The Nba Title: All 16 Hopefuls Assessed

The 82-game regular season has departed, taking the dreams of Michael Jordan and his Washington Wizards (and 12 other teams) with it. Now 16 NBA teams remain, awaiting the drawn-out drama of the play-offs, which start this Saturday but don't reach their denouement until June.

Between now and then, the top eight from Eastern and Western Conference will play a Homeric series of matches: either the best of five or best of seven, knockout, until the top team in each conference meet to contest the NBA finals.

Here's Guardian Unlimited Sport's guide to the teams left standing.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(Seeded position, team, win/loss record)

1. New Jersey Nets (52-30) v 8. Indiana Pacers (42-40)

The Nets are usually lousy, and last year was no exception. They finished 26-56, way off the play-off pace. And then Jason Kidd - Nike ad star, NBA superstar - arrived to flip their fortunes round a full 180 degrees. The former Phoenix Suns guard has hustled like a Camden playa - he's ranked second in the NBA in assists per game and third in steals per game - and so have the Nets.

Many people remain unconvinced that a team with such limited play-off experience (only one winning season since 1995) can force their way through to the NBA finals. But they should really be too strong for the Indiana Pacers, who are not only the youngest team in the league, but perhaps the luckiest: the Pacers only squeezed into the play-offs after they won their last five games and slipped past the imploding Milwaukee Bucks.

The Nets and the Pacers have met four times this season, with the Nets winning taking the series 3-1, but New Jersey head coach Bryon Scott is not taking anything for granted: "Anybody can beat anybody," he insists. "We can get beat in the first round just like anybody else."

4. Charlotte Hornets (44-38) v 5. Orlando Magic (44-38)

With a troublesome ankle injury ending the season of Grant Hill for a second successive year, Orlando needed someone to step up. Cue some stunning performances from Tracy Grady, whose electric offence (he's scored 30 or more points 22 times this season) could win him the League's MVP award. But despite his form, even Grady is nervous about the Hornets. "More than anyone right now, Charlotte is the team that scares me," he says.

And with good reason. Led by Jamal Mashburn, the Eastern Conference player of the month for March, the Hornets boasted the joint best conference record (10-5) last month - form which they have carried into April. This series promises to be tight, and don't be surprised if it goes to a final game in Charlotte. If it does, don't bet on the Magic - their away record (17-24) is the joint worst of all the play-off contenders.

3. Boston Celtics (49-33) v 5.Philadelphia 76ers (43-39)

Substitute the words David Beckham and England for Allen Iverson and the 76ers, and you'll get some idea of what Philadephia fans are going through. Last month Iversen, the reigning NBA MVP suffered a spiral fracture in a metatarsel - yes, that damn word again - on his non-shooting hand which has ruled him out ever since. Iverson is back in practice and for 76ers his return can't come soon enough - this season they average only one win in three without him.

Even with Iverson, Philly - who reached the NBA finals last year - have it all to do against Boston, who have surprised everyone by getting this far. They've done it largely by improving their defence (a radical switch from a full-court press to defending the half court has clearly worked) and through the scoring of Paul Pierce, who has become the first Celtic player ever to end the season as the NBA leader in total points. Yes, that includes Larry Bird.

2. Detroit Pistons (50-32) v 7. Toronto Raptors (42-40)

Think Detroit and you think defence, particularly Ben Wallace. The natural successor to Dennis Rodman - yes, he dyes his hair too - he's now only the fourth player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and blocked shots at the end of the season - despite being a meagre 6ft 8ins tall. And the Pistons can score too, particularly through Jerry Stackhouse, who averages 21.6 points a game, the 14th highest in the NBA. All in all, they're strong contenders to reach the NBA finals.

Toronto, however, are the play-off team in form, having embarked on a 10-2 run in their last twelve games. But with Vince Carter - a two-time NBA all-star in 2000 and 2001 - injured, you can't see the Raptors coming through here.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Sacramento Kings (61-21) v 8. Utah Jazz (44-38)

Any side that boasts the best record in the NBA and gets their regular-season noses ahead of the LA Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs deserves respect. And while the Kings may not have the biggest names - Chris Webber, who averages 30.7 points a game, the seventh best in the NBA, is their star performer - they are mighty effective. What's more, as the best team in the conference, they will get home advantage throughout the play-offs, and that could matter: the Kings have been near unbeatable at home this year, posting a beefy 36-5 record.

But anything can happen in a five-game series. And the Jazz will be desperately hoping that the Mailman Karl Malone - who's now in his 16th season - and John Stockton - who's in his 17th - can deliver for one last time.

4. Dallas Mavericks (57-24) v 5. Minnesota Timberwolves (50-32)

Dallas seem to score against everyone with their up-tempo game and, what's more, have the best away record in the NBA. That will come in handy if they play Sacramento in the second round, but they have to get past Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves first.

After a mid-season slump, the Wolves finished by winning eight of 12 to tie a franchise record with 50 wins. No wonder their coach Flip Saunders is quietly confident. "We're going to be in a situation where no-one picks us to win," he says. "We're better than we've been. There are lot of five seeds who've beaten four seeds."

However, the most telling statistic could be the Timberwolves' play-off record. Minnesota, post-season qualifiers for the sixth straight year, have never won a play-off series.

3. LA Lakers (58-24) v Portland Blazers (49-33)

Like Manchester United, you write off the Lakers at your peril. They have won the last two NBA titles, possess two of the NBA's best players, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, and are led by the Zen master himself, coach Phil Jackson.

They might not have fired on all cylinders this season, but when it comes to the crunch it's doubtful they will be found wanting. Last year they smashed the Kings 4-0 and the Spurs 4-0 on their way to the NBA title, and few would bet against them again. And O'Neill was supposed to be nursing an injury, but he scored 41 points against the Seattle Supersonics on Monday night - the Lakers' 14th win a row at home - to dispel any concern about his condition.

Portland are a decent team, and are 2-2 against the Lakers this season. But they've lost in the post-season to the Lakers four times in the last five years (they lost 3-0 last year) and nobody seriously expects it to change this time around.

2. San Antonio Spurs (58-24) v Seattle SuperSonics (45-37)

The biggest threat to the Kings and the LA Lakers, San Antonio have won their last nine games and are on fire. And so is their star player, Tim Duncan, who currently is in the top six in the NBA in five different categories: scoring (fifth), rebounds (second), blocks (fourth), minutes (sixth) and double-doubles (first).

Last year, the Lakers routed the Spurs in the Conference final. However, fans reckon that with the addition of Bruce Bowen and Tony Parker they are a much better unit defensively. If they can handle the Sonics - and especially the brilliant Gary Payton - that will view will certainly be put to the test.