NBA Predictions: Who the Experts Are Picking for NBA MVP, Champion and More

Before last season began, several things were likely easy to predict, but can anyone honestly say they predicted the Dallas Mavericks to win the NBA Championship?

How about Derrick Rose to become the youngest MVP of all time?

Those and many other things are difficult to predict this year, especially in a shortened season, but let's give it a shot anyway.

Here's a look at what the experts around the league think.

Western Conference Champions

Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder

Kevin Durant and the Thunder have been closing the gap on the rest of the Western Conference and this year they will be the top dog.

ESPN Insider John Hollinger likes the Thunder, but now they have high expectations and aren't the feel-good story anymore.

They have a great home-court advantage and eight of their 12 players are under the age of 24.

They've been good. Now it's time for them to win.

Eastern Conference Champions

Prediction: Miami Heat

Almost everyone has the Miami Heat at the top of their power rankings heading into the season, including Si.com's Britt Robson, who thinks that Miami will be even better than a season ago.

The second time around for the "Big Three" should be better considering the media scrutiny won't be as bad, but Robson also notes that the Heat's season could come down to LeBron James hitting a few big shots in June and it's yet to be determined if he can.

Most Valuable Player

Prediction: Dwyane Wade

CBS Sports Ken Berger tabs Wade for the 2011-12 MVP. James and Durant each get some love as well, but as Berger summarized, Wade has never won a league MVP despite winning an NBA Finals MVP.

If the Heat are to reach their ultimate goal of winning an NBA championship, James will be big, but Wade will end up having a huge season.

Rookie of the Year

Prediction: Derrick Williams

The experts tend to throw four names out when talking about the potential Rookie of the Year: Kemba Walker, Jimmer Fredette, Kyrie Irving and Williams.

The consensus goes with the guys at ibtimes, who tab Williams as a guy that could be a big part of making the Minnesota Timberwolves a much better team.

Coach of the Year

Prediction: Rick Adelman

On paper, the Timberwolves could be the most improved team in the NBA and a big part of that could be Adelman, who, as Berger says is a guy who's done well everywhere he's been and has been able to turn teams around quickly.

If Adelman has the Wolves in playoff contention, he would be worthy of consideration.

Berger also tabbed Mike D'Antoni and Eric Spoelstra as possible contenders.

Defensive Player of the Year

Prediction: Dwight Howard

Berger worries about his contract situation effecting his play, but also says that no one changes a shots and controls the paint as well as Howard does.

Now it's just a matter of if he will be defending the paint in Orlando or not.

NBA Champions

Prediction: Miami Heat

Almost every early prediction says the same thing. The Miami Heat won't be watching another team get the rings this season. This will be their year.