SI.com's experts make their predictions for 2007-08

Will this be the year the Spurs, led by Tim Duncan (left) and Tony Parker, repeat as champions for the first time? Bob Rosato/SI

SI.com NBA writers Ian Thomsen, Marty Burns, Chris Mannix, Jack McCallum, Steve Aschburner and Paul Forrester offer their predictions for the 2007-08 season.

1. Who will win the NBA Finals?

Thomsen: Mavericks over Pistons. The Mavs were too young to win the past two years, but their recent postseason troubles have made them stubborn. Avery Johnson has learned the necessary lessons, and Josh Howard will emerge as the requisite No. 2 star in support of Dirk Nowitzki.

Burns: Spurs over Pistons. The Spurs still have the best big man in the NBA (Tim Duncan) and the stingiest defense. The Pistons are hungry to regain their throne in the East. In a rematch of the 2005 Finals, San Antonio's superior balance will again enable it to overcome Detroit and finally notch those elusive back-to-back titles.

Mannix: Spurs over Celtics. The Spurs remain frighteningly efficient, and by the end of the season, Tony Parker will be mentioned in the same breath with elite point guards Jason Kidd and Steve Nash. The Celtics have enough to come out of the East, but their lack of depth will catch up with them when their tired legs can't match a San Antonio team bred for the playoffs.

McCallum: Mavs over Celtics. The Celts' new Big Three gets them back to the promised land but not all the way past a Mavs team bent on forgetting the pain of last year's one-and-out.

Aschburner: Suns over Cavaliers. This year, finally, the Suns break through, not only reaching the Finals but also winning them. There's a sliver of daylight in between Dallas' heavy expectations and San Antonio's aging bench, and no one is more creative with the smallest of spaces than Nash. (This scenario gets more likely if the Mavs and the Spurs beat up each other in a seven-game, second-round series.)

Forrester: Mavs over Bulls. The Mavs learn their lesson after last year's debacle and play to their strengths -- defense, spreading the offensive points of attack -- to put an exclamation point on a year David Stern would rather forget. Though the Bulls fall short of trophy No. 7, they ride a stifling defense, a rejuvenated Ben Wallace and, perhaps, a newly added superstar (see question No. 9) past the aging Pistons and shallow Celtics to take the East.

2. Who will be the regular-season MVP?

Thomsen: LeBron James, Cavs. After driving the Cavs to the NBA Finals last season, LeBron's singular leadership can't be ignored any longer.

Burns: Kevin Garnett, Celtics. Energized by his move to Boston, the Big Ticket will play like he did four years ago when he won the award. His amazing versatility -- and the hype surrounding the Celtics' return to relevance -- will be enough to push him past LeBron and Kobe Bryant.

Mannix: Duncan. Couple LeBron's long playoff run with his third straight summer playing for Team USA -- and add the fact that he may be without two major weapons in Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic -- and King James is ripe to wear down. After last spring's Dallas flameout, voters won't touch Nowitzki, and Nash has to slow down sometime. That leaves Duncan atop the heap.

McCallum: LeBron. 'Bronnie's better and the team around him is not; he should win easily, with token comp coming from former winner Garnett and perennial contender Nash.

Aschburner: LeBron. It's time and he's ready, on the court and off. The supporting cast wasn't upgraded, but that actually will work in James' favor for this award, since he'll be lugging as big a load as ever.

Forrester: Garnett. KG will do what he always does -- at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists a game -- but will do so in the media spotlight that is the Northeast, not the forgotten Midwest. Combined with the 45-50 games Boston likely will win, that same media will recognize KG for making the C's relevant again.

3. What team will be the biggest surprise?

Thomsen: Knicks. The Knicks will rally to the playoffs with Nate Robinson surfacing as the true point guard they've long needed.

Burns: Nuggets. With Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Nenê and a healthy Kenyon Martin, the Nuggets have plenty of weapons. In his third full season, George Karl now has his system in place. Don't be surprised if they're leading the league at the All-Star break.

Mannix: Rockets. Luis Scola fills a gaping hole at power forward, the Rockets will love playing in Rick Adelman's fluid offense while maintaining the principles that remain from Jeff Van Gundy's defense, and the competition at point guard will benefit the team. The Rockets will be battling Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio for home-court advantage.

McCallum: Bulls. They're probably not a complete surprise, but they will make it to the Eastern finals without a certified superstar.

Aschburner: Nuggets. The Nuggets have issues and flaws, but the Iverson-Anthony fit should be even better over a full season. If Martin comes back fully healthy, and Camby stays relatively healthy, there should be enough weapons and enough emotion to boost this club past Utah in the Northwest Division.

Forrester: Hawks. With Atlanta already bursting with a talented core of Joe Johnson, Josh Smith and Josh Childress, the solid additions of Al Horford and Acie Law IV bring a sense of workmanlike purpose, pushing the Hawks into a second-tier (5-8 seeds) playoff spot and saving Mike Woodson's job for at least one more season.

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