ESPN NBA Preview 2008-09

Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty ImagesNate McMillan could win top coaching honors if he gets his young Blazers to live up to expectations.

Editor's note: We asked our panel of NBA experts, "Who will win Coach of the Year?"

1. Nate McMillan: 5 votes

Maurice Brooks, ESPN.com: Sure the roster is stacked with talent, but someone has to push all of the buttons to make it work. The formula here is simple: More wins plus a playoff berth equals COY.

Chad Ford, ESPN.com: With the Blazers on the rise, voters will want to give them something. McMillan's patient approach to the Blazers should earn him the honors.

Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com

Keith Lipscomb, ESPN.com Fantasy: The steady improvement in Portland continues. Fifty-one wins sounds about right.

Jackie MacMullan, ESPN.com: Right guy for a young team about to explode.

2. Jerry Sloan: 4 votes

J.A. Adande, ESPN.com: Just give him the lifetime achievement award already.

Chris Broussard, ESPN Mag: Unless Mike D'Antoni leads the Knicks to the playoffs, I don't see any "knock-our-socks-off'' performances coming from the league's benches. Thus, Jerry Sloan will finally receive a well-deserved COY for lifetime achievement.

John Hollinger, ESPN.com: If the Jazz win the West, the sentiment to finally honor him will be overwhelming.

Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: In a close race with Stan Van Gundy, Sloan finally wins the award that has eluded him.

3. Rick Adelman: 3 votes

Ric Bucher, ESPN Mag: Nobody is better at taking a potential chemistry disaster and making it work -- at least in the regular season.

Tim Legler, ESPN: If he can manage the land mine that is Ron Artest's psyche and keep Yao and T-Mac healthy, the Rockets will be in the mix to win it all.

Marc Stein, ESPN.com: If the Artest gamble works, you have to believe Adelman's ability to reach Ron-Ron -- as well as the fine juggling he demonstrated last season to keep the Rockets winning when Yao was out injured -- will have been a huge factor.

4. Phil Jackson: 2 votes

Henry Abbott, ESPN.com's TrueHoop: Last season, Jackson took a disgruntled team and turned it into West champs. This year, the Lakers will dominate, and credit will go to the Zen Master.

Jalen Rose, ESPN: Lakers may have the best overall record in the league this season.

T-5. Mike D'Antoni: 1 vote

Chris Palmer, ESPN Mag: It's a stretch, but if the Knicks win 40 games, it's his.

T-5. Byron Scott: 1 vote

Jack Ramsay, ESPN Radio

T-5. Erik Spoelstra: 1 vote

Mark Jackson, ESPN: After an embarrassing season last year, the Heat will find themselves in the playoffs.

T-5. Randy Wittman: 1 vote

David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.: I like what Minnesota's building, and the combination of their strength inside with the low expectations of opposing teams will translate into some surprising wins.