookie Reggie Bush-- the Saints are 5--1 and sitting pretty in the Crescent City
The nation's best receiver, without question, is Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, a remarkable blend of size, speed and athleticism who has everything but an outrageous TD celebration
NBA PREVIEW 2006 - 2007
Having raised their profiles in the playoffs and world championships, three members of the draft class of 2003--Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James--are ready to lead the league into a new golden age
The players who should be racking up rings and endorsements blew their chances
Riding the shirttails of the world's tallest pitchmen, a once staid league became a marketing force andgrew the pro game worldwide
Bob Cousy and his speedyCeltics would love these guys--a wave of young quicksilver guardswho are changing the game by letting it fly
Who will have huge years, who will need a new job and which team might land the biggest prize in June (besides the title)
By Ian Thomsen
How They'll Finish
NBA PREVIEW
Even without reinforcements, the defending champs will still be tough
By Ben Reiter
The bench has gotten much younger--and better--thanks to two UConn picks
By Chris Mannix
The coach wants more movement to help keep You-Know-Who in the flow
By Marty Burns
NBA PREVIEW
Despite a sizable loss in the middle, they won't take a huge step backward
By Marty Burns
The league's best defensive team has a new fearsome force in the frontcourt
By Marty Burns
A familiar face is back at forward to help create a new, high-scoring look
By Marty Burns
Feeling slighted (again), their star guard is ready to ratchet up his game
By Ben Reiter
The No. 2 pick from 2003 finally has a chance to show what he's made of
By Ben Reiter
T.J. Ford is gone, but his underrated backup is more than ready to take over
By Marty Burns
The time might have been right for the franchise player to find a new franchise
By Chris Mannix
In search of shining moments, the team turns to yet another NCAA star
By Ben Reiter
A high-scoring 31-year-old guard is not the answer for this low-level club
By Chris Mannix
The new offense caters to the point guard, who's not so good at sharing
By Chris Mannix
Their star can do it all--except lead the team into the playoffs by himself
By Chris Mannix
When no one was watching, a young forward grew into a two-way threat
By Ben Reiter
The team's defense took center stage, thanks largely to a former lottery flop
Their big man is up and running. If he stays healthy, there's no stopping them
A summer without hoops may be just what their ailing superstar needed
After a strong finish, the All-Rookie point guard aims to make his name
As insurance for their top two scorers, they got Bonzi Wells at a bargain price
After decades of futility, the franchise has the makings of a playoff perennial
An off-season tragedy has made a key contributor even more determined
The league's most volatile player says he's happy in his latest home
A trade might have helped, but they could find no takers at a K-Mart sale
By Mark Bechtel
No matter how committed they are, they'll be sitting at home in the spring
Will a change of pace (and place) help a defensive dynamo become a scorer?
By Chris Mannix
Once scorned, Stromile Swift returns and will be counted on at both ends
Can a new playmaker, who's a lot like the old one, steady this tumbling team?
By Bill Syken
To stay on the court, this floor general needs to step up his defensive intensity
By Mark Bechtel
Patience is the watchword for a team with an untested guard at the helm
By Bill Syken
Inside
By Peter King
Dr. Z's Forecast: Flailing Falcons
By Phil Taylor
STEWART MANDEL'S Two-Minute Drill
Life of Reilly
By Rick Reilly
Departments
By Bill Syken
Ten years after tarnishing his golden-boy reputation at Cal, Todd Bozeman is back, as Morgan State's coach
By Bill Syken
Chris Andersen doesn't want to dispute the drug test that led to his suspension. He just wants to play in the NBA again
Will the Hurricanes' coach take the fall for a football program that's become an embarrassment--again?
By Phil Taylor
The Arkansas governor, who has lost 110 pounds since 2003, will run the New York City Marathon on Nov. 5.
By Adam Duerson
What to watch and watch for
By Chris Mannix