Originally Published: October 20, 2009
Chad Ford's 2009-10 Predictions
Our ESPN Insider forecasts the regular-season outcome for the Eastern Conference
Predicted Finish for Western Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Los Angeles Lakers |
The Lakers are still the team to beat, but I think they lost something when they essentially swapped Trevor Ariza for Ron Artest. Artest provides toughness and grit, but at a huge cost of stability. Nevertheless, even if Ronnie implodes, the Lakers may still have the goods to rule the West. |
|
 San Antonio Spurs |
The Spurs had the most productive summer of any team. They stole Richard Jefferson in a trade and DeJuan Blair in the draft. Last year's first-round pick George Hill continues to improve. And Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan are all finally healthy. If they can avoid injuries, they can beat the Lakers. |
|
 Por. Trail Blazers |
The Blazers are coming off a fantastic season that ended in disappointment. But not to worry. This young team is rapidly gaining experience and confidence. The addition of Miller combined with the emergence of a more confident (and healthy) Oden should put them among the elite in the league. |
|
 Utah Jazz |
The Jazz are my sleeper team in the West. They had problems last season, from injuries to chemistry. But with everyone finally healthy and Boozer motivated to play well going into free agency, they can be very dangerous. They're deep, well coached and their young players still have room to improve. |
|
 Denver Nuggets |
Everything went right for the Nuggets last season and they were one of the most dangerous teams in the league. I'm a little suspicious that everything will go right again. Chauncey Billups is getting older. Kenyon Martin and Nene have serious injury histories and J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony are volatile. |
|
 Dallas Mavericks |
The Mavs spent millions re-signing Kidd and adding Marion. Kidd will provide leadership and Marion will bring defense, rebounding and athleticism, but both players, like the rest of the Mavs' core, are over 30 and on the downslide. It's now or never for Dallas and I'm leaning toward never. |
|
 N.O. Hornets |
Chris Paul may be the best point guard in basketball, but can his supporting cast help the Hornets get over the hump in the West? If newcomer Emeka Okafor along with veterans like Peja Stojakovic and David West can stay healthy, they should be able to make some noise again this season. |
|
 Los Angeles Clippers |
The Clippers have been a long-standing joke, but adding Griffin should change that. He brings athleticism, toughness and a work ethic that should be infectious. Put him with Baron Davis, Camby, Gordon and Thornton, and the Clippers have a real shot at the playoffs. |
|
 Phoenix Suns |
The Suns have faded in the West the last two seasons. Is this the year the flame is extinguished? They still have Nash and Stoudemire, and they're determined to play up-tempo again, but the overall lack of talent, along with Nash's age and Stoudemire's injuries, keep them from being a major threat. |
|
 Houston Rockets |
Don't want to doubt our man Daryl Morey, but this roster, with Yao out for the season and Tracy McGrady coming back from major surgery, sure looks like something a computer, not a GM, would put together. Someone, either Trevor Ariza, Aaron Brooks or Luis Scola, needs to have a huge year. |
|
 OKC Thunder |
The Thunder aren't ready for the playoffs, but aren't that far away. Kevin Durant is already an elite player. Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and rookie James Harden form a potent core and coach Scottie Brooks has done a terrific job. They'll be fun. Next season, dangerous may be a better word. |
|
 G.S. Warriors |
Plenty of talent here, but it's an odd mix that lacks chemistry. Throw in a lame-duck coach, a team captain demanding a trade, a 2-guard who is demanding to be a point guard and the worst management in the league and you can guarantee the Warriors will be entertaining for all the wrong reasons. |
|
 Memphis Grizzlies |
GMs and coaches always want a few veterans on young, rebuilding teams to teach leadership, professionalism and work ethic. That Michael Heisley chose Allen Iverson and Zach Randolph to lead this young but talented core may be his most head-scratching move yet. |
|
 Minn. Timberwolves |
New GM David Kahn overturned virtually the entire roster, but I'm not sure it will translate into more wins. Jefferson and Love form a solid core in the paint and newcomers Sessions and Flynn should energize the backcourt, but when stacked up against the rest of the West, the Wolves still fall short. |
|
 Sacramento Kings |
The Kings have been gutting the team for years and now turn it over to Kevin Martin, one of the most underrated players in the league, and newcomer Tyreke Evans to start turning the ship around. They'll play hard and fast, but on most nights, they lack the talent to compete in this league. |
