Posted Oct 14 2009 9:17AM
Preseason is the time for predictions, to prove one's basketball knowledge. With the 2009-10 NBA season on the horizon, a distinguished panel of NBA analysts get in on the fun and publicly proclaim who they think will win it all this season.
The Lakers are the favorite to repeat as champion, LeBron James is the overwhelming choice to repeat as Most Valuable Players and the Rookie of the Year race should be interesting, with Tyreke Evans close behind Blake Griffin in the voting.
Below is a look at who this crew believes will come out on top next spring:
NBA Expert |
Atlantic |
Central |
SE |
NW |
Pacific |
SW |
East Champ |
West Champ |
Finals Champ |
| David Aldridge TNT |
 Celtics |
 Cavaliers |
 Magic |
 Nuggets |
 Lakers |
 Spurs |
Cavaliers |
Lakers |
Lakers |
| Kenny Smith TNT |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
 Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Lakers |
| Steve Smith NBA TV |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Nuggets |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Celtics |
| Eric Snow NBA TV |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Nuggets |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Celtics |
| Chris Webber NBA TV |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Lakers |
| Steve Aschburner NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Cavaliers |
Lakers |
Cavaliers |
| Fran Blinebury NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Celtics |
| Art Garcia NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Cavaliers |
Spurs |
Spurs |
| Scott Howard-Cooper NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Celtics |
Lakers |
Lakers |
| Shaun Powell NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Cavaliers |
Lakers |
Cavaliers |
| John Schuhmann NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
Magic |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
Spurs |
Cavaliers |
Spurs |
Cavaliers |
| Vince Thomas NBA.com |
Celtics |
Cavaliers |
 Hawks |
Trail Blazers |
Lakers |
 Mavericks |
Cavaliers |
Lakers |
Lakers |
| NBA Expert |
Coach |
Improved |
Sixth man |
Defensive |
Rookie |
MVP |
| David Aldridge TNT |
Gregg Popovich |
Gilbert Arenas |
Ben Gordon |
Anderson Varejao |
Tyreke Evans |
 Kobe Bryant |
| Kenny Smith TNT |
Gregg Popovich |
Michael Beasley |
Manu Ginobili |
Ron Artest |
Stephen Curry |
Kobe Bryant |
| Steve Smith NBA TV |
Flip Saunders |
Jeff Green |
Lamar Odom |
Dwight Howard |
Blake Griffin |
 LeBron James |
| Eric Snow NBA TV |
Flip Saunders |
Louis Williams |
Jamal Crawford |
Dwight Howard |
Blake Griffin |
LeBron James |
| Chris Webber NBA TV |
Gregg Popovich |
Gilbert Arenas |
Ben Gordon |
Anderson Varejao |
Tyreke Evans |
Kobe Bryant |
| Steve Aschburner NBA.com |
Nate McMillan |
Anthony Randolph |
Ben Gordon |
Dwight Howard |
Tyreke Evans |
LeBron James |
| Fran Blinebury NBA.com |
Nate McMillan |
Trevor Ariza |
Rasheed Wallace |
Ron Artest |
Blake Griffin |
LeBron James |
| Art Garcia NBA.com |
Gregg Popovich |
Anthony Randolph |
Manu Ginobili |
Dwight Howard |
Blake Griffin |
LeBron James |
| Scott Howard-Cooper NBA.com |
Nate McMillan |
Anthony Randolph |
Chris Andersen |
LeBron James |
Blake Griffin |
 Dwight Howard |
| Shaun Powell NBA.com |
Mike D'Antoni |
Aaron Brooks |
Marcin Gortat |
Josh Smith |
Tyreke Evans |
LeBron James |
| John Schuhmann NBA.com |
Rick Carlisle |
Julian Wright |
Rasheed Wallace |
Andre Iguodala |
Blake Griffin |
 LeBron James |
| Vince Thomas NBA.com |
Flip Saunders |
Gilbert Arenas |
Lamar Odom |
Chris Paul |
Jonny Flynn |
 Chris Paul |
 | McGee on the Reverse John Wall hits JaVale McGee up stairs for the beautiful reverse alley-oop slam. |
 | McGee Dunks Again JaVale McGee soars the rim for another big one-handed flush. |
 | Bulls vs. Celtics Rajon Rondo goes off for a triple-double recording 32 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists as the Celtics stop the Bulls five-game win streak. |
 | Swatted Jan Vesely comes across the lane for the big block on Greg Monroe's shot. |
 | McGee Slams JaVale McGee rises up for the one-handed flush. |
 | Rondo Down the Lane Rajon Rondo sets the screen and takes the pass from Paul Pierce for the layup down the lane. |
 | Lakers vs. Raptors Kobe Bryant sinks a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Lakers move on to beat the Raptors 94-92. |
 | Celtic's on the Run The Celtic's complete the fast break with Rondo threading the needle to Chris Wilcox for the slam. |
 | Stiemsma Blocks and Rondo Scores Greg Stiemsma makes the block and Rajon Rondo races to the basket for the easy deuce. |
 | Rondo's Between the Legs Pass In his attempt to save the ball, Rajon Rondo makes a between the legs pass to Chris Wilcox, who flushes it home. |
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