Doug Collins wants the Philadelphia 76ers to average a combined 40 points from the three-point line and foul line per game. During the 11-12 season, the 76ers averaged about 30 points per game in this area.

"Last year, we averaged about 93 a game," Collins said. "I looked at all the top teams in the NBA. The majority of them had a combination of three-point shooting and the free-throw line that got them up to that 100-point mark.

"I just felt it was a way for us, especially the way our team is constructed now - I think we made five and a half threes last year, we made 13 free throws. About 30 points a night. You start looking at the Spurs, and Oklahoma City and these teams, the Heat and these teams, how they space you out, they shoot the three, LeBron's at the line, [Dwyane] Wade's at the line."

The Dallas Mavericks are in transition as they were unable to secure an elite player in the offseason, but still brought in nine new players.

Rick Carlisle is in his fifth season as head coach, leading the Mavericks to the championship in 2011 while also presiding over a team that will be fortunate to make the playoffs in 2013.

Donnie Nelson believes Carlisle is a capable coach regardless of the situation.

"Rick is one of those guys that whether it's a veteran team or whether it's a team with a lot of new faces like we have now, I think he's one of those rare guys that's equally effective in both of those areas," said Carlisle. "You have some guys come in that are specialists that can rebuild, you have some guys that are good with the kind of in-between teams, you've got some guys that come in and are specialists and take this championship team and get the most out of them. I think Rick really runs the gamut."

Harrison Barnes will start at small forward for the Golden State Warriors on opening night.

"Starting was definitely a goal of mine," Barnes said. "Playing in the NBA and starting on opening night is a huge accomplishment. But my mindset is not going to change. I'm going out there and try to provide this team all of the little things I can to help us win."

Barnes was the Warriors' lottery pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Barnes largely won the job by proving he isn't a liability on defense despite being a rookie.

LeBron James may post similar assist numbers to his tenure with the Cavaliers this season as the Heat incorporate Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis into the lineup.

James averaged a career-high 8.6 assists with the Cavaliers during the 09-10 season.

"That's possible," James said. "I've always kind of been up there in the top leaders in assists, and I haven't had this much firepower around me before. But it's all to the credit of my teammates. They're the guys, they have to make the shot, I just try to put it there on time. They have to actually make the shot for me to get the credit for the assist."

"He can read [the court] as well as anybody I've been around," Erik Spoelstra said. "He has that type of IQ but also incidence. You look around the gym and we have proven NBA scorers. We've found a player that allows everybody an opportunity to use the skills that they proven over the years. LeBron has that complete skill set."

Dwight Howard is advising fans of the Los Angeles Lakers to be patient as their new pieces come together and chemistry is formed.

"I know everybody wants it right now, right now," Howard said Sunday. "But we want to win in June, that's what counts."

The Lakers had an 0-8 record in the preseason.

The Lakers' expected starting five has played one preseason game together.

"We don't expect to win every game and be 82-0," Howard said. "But we do expect, say by midseason, that everybody will have the offense down pat and we'll be flowing."

The Milwaukee Bucks have several strong shotblockers, but that doesn't mean that their interior defense is effective in limiting easy buckets.

Multiple opposing big men have had strong games against the Bucks in the preseason.

"One of the things about having shot blockers is they're normally blocking shots of smaller people driving in there," Scott Skiles said. "And we're very good at that.

"But big people operating on us in there, you need guards and other people cracking back and dealing with those guys. It's something we're still trying to work on, still trying to get our habits straight.

"It involves everybody. When penetration comes, the big people have a responsibility to step up and stop it. Sometimes that's a block; sometimes it's stepping up higher and stopping it. Then their man is loose, and we have to make multiple reactions."

The Detroit Pistons promoted George David to assistant general manager in the offseason following the departure of Scott Perry to the Orlando Magic.

"George and I have been together for 15 years," said Joe Dumars. "So, you know, what it did was it did put more on George David's plate, things that he's responsible for now. And even working with him for 15 years, it was interesting, because he was like, 'I had no idea it was this amount of stuff that came along with this.' Even one step up, it was a big difference. But I think everybody knows how I feel about George. He hit the ground running and he hasn't missed a beat.  And look, there's not a coaching relationship I have better than with George David. I think he does an excellent job. I think he's perfect for the role. He hasn't missed a beat."

Perry's background is on the basketball side.

"George is a mixture of both," said Dumars. " George played some basketball in high school but George is a basketball junkie. He does a great job on the administrative side, and to be able to sit and just talk basketball. I think that's what makes George really good is that he really is a mixture of both. I don't think you can just pigeonhole him into one category. He's done a great job of being able to mix into all worlds."

The Atlanta Hawks have created uncertainty at the wing, as Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams were traded in the offseason. Both Johnson and Williams are two of the bigger wing players in the NBA.

Josh Smith sees their lack of size as the biggest challenge heading into the season.

"We were pretty good defensively the last couple of years," said Smith. "We’ve been pretty solid. We might just be a little undersized. We were undersized before but are very undersized now. But that shouldn’t be an issue. I think that we have a lot of feisty and competitive people on this team that hate to lose. I think that will outweigh the so-called decreases that this team has."

The Los Angeles Lakers finished the preseason with an 0-8 record, dropping a 94-82 decision to the Kings on Thursday.

“Sure I’d like to get better yesterday as opposed to tomorrow or the next day or the week from now,” said Mike Brown. “Having said that I know it’s going to take some time. Despite our record, I think we are a little ahead of schedule, especially with the injuries.”

The Lakers continue to turn the ball over too frequently, give up points in transition and also allow too many second chance opportunities.

“We just have to keep trying to find ourselves offensively,” Steve Nash said. “Defensively, we’re decent, but we need more control offensively. This is going to be a process. It’s going to take us a while.”

The Philadelphia 76ers are likely to start Lavoy Allen at center and Thaddeus Young at power forward to begin the season.

Entering training camp, Doug Collins had expected to start Andrew Bynum at center and Spencer Hawes at power forward.

"I would have to say that's a great chance; that group has played very well together," Collins said. "We don't have great size, with Andrew and Kwame [Brown] being our two biggest guys. If that is the group that we will start with, we are going to have to really rebound that ball.

"But I like our speed, and I like our shooting and the way we push the ball. The guys have settled into a good fit."

Jrue Holiday, Jason Richardson and Evan Turner will round out the starting five.