Predicted Finish for Eastern Conference: 2009-10
| RANK | TEAM | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
|
 Orlando Magic |
The Magic have the best big man in basketball, two elite veteran scorers and a healthy Jameer Nelson. And they shored up a weak frontcourt bench by re-signing Marcin Gortat and acquiring Brandon Bass and Ryan Anderson. They have a better chance of dethroning the Lakers. |
|
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
The Cavs were the best team in the East before collapsing against the Magic, and they've gotten even stronger in the offseason. Shaq and Anthony Parker should help shore up their bench. Still, they lack the athletic bigs to match up with the Magic in a seven-game series. |
|
 Boston Celtics |
The Celtics still have the Big 3, the question is & who's in it? Last season, Rajon Rondo -- not Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen -- was the Celtics' best player. With Garnett coming off knee surgery and Allen starting to show his age, can young Rondo lead the Celtics to the promised land? |
|
 Atlanta Hawks |
The Hawks found a way to re-sign their key free agents and now just have to be patient. Their young core continues to develop and while they aren't an elite team yet, with the Celtics aging and the Cavs in danger of losing LeBron, the Hawks may move up a seed or two come spring. |
|
 Wash. Wizards |
The Wizards were awful without Gilbert Arenas. But now that he's healthy they have a chance to be a very dangerous team in the East. Arenas is a game changer, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are excellent sidekicks and the addition of Randy Foye and Mike Miller really strengthened the bench. |
|
 Detroit Pistons |
The Pistons didn't hit the free-agent jackpot they were hoping to this summer -- but they'll be better than you think. Ben Gordon can take over a game, and Charlie Villanueva is a younger, less volatile version of Sheed. However, their lack of size and toughness keeps them from being in the elite. |
|
 Chicago Bulls |
Derrick Rose is the future of the Bulls, but I think they'll miss Ben Gordon's fourth-quarter heroics badly. Gordon's hot streaks were good for about 10 wins a year for the Bulls. Rose will make up some of the slack, but they still lack the low-post scoring presence to take some heat off their guards. |
|
 Indiana Pacers |
The Pacers were the best team no one paid attention to last season. Riddled with injuries the team still almost made the playoffs and could score on anyone. They didn't add star power this summer, but they did shore up their defense. If Mike Dunleavy gets healthy, they'll surprise a lot of people. |
|
 Miami Heat |
Dwyane Wade alone can put the Heat into the playoffs when he's healthy. With Michael Beasley developing and Jermaine O'Neal claiming he's finally healthy they have the juice to be tough team. But the team is weak in virtually every other position and one big injury and they slide out of the playoffs. |
|
 Toronto Raptors |
The Raptors spent a lot of money this summer, but they only got marginally better. The addition of Hedo Turkoglu will help, but the development of Andrea Bargnani and rookie DeMar DeRozan will ultimately determine whether Chris Bosh will re-sign or leave Toronto next summer. |
|
 Philadelphia 76ers |
Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams give the Sixers youth and athleticism, but a rusty and aging Elton Brand combined with the loss of veteran point guard Andre Miller means that the Sixers will slip in the East. |
|
 New York Knicks |
Does anyone in NY even care about this season? Mike D'Antoni will do his best to field an entertaining team, and we'll be watching the development of Danilo Gallinari closely, but the truth is everyone really only has one question -- will LeBron be wearing a Knicks jersey next season? |
|
 Charlotte Bobcats |
Larry Brown is trying to rebuild the Bobcats into his own image in Charlotte, but I'm not convinced he's doing anything more than making lateral moves. The Tyson Chandler for Emeka Okafor swap seems like a wash and the rest of the team is solid, but lacks a true go-to player. |
|
 New Jersey Nets |
The Nets have intriguing young players from Harris to Lopez to newly acquired Lee. But the real intrigue is whether the Nets, with a potential new Russian billionaire owner and a new arena planned, can win the LeBron sweepstakes. |
|
 Milwaukee Bucks |
The Bucks gave away three of their best players this summer -- Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions -- in an attempt to slash payroll. Andrew Bogut is solid and Michael Redd is back, but the rest of the team is a work in progress. |
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