2002-03 Season Preview

By Tom Jargo
Miles Post-Times Gazette

Richmond is laughing, and Tri-City is downright giddy. Miles, Akron, Iowa and Brooklyn are smiling, while Quad City plays coy. Bettendorf, Davenport and River City look to the future.

Tulsa, McLean, Chapel Hill and Holcomb are envious, while Finney, Galactic, Good News and Bakersfield wait to strike. St. Lucie and East Asia worry about each other -- not daring to look over shoulders.

Welcome to Survivor SABL, where realignment thrust together last year's league finalists -- defending champ East Asia and runner-up St. Lucie --
strengthening the Classic Tribe. On the other side of the island is the Royal Tribe, a rejuvenated bunch with the departure of the defending champs.

Lets meet this year's islanders:

ROYAL CONFERENCE (Races Offer Youth Against Legends)

EAST
Richmond: Runner-up to the departed Dragons and odds-on favorite to reach the final pairing. The Raiders, who took East Asia to the wire in the conference
finals last year, need to battle overconfidence as the red-carpeted path to the finals appears obstacle free. Keon Clark and Eddie Curry add bulk to a
team brimming with offense. Expect a division title and home court through the Royal playoffs.

Miles: Talent-laden team. Bulked up offense with Old Man Miller and Jamal Mashburn. Likes the development of Matt Harpring and Rasho Nesterovic.
Benefits from not having to lose six of eight to the Dragons this year. Lack of coaching acumen and preparation will hurt the Bulldogs. Expect to make the
playoffs but could stumble with a snowdrift for a coach. Likely voted off the island sometime during the playoffs.

Iowa: Another talented team with questionable coaching. Also benefits from East Asia's departure, but the Tornadoes were damaged by a move from North to a tougher East. Will go from winning the North to simply challenging Richmond in the East. Should make playoffs but may underachieve. Coach has no one to blame but himself; the talent, led by Stevie Frachise and Tracy McGrady (WOW!) is there. And added Ty Hill to toughen up the team. Playoff ouster
from the island likely.

Akron: See Miles and Iowa. Team stood pat during the trading frenzy and didn't add much in the draft. Same old, same old means same old result.

Brooklyn: Wild card in the East. Adding yet another top pick in Pau Gasol should uncage the Tigers to do some damage this year and possibly unseat
Miles, Iowa or Akron as a playoff team if those squads aren't careful. If this team finishes in the draft lottery next year, there should be an investigation.

North:
Tri-City: Drafted with an eye toward the future (Kwame's looking good), but no Iowa plus extensive rebuilding plans in the family mean a divisional title
and a playoff run. Stephon Marbury is top notch.

Quad City: Iowa law prohibits beating nieces (beating nephews is encouraged), and father will certainly fold to daughter's every whim. So Jamal Tinsley and Rashard Lewis should lead Miss Kathleen to the playoffs. A refreshing addition to the island. Let's delay her ouster as long as possible.

River City: A young team that should grow together. Tyson Chandler is a good start. Will battle Uncle Dazzler and Uncle Evil to stay on the island the
longest. Likely voted off before the playoffs.

Davenport: Appears the Dazzlers are looking to 2004, when the LeBron James sweepstakes is held. Will lend his expertise to the Young Rimrocker -- lucky
her. And it's no surprise that MJ ended up in the hands of a die-hard Bullets (okay, Wizards) fan.

Bettendorf: This team fell off the raft on the way to the island! The Evil Druid has his eye on the Jay Williams sweepstakes in 2003. With Davenport's
pick too, those chances improve. Likely will trade Cassell to a contender during the season. Will beat Miles three out of four at home just because he's that evil.

CLASSIC CONFERENCE (Crowded Leaderboard As Strong Squads Increase Competition)

SOUTH
East Asia: To be the Dragon, you have to slay the Dragon. On top until someone knocks him off. But a lot of changes for a defending champ. Didn't
rest on his laurals. Paul Pierce's turn to lead the Dragons into the playoffs. Won't be as easy to win the division and secure home-court
advantage in the playoffs. Lots of good teams looking to vote the Dragons off the island ...

St. Lucie: ... beginning with the runner-up. Also a lot of changes for a successful franchise. Kirilenko come; Kirilenko go; Kirilenko come again. Why
all the Russian? With a guy named Tim, this team will be Duncan opponents right and left. In the playoffs; question is: can the Aces steal the pivotal
home court from the Dragons?

Galactic: Old folks will keep him playoff-bound. First of many teams in the Classic with envious looks toward the Royal. One of several teams that get
six more looks at the Dragons. Not a pleasant sight.

McLean: Jerry Stackhouse, Jalen Rose, Andre Miller and the additions of R-Jeff and Gilbert Arenas. A team definitely on the rise. Suffers from being
in the South, but it's time for this team to step up and show something. Won't be voted off easily.

Chapel Hill: Kirilenko come; Kirilenko go. Why all the Russian? And could the Jams and Aces trade Brevin Knight back and forth a few more times? Added a couple young guns in Tim Thomas and Jonathan Bender to Technical Foul Boy and Antwan Jamison. Better. But probably not part of the island alliance and will be voted off early.

WEST
Good News: Good news they aren't in the South. Good young gun in Al Harrington. Will go as far as the Answer and Jason Terry take them. Weak
front line makes team vulnerable.

Bakersfield: Talent-laden team that should take the division. Will give South's dynamic duo fits and, if not them, could be a factor in who survives
the Classic and makes the final.

Finney: Warriors fan. Got a keeper in Jason Richardson. But suffers a fate of many in the Classic -- will have to go along a tough road. Probably too many
roadblocks. Playoffs, then off the island.

Holcomb: Big Toe means big trouble for foes. But a victim of circumstances. Probably not enough firepower for this conference. Looks at the Royal North
with envy.

Tulsa: Keeps adding talent and keeps getting pub from Friends. Another victim of circumstances. But look out for this team down the road. Changing of the
guard is on the way.

Predictions:
East winner: Richmond
North winner: Tri-City
South winner: East Asia
West winner: Bakersfield
In Royal playoffs: Miles, Quad City, Iowa, Brooklyn
In Classic playoffs: St. Lucie, Finney, McLean, Galactic
Royal winner: Richmond
Classic winner: East Asia
Survival SABL champion: Richmond