ESPN NBA Preview 2008-09

Juan Ocampo/NBAE/Getty ImagesLast season, the Lakers showed they had what it took to reach the Finals. This time, they can win it all.

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

1. Los Angeles Lakers: 7 votes

Chris Broussard, ESPN Mag: The combination of Kobe Bryant, Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol is just too much.

Ric Bucher, ESPN The Mag: Bynum's finishing at the rim and patrolling the paint changes everything.

Chad Ford, ESPN.com: This is the year Kobe finally will take home an NBA title without Shaq.

Mark Jackson, ESPN: The Celtics lost James Posey, but the Lakers got Bynum back.

Jackie MacMullan, ESPN.com: GM Mitch Kupchak will make another midseason deal to put them over the top.

Chris Palmer, ESPN The Mag: There is still no single player in the league who has a greater drive or desire to win than Kobe Bryant. No way will he get denied two years in a row.

Jalen Rose, ESPN

2. Boston Celtics: 5 votes

Maurice Brooks, ESPN.com: Yes, they'll miss James Posey, but they still play the best D in the league and have three players who aren't afraid to take and make the big shot.

John Hollinger, ESPN.com: Defense will reign for another year.

Tim Legler, ESPN: KG is simply too competitive and driven to become satisfied with one ring. They will miss Posey, but their defense and rebounding will dominate.

Jack Ramsay, ESPN Radio

Chris Sheridan, ESPN.com: On the road this time, in five over the Rockets.

T-3. Houston Rockets: 2 votes

Scoop Jackson, ESPN.com

Keith Lipscomb, ESPN.com Fantasy: Yao will miss fewer than 25 games for the first time in four seasons. Things will finally come together for Adelman's first NBA title.

T-3. New Orleans Hornets: 2 votes

Henry Abbott, ESPN.com's TrueHoop: It's Chris Paul time.

J.A. Adande, ESPN.com

T-3. San Antonio Spurs: 2 votes

Marc Stein, ESPN.com: Of all those perennial 50-win teams in the West, only one has proven it can win it all. Yet everyone is writing that team off. I think they have another title run left in them.

David Thorpe, Scouts Inc.: The Spurs were the best team last season but lost because of Manu Ginobili's injury. I like their bench more now than a year ago to serve as catalysts for another title.