Originally Published: October 20, 2009
Jon Barry's 2009-10 Predictions
Our ESPN NBA analyst forecasts the regular-season outcome for the East
Predicted Finish for Western Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
This team is better with Ron Artest. That was a brilliant move by Mitch Kupchak. They improve defensively and get a guy who can score 25-30 points on a night when Kobe Bryant might be off. Offensively they are as good as any team in the league. |
|
 San Antonio Spurs |
They are reloaded. As long as the big three of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are healthy, they are championship contenders. Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess are both going to play big roles. |
|
 Por. Trail Blazers |
They are ready to take that next step. They need Greg Oden to be a defensive force. They don't need him to score, just rebound and play defense. I love Aldridge and Roy and with the addition of Miller they are ready to contend. |
|
 Denver Nuggets |
They didn't make any major moves in the offseason, but they still can win in the regular season. Chauncey Billups is getting a full training camp in Denver and they have enough pieces in place to be in the upper echelon in the West. |
|
 Dallas Mavericks |
The addition of Shawn Marion is a good move. He is a good defender who doesn't need to score much. Put him with Josh Howard and Dirk Nowitzki and that's a quality frontline. I love Jason Terry, but he is better suited coming off the bench, so the Mavs still need a shooting guard. |
|
 Utah Jazz |
They are always in the mix. Carlos Boozer wants a contract, so expect for him to play very well this season. |
|
 Phoenix Suns |
There is one more run left for this group. They are very talented and committed to the run-and-gun offense which Steve Nash thrives. Also, I expect big things from Amare. |
|
 N.O. Hornets |
I'm so disappointed in ownership in New Orleans. They were on the cusp of being a great team two years ago and neglected to make any big moves. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league, but this team lacks depth. |
|
 Houston Rockets |
With the injury to Yao Ming and not knowing what Tracy McGrady is going to bring, this team will be hard-pressed to score. If they think Trevor Ariza is a one or two option, they are going to be sadly mistaken. |
|
 L.A. Clippers |
I love Blake Griffin. He is a lock for rookie of the year. The team has a lot of talent, but hey, it's the Clips. |
|
 G.S. Warriors |
They'll be fun to watch, and Stephen Curry is in the perfect system to thrive. But that system won't produce many wins. |
|
 OKC Thunder |
I love this young group of talented players. Kevin Durant was terrific and is only going to get better in his third season but the Thunder are still a couple of years away. |
|
 Memphis Grizzlies |
They are turning to Allen Iverson? They are going to thwart the maturation of O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay and the other young players? I don't quite understand the move. |
|
 Minn. Timberwolves |
If a stable of point guards means wins, then these Timberwolves are your 2009-10 NBA champions. |
|
 Sacramento Kings |
Tyreke Evans could be a special player, but the Kings don't have no where near the talent needed to compete in the West. |
Predicted Finish for Eastern Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
The addition of Shaq, provided he's healthy, gives Cleveland a viable post-up option to take pressure off of LeBron. The Cavs will roll through the regular season. |
|
 Boston Celtics |
The addition of Rasheed Wallace and the return of Kevin Garnett make this the best defensive team in league. They aren't concerned with getting the best record. They just want to be healthy for the playoffs. This is the last run for these guys. |
|
 Orlando Magic |
The loss of Hedo Turkoglu makes them take a step back. He was their best playmaker. Also, the suspension of Rashard Lewis puts them behind the eight ball. Vince Carter probably feels like he has a lot to prove this season. |
|
 Atlanta Hawks |
I don't think they'll improve on 47 wins from last season. They have tremendous guards and wing players, but the Hawks still need to get some more big men. |
|
 Chicago Bulls |
Luol Deng is back but the loss of Ben Gordon is going to be tough to overcome. They have officially become Derrick Roses' team. James Johnson is the steal of the draft. |
|
 Wash. Wizards |
I love their offseason. Mike Miller and Randy Foyre are great additions and if Gilbert Arenas can stay healthy, this is small ball at its finest. A couple of years ago, this team was off the charts. They are going to be a matchup problem for everyone. |
|
 Toronto Raptors |
With Hedo Turkoglu, Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh, the Raptors have a big-time frontline. Jose Calderon is a good point guard. They lack some perimeter shooting but that frontline will be tough to deal with. |
|
 Philadelphia 76ers |
Elton Brand is back and Thaddeus Young is going to blossom into a big-time player. The loss of Andre Miller is big. Lou Williams is a shoot-first type of player -- that is my biggest concern with them heading into the season. |
|
 Detroit Pistons |
What happened to that stable of frontcourt talent they always seemed to have? It's gone. I don't think the combination of Hamilton and Gordon is going to work well together. |
|
 Miami Heat |
Dwyane Wade was off the charts last year and I expect him to do it again but he has no help. I can't imagine Jermaine O'Neal playing a full season. Hopefully, Michael Beasley, who is very talented, can get his life in order. |
|
 New York Knicks |
They are going to score points, but they need to improve on defense. Their hopes clearly ride on next summer. |
|
 Indiana Pacers |
Danny Granger is a big-time player and Brandon Rush had a great rookie season. They need Mike Dunleavy to be healthy. They will play hard and be that team that nobody wants to play. |
|
 Charlotte Bobcats |
They have a good coach but very little talent. I thought Allen Iverson would have been a good addition for them. He is a big-time scorer who would have been good for their fan base and would have had them in the playoff hunt. |
|
 New Jersey Nets |
Is this an NBA roster? It is going to be a long season for these guys. Forget moving to Brooklyn, maybe they should just move them to Moscow. |
|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
Michael Redd better work miracles for these Bucks. Even if he does, 35 wins will still be a reach for this team. |
Click the mugs below to see our writers' predictions
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