Larry Brown is counting on Van Horn's shooting skills.

WHAT WAS LARRY THINKING?
Getting bounced in the first round -- one season after reaching the Finals -- is clearly reason for a major adjustment. But Todd MacCulloch replacing Dikembe Mutombo in the middle? That's not exactly an upgrade, is it? Larry Brown also feels Keith Van Horn can achieve what Jerry Stackhouse and Larry Hughes failed to do: develop into a complementary scorer to Allen Iverson. Those miscalculations are going to keep the Sixers out of the playoffs.

STARTING FIVE
A.I. must have handpicked the front line: two guys who can't shoot and another guy who won't -- once he catches some heat from Philadelphia fans.

Atlantic Division

1. Nets

2. Magic

3. Celtics

4. Wizards

5. Sixers

6. Heat

7. Knicks

Scouting Report Index

Monty Williams, PF: Never more than 26 starts in any of nine seasons
Keith Van Horn, SF: Squelched by Steph in '02. Wait 'til A.I.'s done with him
Todd MacCulloch, C: 9.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg in 2001-02 were career highs
Allen Iverson, SG: 39.8% FG was worst of his six-year career
Eric Snow, PG: His best scoring year (12 ppg). Can he stay healthy?

BENCH
Aaron McKie and Derrick Coleman are solid vets. Rookie John Salmons could be impressive. The rest of the reserves are unproven.

GLOBAL VIEW
MacCulloch (Canada) was the
center on past two East title teams.

FREEWHEELIN' WITH WALTON
Van Horn will be a delight or a disaster. No middle ground.

This article will appear in the November 11 issue of ESPN The Magazine.