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Most Likely to Start a Great Individual Rivalry: Andrew Bynum and Greg Oden

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

The Blazers and Lakers have a history. Since the 1991 season the two teams have met in the playoffs six times. Two of those times the match up took place in the Western Conference Finals, where the Lakers ripped the hearts out of some of the best teams in Portland Trail Blazer history.

Because of this history, Blazer fans absolutely hate the Lakers. I mean really hate the Lakers. Lakers fans don't like the Blazers that much either, but they've spent so much time hating the Celtics, Spurs, and Kings that the Blazers haven't received that much of their ire.

Well, that all is likely to change this season, as it looks like the Blazers will be competing with the Lakers for Western Conference supremacy for years to come. At the center of that rivalry will be two talented young big men that most feel will dominate the NBA for years to come.

Most Likely to Make Kevin Love Wish He Stayed at UCLA: Amare Stoudemire

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

I love Kevin Love. I think he's going to be a very good player in the NBA. He's going to be great on the glass, and will likely become the league's best passing big man. But just like most NBA players, Love has his weaknesses.

Love's most glaring weakness might be on the defensive side of the ball -- particularly when it comes to keeping up with quicker and more athletic players. Love could get around that by guarding centers, but I'm not sure if he's tall enough to hold his own at that position. That means K-Love will most likely will be matching up with freak of nature power forwards like Amare Stoudemire.

Most Likely to Gain a Ton of Bandwagon Fans: The Portland Trail Blazers

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

I have to admit, the Portland Trail Blazers have been looking pretty good this preseason. I can't say that I am surprised. I mean, their roster is just stacked.

With Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden as their core, the Blazers have a squad that many feel will eventually compete for championships for years to come.

The Blazers rise reminds me a lot of the rise of the Sacramento Kings from earlier in the decade. With a young and entertaining squad, the Kings became the cool team to get behind. I swear, almost every young cat I met in college that wasn't from L.A. was a Kings fan. Many of them claimed to be lifelong Kings fans, but I somehow highly doubt that. It's funny, because these days I find it very difficult to locate those same Kings lifers. I wonder why.

Most Likely to Wish He Had Taken Another Coaching Job: Mike D'Antoni

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

When Mike D'Antoni first decided to leave Phoenix, everyone automatically assumed he would end up in Chicago. Even before Chicago secured the number one pick, observers thought that the Bulls had a stable of players that would be perfect for D'Antoni's style. Images of Tyrus Thomas finally being set free bounced throughout the blogosphere.

Everything seemed perfect until Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf got involved and mucked up the negotiations. Being the savvy GM that he is, Donnie Walsh swooped in and made sure to make D'Antoni an offer he could not refuse before the Bulls would even have a chance to respond. D'Antoni made the choice to go to the Knicks because of his comfort level with Walsh, and the Knicks' better financial package. However, in the end, that extra money might not have been worth turning down the Chicago gig.

Most Likely to Hustle His Way Into a Fat Contract: Leon Powe

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

If you watched game two of the 2008 NBA Finals, you know what Leon Powe is all about. That's right, HUSTLE. My man is relentless out there, diving for lose balls, blocking shots, fighting for tip ins, and slamming it home on opposing player's faces. He's what most people like to call a hardhat guy.

But there are some real skills to go along with that hustle. I mean, according to John Hollinger's PER projections, Powe projects to be one of the top 25 most efficient players in the league (ahead of guys like Steve Nash, Jose Calderon, and Deron Williams).

Most Likely to Win Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Earlier this pre-season, there was a big fuss about Lamar Odom possibly becoming the Lakers' sixth man. Odom initially bristled at such suggestions, stating that he had never come off the bench in his entire career. Fast forward a month later, and Odom is on board with the move.

The change of heart was fueled by the realization that Phil Jackson is still going to give L.O. starter minutes, and the fact that Odom probably fits in better with the up-tempo style of the second unit than half-court style of the first. Odom also realized that he has a chance to be a part of a potential championship team, and that it would be unwise to muck that up over his desire to start -- especially when he's still going to be playing big minutes.

This move automatically makes Odom a contender for sixth man of the year.

Most Likely to Get Early MVP Buzz, Deservingly or Not: Chris Paul

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

The NBA's MVP award means many things to many people. We can discuss the reality of the award being actually given to the league's most valuable player, but let's not: I did this last season.

One thing is clear though: since the media are the ones that vote on it, the early buzz they create around a particular player has a huge effect on who will end up receiving it. For this reason, and this reason alone, go ahead and mark down Chris Paul as your early favorite for MVP. Whether he deserves it or not.

Before you start in with the "you're just hating on Chris Paul!" comments, relax. That's not what this is about. In fact, when I saw the cover of ESPN's latest magazine ask the question, "Chris Paul or Deron Williams?" I literally chuckled out loud and said, "please." (Yes, for reasons that remain unclear, The Mag shows up to my house every month. No, I do not pay for it.)

Head-to-head, Williams has dominated Paul, sure. But Paul spent last season dominating the entire league, thus making the comparison fairly ridiculous.

Most Likely to Be Traded By the Trade Deadline: Shawn Marion

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Shawn Marion looks like a man that won't last the entire season at his current destination. Let's look at some of the reasons why:

1) Marion is in the last year of his deal, and has incentive force a trade to a team that wants to sign him long term.

2) Miami already has Riley favorite Udonis Haslem and number two overall pick Michael Beasley to fill Marion's role at the four.

3) Miami's in desperate need of a starter level point guard and center.

4) Tons of teams could use a do everything player of Marion's caliber.
Seems like the perfect storm for a Marion trade. But where could he go?

Most Likely to Make the All-Star Team as a Rookie: Derrick Rose

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Before getting injured this past week, Derrick Rose was making a name for himself this preseason (Case in point: his 30-point performance against the Mavs this past Tuesday). With his explosive game, he's quickly becoming a fan favorite around the league.

When you consider the lack of superstar point guards out East, and the fact that Rose is playing in a big market like Chicago, it's highly likely that he could get voted to the All-Star team as a rookie. I mean, with Jason Kidd heading west, his only competition for the starting nod would be with Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, Jose Calderon, Andre Miller, Devin Harris, TJ Ford and Gilbert Arenas (no angry emails about Starbury).

Chauncey is probably the best of all of those players, but outside of Detroit, he's never been that "box office."

Most Likely to Get Fired While Making Final Preparations For a Holiday: Mike Woodson

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

On Christmas Eve, Scott Skiles received the dreaded pink slip from the Bulls. Heartless? Perhaps. Unexpected? No fricking way. The NBA is a business, son, and business has to get handled ... even on a quasi-holiday. So who should fear the phone during Hanukkah, the 12 days of Christmas and New Year's Eve this year? We offer three candidates.

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