Originally Published: October 20, 2009
J.A. Adande's 2009-10 Predictions
Our ESPN.com NBA columnist forecasts the regular-season outcome for the East
Predicted Finish for Western Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
Next parallel MJ challenge for Kobe: Keep the Lakers focused with the Rodmanesque Ron Artest around. If Kobe's will prevents the Lakers from becoming reality-show fodder it's another title coming for Los Angeles. |
|
 San Antonio Spurs |
Counting out the Spurs means counting out Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich ... and I can't count that high. Should be refreshed after a shorter-than-normal season, plus a productive summer. |
|
 Por. Trail Blazers |
The Trail Blazers "settled" for Andre Miller when he's the type of player they should have targeted all along; great fit for this "old-acting" young team. Time for this crew -- especially center Greg Oden -- to deliver on its potential. |
|
 Denver Nuggets |
They got to the conference finals last season, but they didn't get better this past summer. Even the champs gotta make moves. Melo will be flirting with the MVP award. |
|
 Dallas Mavericks |
Funky format, featuring forwards. Fascinating. Finals? Fuhgedaboutit. Kidd's got one more productive run. Too bad he's signed for three years. |
|
 N.O. Hornets |
They're in the worst place. Not New Orleans (I love the Big Easy), that luxury-tax area that keeps them from adding the talent they need. Chris Paul can get them back into the playoffs, but not out of the red ink. |
|
 L.A. Clippers |
Yeah, the Clippers. If healthy, they're deep and talented ... and it looks like Baron's motivated. |
|
 Utah Jazz |
I have them in the playoffs only because it's hard to picture a Jerry Sloan-coached team NOT in the playoffs. But they don't play Sloan-style D and will probably move Carlos Boozer. |
|
 Phoenix Suns |
Can their system work? At least they have a system again, which is more than they could say in last year's identity-crisis season. And doubt Amare at your own risk. |
|
 Houston Rockets |
No need for one of GM Daryl Morey's stat formulas. There's no one over 6-9 or with a points-per-game average over 13 in Houston's opening-night lineup. That won't = many victories. |
|
 OKC Thunder |
Sure, they're supposed to be the "next" team. But next isn't now. Kevin Durant, Jeff Green and now James Harden have to keep waiting. Ask the Trail Blazers. |
|
 G.S. Warriors |
Does anyone still believe? Kind of hard to with a talented but disorganized team headed eight different directions and trying to trade its former captain. |
|
 Minn. Timberwolves |
While they're waiting on Rubio there's plenty to like (Love) or love (Flynn), and Sessions was the underrated free agent of the summer. Team's still short on athleticism. |
|
 Memphis Grizzlies |
Admit it, you're fascinated to see how A.I., Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo can possibly work this out. Might not end well, but as crashes go it could be spectacular. |
|
 Sacramento Kings |
This season could make the dark times before the Webber-Vlade-Peja era look like the good ol' days. |
Predicted Finish for Eastern Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Boston Celtics |
The Celtics get Rasheed Wallace's range and length, and should get his best behavior. They won't run out of gas or frontcourt players like they did last season. |
|
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
LeBron will find that less is more now that Shaq can handle the inside buckets for him. No matter where LeBron ends up next year, he may never have a better team than this one. |
|
 Orlando Magic |
Rare team that had best year in franchise history yet still needs redemption for coach and star player. But after Dwight Howard's and Stan Van Gundy's shortcomings in the Finals, that's the Orlando Magic heading into a new season. |
|
 Atlanta Hawks |
Call them Dirty Birds 2? It's Atlanta's best team since the Super Bowl Falcons, with talented players who finally get what it takes to win. Only lack one superstar to get them to next level. |
|
 Chicago Bulls |
Two things that are easy to forget: Luol Deng, who has battled injuries, was the Bulls' top player three years ago, and Derrick Rose was only a rookie last season. Those two facts will have the Chicago Bulls in the thick of the playoffs this season. |
|
 Wash. Wizards |
They'll finally have the team they wanted last season ... and will discover it's a lot like the team they had a few years ago. Middle of the playoff pack in the East, only with fewer blogs. |
|
 Miami Heat |
D-Wade's at the magic 27 (check MJ, Kobe, Bird, Magic at that age). Just as important, the Heat's young pups are a year older. But does Jermaine O'Neal have anything left? |
|
 Toronto Raptors |
November is their most important month. If they fall out of the gate, they could scrap this squad and start post-Bosh life. But this unorthodox roster just might work. |
|
 Detroit Pistons |
The "D" was always the critical part of Deee-troit basketball, and that's not the forte of pickups Gordon and Villanueva. New team identity, new coach and new result: no playoffs. |
|
 Philadelphia 76ers |
Andre Miller was the reason the 76ers survived Elton Brand's injury and reached the playoffs. Now Brand is back but Miller's gone, leaving the team with no figurative center. |
|
 Charlotte Bobcats |
Larry Brown will somehow make this team competitive, even if he can't stand half his roster by December. Gerald Wallace will bounce back from his down year last season. |
|
 New York Knicks |
Sure, the fans and front office are excited about the upcoming cap space, but what's in it for the seven players on expiring contracts? Not the makings of a unified team. |
|
 Indiana Pacers |
Somehow they beat the Celtics, Lakers, Cavaliers and Magic last season. That probably says more about those teams snoozing than about the Pacers' talent. |
|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
A shell of a team. Their Nos. 2-4 scorers from last year are gone. The only sure bet: Michael Redd will exercise his $18 million player option next summer. |
|
 New Jersey Nets |
Hard to imagine a tougher job in the NBA than trying to sell tickets in New Jersey for the Vince-less, (eventually) Brooklyn-bound Nets. |
Click the mugs below to see our writers' predictions
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