2009-2010 NBA Season Preview

With approximately 3 weeks left until the regular season opens up for the Trail Blazers, it is time for the season preview and predictions article. Along with our picks, we selected four of the best hoops blogs to dish out some of their own knowledge. A huge thanks to Blaze of Love, Bust a Bucket, Knee Jerk NBA, and NBA Noise for their contributions. Without further ado, the 2009-2010 NBA Season Preview! Blaze of Love NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Spurs

Trail Blazers

Nuggets

Mavericks

Jazz

Hornets

Suns

Top 8: East

Cavaliers

Magic

Celtics

Heat

Hawks

Bulls

76ers

Raptors

West Finals Lakers vs. Trail Blazers East Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Finals Lakers over Cavaliers MVP LeBron James Rookie Of The Year Blake Griffin Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Rudy Fernandez 1st Team All-NBA

G- Chris Paul

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Tim Duncan

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Gilbert Arenas Biggest Underachiever Hedo Turkoglu Surprise team Raptors Disappointing Team Hornets Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Stephen Jackson Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph Eddy Curry Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 58-24 Record At The Rose Garden 35-6 How Will Their Season End WCF against Los Angeles Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team Not this year, next year Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard It should be Miller, but it will be Blake Record Vs. Lakers 2-1 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Under LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Under Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Under Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Under Number Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots 2 Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Bayless. Cunningham will only play in blowouts Who Will Be The Scapegoat Andre Miller Bust a Bucket NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Trail Blazers

Spurs

Nuggets

Mavericks

Jazz

Suns

Clippers

Top 8: East

Cavaliers

Celtics

Magic

Heat

Hawks

Bulls

Wizards

Raptors

West Finals Lakers vs. Trail Blazers East Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Finals Celtics over Lakers MVP LeBron James Rookie Of The Year Blake Griffin Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Rudy Fernandez 1st Team All-NBA

G- Chris Paul

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Dirk Nowitzki

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Rudy Gay Biggest Underachiever Paul Pierce Surprise team Clippers Disappointing Team Nuggets Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Ron artest Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph Eddy Curry Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 55-27 Record At The Rose Garden 32-9 How Will Their Season End Game 7. WCF. At Los Angeles Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team No Doubt Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard Blake will start, but Andre will finish Record Vs. Lakers 2-1 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Under: Winning streaks are overrated LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Over: 9.4 Book it! Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Under: 27mpg Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Over: 23ppg Number Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots Between 3-4, last year was crazy Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Neither, because they will barely play Who Will Be The Scapegoat Doubtful there will be one, Travis most likely Knee Jerk NBA NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Spurs

Trail Blazers

Nuggets

Hornets

Jazz

Mavericks

Suns

Top 8: East

Cavaliers

Celtics

Magic

Hawks

Bulls

Raptors

Heat

Pistons

West Finals Lakers vs. Spurs East Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Finals Lakers over Cavaliers MVP Kobe Bryant Rookie Of The Year Blake Griffin Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Lamar Odom 1st Team All-NBA

G- Chris Paul

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Kevin Durant

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Greg Oden Biggest Underachiever(s) Allen Iverson & Hedo Turkoglu Surprise team(s) Clipers & Rockets Disappointing Team Raptors Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Vince Carter Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph F*** those idiots! I'll bring back Oliver Miller out of retirement. Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 54-28 Record At The Rose Garden 33-8 How Will Their Season End Lose in the Conference Semi-Finals Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team No, too many good forwards in the West Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard Andre Miller Record Vs. Lakers 2-1 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Under: 8 LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Under Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Over Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Over Number Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots 4 Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Bayless, but neither will be factors. Who Will Be The Scapegoat Sergio if things are rolling. Greg if we're struggling. NBA Noise NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Spurs

Trail Blazers

Nuggets

Mavericks

Jazz

Hornets

Rockets

Top 8: East

Celtics

Cavaliers

Magic

Hawks

Raptors

Wizards

Bulls

Pistons

West Finals Lakers vs. Spurs East Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Finals Lakers over Cavaliers MVP LeBron James Rookie Of The Year Blake Griffin Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Manu Ginobli 1st Team All-NBA

