Lineup

Author:
SI Staff

NBA PREVIEW2007--08

72 ExtremeMakeover
In the span of 33 days this summer G.M. Danny Ainge pulled off a pair ofmegadeals to right the stumbling Celtics
By Ian Thomsen

78 Kobe'sSummer
Kobe Bryant spent his off-season riding a roller coaster, and he and the Lakersare both feeling queasy

81 Stern ActionNeeded
The commissioner must take stronger measures to regain the public's trust afterthe Tim Donaghy debacle
By Jack McCallum

85 All-SizeAll-Stars
Who's the best ever at every height—pro or college, man or woman? Is it Shaq orWilt? Calvin Murphy or Sue Bird?

90 5-MinuteGuide
Who's going to win the hardware, who's going to get traded and what else tokeep an eye on this season
By Ian Thomsen

92 ScoutingReports
A detailed look at each of the 30 teams, with starting lineups, Fast Facts andinsights from an opposing team's scout

FEATURES

WORLD SERIES

48 MissionPossible?
After an epic layoff the Rockies face their toughest opponent yet in the RedSox
By Tom Verducci

COLLEGEFOOTBALL

54 MizzouAccomplished
With coach Gary Pinkel loosening the reins, Missouri has a newfound swagger
By Austin Murphy

HOCKEY

60 When He isBad. . .
. . . Islanders left wing Chris Simon is horrid. So why do so many playersstand by him?
By Michael Farber

PRO FOOTBALL

66 ShadowWarriors
Practice squad players are one play from their NFL dreams—or one fromoblivion
By Lee Jenkins

Departments

8 Leading Off

18 Letters

25 Players
• Can Tom Osborne save Nebraska?
• First Person: Grant Hill
• Farewell to Max McGee
• The Yankees' aimless front office
• Adrian Wilson's jump training

44 Faces in theCrowd

154 Life ofReilly
After transforming a city, the Rockies have turned it upside down by RickReilly

Inside . . .

142 CollegeFootball • The key to Ohio State's future

144 The NFL
• The Giants are 5--2. And worried

148 High SchoolFootball
• The life of a homecoming patsy

152 NASCAR
• Teammates, pals—and archrivals

Cover
PHOTOGRAPH BY WALTER IOOSS JR.

BANNERS BY ADAMHUNGER;
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AARON GOODMAN

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City ofChampions?

SPORTS IN BOSTON:BETTER THAN EVER

The Red Sox areback in the World Series. The unbeaten Patriots have the NFL's highest-poweredoffense. Boston College is ranked No. 2 in the nation. And the new-look Celticsare the NBA's most-talked-about team. Has any city ever had it better? SI.com'scoverage this week includes. . . .

• Opening essayon today's sports scene in Boston

• Don Banks onthe Patriots and the Red Sox competing for headlines

• Chris Mannix onthe glory days for the Celtics and Boston College

• Kevin Armstrongon BC's ascension as a college football power

• Photo galleriesincluding the teams that fans love to hate

• SI Flashbacksto memorable moments in Boston sports history

SEE ALL THIS ANDMORE AT SI.COM/BOSTONSPORTS.

TRAFFICREPORT