Lineup

NBA PREVIEW 2008 - 09

Departments

6 Leading Off

17 Letters

18 Players

26 Faces in the Crowd

28 Just My Type by Dan Patrick

152 Point After by Phil Taylor

Inside ...

32 The NFL
• Mike Holmgren's sad swan song

36 College Football
• Rebuilding time at Clemson

41 Boxing
• Bernard Hopkins isn't done yet

42 NASCAR
• The team to beat in 2009

BASEBALL

46 The New Reality
Soon, you won't think twice if you hear, "The Rays are in the Series"
By Tom Verducci

51 100 Lost Seasons
The life of the snakebitten Philly fan
By Lee Jenkins

PRO FOOTBALL

54 Tough, or Toast?
What it takes to play cornerback
By Selena Roberts

HOCKEY

60 Getting Modern
13 ways of looking at the Blackhawks
By Michael Farber

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

64 Coming Soon
The showcase battles for the BCS
By Austin Murphy

REPORT FROM IRAQ

70 To Run in Baghdad
Finding solace in the city of death
By Dexter Filkins

FEATURES

82 Worth His Wait
Greg Oden finally takes the court, and Portland is ready to make its move
By Jack McCallum
• Rebuilding √† la Boston
• Another boost for the Blazers

93 Ups and Downs
A forecast of how many more—or fewer—wins every team will have

98 5 Minute Guide
A primer on the players, coaches, teams and issues to keep an eye on as the season opens (plus some trade talk)
By Ian Thomsen

102 Scouting Reports
Analysis, fast facts and starting lineups for all 30 teams. Who'll win the 2009 title? The Spurs, over the Celtics

Friday Night F√öTBOL
Like other high schools in northern Mexico, Prepa Tec of Monterrey wondered how it would fare against a top Texas team. Last month it found out

BY MELISSA SEGURA
Page 74

SIX PHOTOS

DRIVING FORCES For the NBA Preview Issue, SI printed six regional covers.

PHOTO

DARREN CARROLL (FUTBOL)