• 2008-09 offseason predictions: East | West | Awards | Conf. champs | NBA champs
In the NBA, summer is the season for optimism. New draft picks, big trades, new coaches, new hope.
New and improved. That's how almost every team appears through the rose-tinted sunglasses of summer.
But if you like a dose of realism with your optimism, we're here to help.
We asked 25 of our writers, editors and contributors for their take on the upcoming season, team by team.
Here is the collective wisdom of our committee:
* - The Jazz finished slightly ahead of the Spurs in our average prediction.
* - The Warriors finished slightly ahead of the Nuggets in our average prediction.
* - The Grizzlies finished slightly ahead of OKC in our average prediction.
Predicted standings based on the forecasts of these 25 ESPN writers, editors and contributors: Henry Abbott, J.A. Adande, Kevin Arnovitz, Jon Barry, Jordan Brenner, Maurice Brooks, Chris Broussard, Ric Bucher, Chad Ford, Jemele Hill, John Hollinger, Mark Jackson, Scoop Jackson, Tim Legler, Jackie MacMullan, Chris Palmer, Chris Ramsay, Dr. Jack Ramsay, Jalen Rose, Chris Sheridan, Marc Stein, David Thorpe, Royce Webb, Brian Windhorst and Matt Wong.