CENTRAL DIVISION.(NBA)(Brief Article)

ATLANTA HAWKS: The position that must be addressed is point guard. Brevin Knight, at 5-10, was a stopgap who got the Hawks through the season as Jason Terry played exclusively at shooting guard. Terry's emergence at that position has impacted SG Dion Glover, who hasn't shown the effort, effectiveness or consistency to earn coaches' trust. Glover did not realize what kind of work ethic was necessary to excel at this level. After he began to put in more work, he fell in love with being a perimeter shooter. Bad move, because his strength in college was as an athletic scorer. --Curtis Bunn

CHARLOTTE HORNETS: The Bucks series is huge, and not just because the team could reach Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. It will show whether the team's domination of the Heat was a fluke or the start of something special. It will reveal a lot about team cornerstones PG Baron Davis and SF Jamal Mashburn. Davis thoroughly outplayed Heat PG Tim Hardaway and seemed to come of age against Miami. If Davis can outplay Bucks PG Sam Cassell, it will validate him as a top young point guard. If Mashburn plays phenomenally again, it will solidify him as team leader and a worthy star. --John Delong

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: Nuggets assistant John Lucas was the first candidate known to be interviewed for the team's coaching vacancy. Lucas has four years of NBA head coaching experience and knows about rebuilding a franchise. He says the Cavaliers have a strong nucleus with PG Andre Miller, C Chris Mihm, SG Matt Harpring and SF Lamond Murray (if he's not traded). Lucas realizes Murray is an enigma. Murray has superior offensive skills, but he's moody and gives the impression he doesn't care. Getting through to Murray will be important for the new coach. --Bob Finnan

CHICAGO BULLS: PF Elton Brand and SG Ron Mercer potentially give the team the minimum two-superstar tandem that is basic to its rebuilding goals. Now the team must wait for the duo to mature and find a third key player. Brand is coming off a second straight year of averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds. Injuries sidelined Mercer for 20 ...