G- Dwyane Wade

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Amare Stoudemire

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Mario Chalmers. He had a solid rookie season which he should be able to improve on, and the depth at the point guard spot in Miami is still paper thin. A year under his belt and added confidence should result in a breakout year for Chalmers. Biggest Underachiever Gilbert Arenas. Gil’s game was based on quickness and confidence before he got injured. He’s likely lost a little bit of both. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m not expecting to see the same old Agent Zero this season. Surprise team Clippers Disappointing Team Celtics Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Brandon Jennings Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph Zach Randolph. If he is as big of a black hole at the dinner table as he is in an offense, he would be a great competitive eating partner. Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 55-27 Record At The Rose Garden 34-7 How Will Their Season End Eliminated in the Western semis Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team Yes, I think this is the year that he surpasses David West. Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard I’m torn here. I think that Andre Miller is above and beyond the better basketball player, but I’m not sure that his style of play is as effective with that unit as Steve Blake is. That being said, I’ll err on the side of having the best player on the court – Miller. Ultimately I think he will make that group a bit more dynamic, and improve Oden’s game significantly by finding more opportunities to get him the ball that the Blazers have passed on before. Record Vs. Lakers 2-1 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Under LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Over Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Over Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Under Number Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots 2 Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Dante Cunningham. The Blazers are set with backcourt ballhandlers, but Cunningham could provide the Blazers with some frontcourt versatility in spot minutes. Who Will Be The Scapegoat Andre Miller Dustin's Take NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Trailblazers

Spurs

Hornets

Mavericks

Nuggets

Jazz

Rockets

Top 8: East

Celtics

Cavaliers

Magic

Wizards

Heat

Bulls

Hawks

Raptors

West Finals Lakers vs. Trail Blazers East Finals Cavaliers vs. Celtics NBA Finals Celtics over Lakers MVP LeBron James Rookie Of The Year Brandon Jennings Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Jason Terry 1st Team All-NBA

G- Brandon Roy

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Dirk Nowitzki

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Thaddeus Young Biggest Underachiever Hedo is the obvious pick, but everyone is picking him. I'll go with Elton Brand. Surprise team(s) East: No One West:Rockets Disappointing Team(s) East: Hawks West:Nuggets Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Jamal Crawford. Not many can surpass him for the title of worst shot selection in the League. Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph Eddy Curry Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 60-22 Record At The Rose Garden 37-4 How Will Their Season End Game 7 WCF against the Lakers Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team Yes Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard Andre Miller All Day Record Vs. Lakers 2-1 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Under:7 LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Over:8.2 Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Under: 26 Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Over:23 dNumber Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots 4 Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Bayless Who Will Be The Scapegoat Nate McMillan Matt's Take NBA Preview Top 8: West

Lakers

Trailblazers

Spurs

Nuggets

Jazz

Hornets

Mavericks

Clippers

Top 8: East

Cavaliers

Magic

Celtics

Hawks

Heat

Raptors

Bulls

Pistons

West Finals Lakers vs. Trail Blazers East Finals Cavaliers vs. Magic NBA Finals Lakers over Cavaliers MVP LeBron James Rookie Of The Year Blake Griffin Defensive Player Of The Year Dwight Howard 6th Man Of The Year Manu Ginobli 1st Team All-NBA

G- Chris Paul

G- Kobe Bryant

F- LeBron James

F- Tim Duncan

C- Dwight Howard

Breakout Player Louise Williams Biggest Underachiever Hedo Turkoglu Surprise team Clippers Disappointing Team Rockets Most Likely Give His Coach A Heart Attack Ron Artest, we can only hope. (I kid) Man V. Food: You Need A Partner, Eddy Curry Or Zach Randolph Eddy Curry Trail Blazers Preview Regular Season Record 61-21 Record At The Rose Garden 37-4 How Will Their Season End WCF against the Lakers Will Aldridge Make The All-Star Team Nope Blake Or Miller As Starting Point Guard I'd star the season with Blake. Record Vs. Lakers 3-0 Longest Winning Streak: Over/Under 10 Over LaMarcus Aldridge RPG: Over/Under 8 Under Greg Oden MPG: Over/Under 28 Under Brandon Roy PPG: Over/Under 22.6 Over dNumber Of Brandon Roy Game Winning Shots 3 Bayless Or Cunningham: Bigger Impact Bayless. Cunningham will only play in blowouts Who Will Be The Scapegoat Travis Outlaw