By Sam Amico / the Amico Report

1. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Coach: Paul Silas, fifth year.

Last season: 44-38, lost to New Jersey in second round of playoffs.

Starters: C Elden Campbell, F P.J. Brown, F Jamal Mashburn, G David Wesley, G Baron Davis.

Key subs: G Courtney Alexander, C Jamal Magliore, F Lee Nailon, F George Lynch, F Robert Traylor.

New faces: Alexander.

Strengths: Davis and Mashburn have become one of the league's top duos, and Silas is an underrated strategist and motivator. Campbell and Brown are capable and experienced big men, and not many teams can say they have those anymore. The Hornets are also fairly deep with talents like Alexander, Magliore, Nailon and even Stacey Augmon off the bench.

Weaknesses: The backcourt goes just three deep -- Davis, Wesley, and Alexander. A sure sign of trouble is if one of those three gets injured. Also, Mashburn had health problems all of last season. Is he feeling better?

Outlook: A new city means a fresh start for a team that was already pretty good. Davis and Mashburn could afford to work a little harder on defense, but each can score inside or out and is good in the clutch. Perhaps the best thing about the Hornets? They didn't make any major changes to a group that has reached the conference semifinals in each of the previous two seasons. It's a group that's on the brink of greatness, and this very well could be the season in which the Hornets reach the Finals. They must stay healthy, though.

Radio: WTIX-94.3 FM.

2. INDIANA PACERS

Coach: Isiah Thomas, third year.

Last season: 42-40, lost to New Jersey in first round of playoffs.

Starters: C Brad Miller, F Jermaine O'Neal, F Ron Artest, G Reggie Miller, G Jamal Tinsley.

Key subs: F Al Harrington, G Ron Mercer, F Jonathan Bender, G Erick Strickland, F Jeff Foster.

New faces: Strickland, G Freddie Jones (r), C Oliver Miller.

Strengths: There's youth, there's athleticism, there's strong leadership, and there's lots of interchangeable parts. There is also Reggie Miller, which means the Pacers will be deadly from the perimeter for the 17th consecutive season. Brad Miller, O'Neal and Artest form a blue-collar frontline that thrives on being physical. Few teams are deeper at the guard position.

Weaknesses: Besides Reggie Miller, nobody plays with any type of consistency. Brad Miller and O'Neal are improving in that area, but right now, the Pacers are still seeking a third scoring option.

Outlook: When Artest, Brad Miller and Mercer arrived following a trade with Chicago in February, most experts immediately picked the Pacers to win the East. But it took some time for the rest of the guys to adjust to having Miller and Artest in the lineup, and Mercer was simply lost. That doesn't appear to be the case anymore, as Mercer appears to finally be comfortable coming off the bench. Most of all, another season means another year of growth for talented youngsters such as O'Neal, Harrington, Bender and Tinsley. No doubt, the future looks great for the Pacers -- but Reggie Miller, who turns 38 this season, may just convince them to win now.

Radio: WIBC-1070-AM.