Better or worse?: It's tough to improve upon an NBA title, with all the key players returning to defend it, but the Spurs did just that with the addition of Finley. San Antonio will remain hungry for a repeat and anything less than a fourth title in seven years would be a disappointment.


Spurs starters
P	Player	Ht	Exp	2004-05
F	Tim Duncan	6-11	8	20.3 ppg, 11.1 rpg
F	Bruce Bowen	6-7	9	8.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg
C	Nazr Mohammed	6-10	7	9.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg
G	Manu Ginobili	6-6	3	16.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg
G	Tony Parker	6-2	4	16.6 ppg, 6.1 apg

2) Houston Rockets

Last season: 51-31, eliminated 4-3 by Dallas in first round.

Coach: Jeff Van Gundy, third season with Rockets 96-68; 10th season overall, 344-240.

Added: G Rafer Alston (trade with Raptors), G Derek Anderson (free agent, Trail Blazers), F Lonny Baxter (free agent, Hornets), F Stromile Swift (free agent, Grizzlies), G Luther Head (draft, No. 24, Illinois).

Lost: G Mike James (trade with Raptors), C Scott Padgett (free agent, Nets), F Clarence Weatherspoon (waived).

Better or worse? The Rockets got exposed in seventh-game rout by Mavericks in playoffs last season. Adding Swift will give Van Gundy another shot blocker to go along with Yao Ming, making the Rockets difficult to score on. Tracy McGrady and Yao are getting more comfortable playing off each other, meaning the Rockets can improve on last season's record.


Rockets starters
P	Player	Ht	Exp	2004-05
F	Stromile Swift	6-9	5	10.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg
F	Tracy McGrady	6-8	8	25.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg
C	Yao Ming	7-6	3	18.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg
G	Derek Anderson	6-5	8	9.2 ppg, 3.0 apg
G	Rafer Alston	6-2	6	14.2 ppg, 6.4 apg

3) Dallas Mavericks

Last season: 58-24, eliminated 4-2 by Phoenix in second round.

Coach: Avery Johnson, first full season with Mavs, 16-2.

Added: G Doug Christie (free agent, Magic), F Josh Powell (free agent), C DeSagana Diop (free agent, Cavaliers), G Rawle Marshall (free agent).

Lost: G Michael Finley (waived), F Alan Henderson (free agent, Cavaliers).

Better or worse?: Mavericks core has dwindled over the past two years with the loss of Steve Nash, Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker and now Finley. They still have Dirk Nowitzki, who is coming off a career year. However, it will be difficult to see them winning 58 games again without a proven No. 2 scorer.


Mavericks starters
P	Player	Ht	Exp	2004-05
F	Dirk Nowitzki	7-0	7	26.1 ppg, 9.7 rpg
F	Josh Howard	6-7	2	12.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg
C	Erick Dampier	6-11	9	9.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg
G	Doug Christie	6-6	13	6.6 ppg, 3.8 apg
G	Jason Terry	6-2	6	12.4 ppg, 5.4 apg

4) Memphis Grizzlies

Last season: 45-37, eliminated 4-0 by Phoenix in first round.

Coach: Mike Fratello, first full season with Grizzlies, 40-26; 15th season overall, 612-491.

Added: G Eddie Jones (trade with Heat), G Bobby Jackson (trade with Kings), F Hakim Warrick (draft, No. 19, Syracuse), F Lawrence Roberts (draft, No. 55, Mississippi State), G Damon Stoudamire (free agent, Trail Blazers).

Lost: F Stromile Swift (free agent, Rockets), G Earl Watson (free agent, Nuggets), G Bonzi Wells (trade with Kings), G James Posey (trade with Heat), G Jason Williams (trade with Heat).

Better or worse? The Grizzlies shipped away three of the supposed malcontents in Wells, Posey and Williams and replaced them with three talented veteran players in Jones, Jackson and Stoudamire. They have a very strong bench with Shane Battier, Warrick and Jackson, and shouldn't get swept out of the playoffs in the first round again.


Grizzlies starters
P	Player	Ht	Exp	2004-05
F	Pau Gasol	7-0	4	17.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg
F	Eddie Jones	6-6	11	12.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
C	Lorenzen Wright	6-11	9	9.6 ppg, 7.7 rpg
G	Mike Miller	6-8	5	13.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
G	Damon Stoudamire	5-10	10	15.8 ppg, 5.7 apg

5) New Orleans Hornets

Last season: 18-64, missed playoffs.

Coach: Byron Scott, second season with Hornets, 18-64; sixth season overall, 149-139.

Added: G Arvydas Macijauskas (free agent), G Chris Paul (draft, No. 4, Wake Forest), F Rasual Butler (trade with Heat), F Brandon Bass (draft, No. 33, LSU), G Kirk Snyder (trade with Jazz), F Desmond Mason (trade with Bucks).

Lost: F Lee Nailon (free agent, 76ers), C Jamaal Magloire (trade with Bucks).

Better or worse?: Hurricane Katrina will force the Hornets to play 35 home games at Oklahoma City's Ford Center, with the remainder to take place in Baton Rouge. It's difficult to predict how they will react to their new home, but Oklahoma City certainly will enjoy the chance to prove it's ready for the big time. New Orleans has a very talented young backcourt in rookie Paul and second-year player J.R. Smith, but coming in anywhere above the bottom will be tough in this division.


Hornets starters
P	Player	Ht	Exp	2004-05
F	P.J. Brown	6-11	12	10.8 ppg, 9.0 rpg
F	Desmond Mason	6-5	5	17.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg
C	Chris Andersen	6-10	4	7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg
G	J.R. Smith	6-6	1	10.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
G	Chris Paul	6-0	R	15.3 ppg, 6.6 apg

*-2004-05 college stats.