The 2002-03 season tips off on Oct. 29 with 29 teams hopeful of making a run to the postseason. Will up-and-comers out west like the Clippers and Rockets challenge the perennial powerhouses? Will the East see another shakeup in the standings where lottery teams of a year ago like Milwaukee and Atlanta close out the season on top? Will anyone challenge the Lakers, or will the NBA's latest dynasty make it four in a row? In the first of its weekly power rankings, NBA.com ranks the top 16 teams on the eve of a year where anything can happen.

	TEAM	REC.*	BREAKDOWN
1	Sacramento	6-2	TEAM NOTES: Mike Bibby is likely out until December, but Bobby Jackson is an able backup at the point, and the pieces are in place to replicate last season's league-best record.
2	Dallas	5-3	TEAM NOTES: Defense is still a question mark, but Dirk, Nash, Fin and a dangerous supporting task make this team virtually impossible to stop.
3	San Antonio	5-3	TEAM NOTES: Bizarro-Mavs? The Spurs will need to rely on their solid interior and perimeter defense to win games. That and and the league's reigning MVP.
4	L.A. Lakers	3-5	TEAM NOTES: With Shaq out, the defending champs look mortal, and they have a rough first week with the Spurs, Blazers and Clippers on the schedule.
5	New Jersey	6-1	TEAM NOTES: Strengthened frontcourt with acquisitions of Dikembe Mutombo and Rodney Rogers and second-year forward Richard Jefferson is looking at a breakout year.
6	Detroit	8-0	TEAM NOTES: Detroit hopes Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups will live up to their billing offensively, but the Pistons continue to play great D and have a top-notch bench.
7	Portland	5-2	TEAM NOTES: It's been a little too quiet in Portland since some early bickering, and there are even murmurs that this team is coming together behind Wallace and Wells. If so, watch out.
8	Boston	4-4	TEAM NOTES: Pierce and Walker are monsters for certain, but with Tony Delk and Shammond Williams, Celts are already longing for the days of Kenny Anderson at the point.
9	Indiana	5-3	TEAM NOTES: Even with Reggie hurt, this team is deep, deep, deep, and with Jermaine O'Neal and the underrated Brad Miller, as good in the post as any team in the East.
10	Minnesota	4-3	TEAM NOTES: Even in the West, Garnett and Szczerbiak are enough to make the Wolves legit, but is lifelong reserve Troy Hudson up for running this team from the point?
11	Orlando	3-5	TEAM NOTES: For the third season in a row, the Magic are optimistic about their chances with McGrady and Hill in the starting lineup ... now if only no one gets hurt.
12	Houston	4-3	TEAM NOTES: Everyone's healthy, Francis is playing like an All-Star and in just two preseason games, Yao Ming looks ready to contribute right away.
13	New Orleans	2-6	TEAM NOTES: Would be higher if not for injuries to Elden Campbell and P.J. Brown that have seriously weakened the Hornets' front line. Jamaal Magloire will be growing up fast.
14	Seattle	4-4	TEAM NOTES: Speaking of weakened front lines, Vladimir Radmanovic is going to take a beating against West forwards; GP and Rashard Lewis will keep the Sonics in it.
15	Washington	5-3	TEAM NOTES: Stack and Hughes could be a seriously dangerous backcourt combo and young Kwame Brown has shown improved skills. And then of course there's MJ.
16	L.A. Clippers	2-6	TEAM NOTES: Like the Hornets, Clips have been ravaged by injuries during the preseason, but dealing for Andre Miller was the best addition -- of any team -- of the summer.

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Utah Jazz, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks