What will happen in the rest of the NBA season? Who will win each conference and make the NBA Finals?
We polled the ESPN Forecast panel of experts -- including NBA writers, editors and analysts -- for their predictions now that we are one-third of the way through the 2020-21 NBA season. The topics include the most likely conference finals and NBA Finals matchups, the best rookie in five years and the best player in the league.
Here are the results.
Who is most likely to win MVP?
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has taken a commanding lead in this race, though there's still plenty of time for a deep list of contenders to make their case.
But if James takes the crown as the best player on the league's best team, it may be difficult for anyone else to break through.
LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers: 61.5%
Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers: 11.5 %
Kevin Durant | Brooklyn Nets: 11.5%
MORE: Breaking down the MVP race into tiers
Which rookie will be the best player in five years?
Although he's had some up and down moments so far, Golden State Warriors center James Wiseman is the clear pick here.
No. 2 overall pick LaMelo Ball is in the running along with lottery steal Tyrese Haliburton (No. 12).
James Wiseman | Golden State Warriors: 53.8%
LaMelo Ball | Charlotte Hornets: 26.9%
Tyrese Haliburton | Sacramento Kings: 19.2%
MORE: Mike Schmitz's NBA rookie surprises
Which teams are most likely to make the East finals?
The Nets' superteam is an overwhelming favorite here, though their challenger is less clear.
Our panel likes the 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks as the other top two teams in the conference.
Voters picked their top two choices
Brooklyn Nets: 80.8%
Philadelphia 76ers: 61.5%
Milwaukee Bucks: 53.8%
MORE: Kevin Pelton's weekly NBA mailbag
Which teams are most likely to make the West finals?
Our entire panel sees LeBron James and the Lakers making it back to the conference finals -- with the conference-leading LA Clippers a strong favorite as their most likely opponent.
Voters picked their top two choices
Los Angeles Lakers: 100%
LA Clippers: 76.9%
Utah Jazz: 23.1%
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Who is most likely to win the NBA Finals?
LeBron and the Lakers also run away with this one.
For reference, ESPN's Basketball Power Index gives the Lakers a 32.2% chance to win it all (No. 1 overall) while FiveThirtyEight has the Lakers at 23% (also No. 1 overall).
Los Angeles Lakers: 69.2%
Philadelphia 76ers: 7.7%
Brooklyn Nets: 7.7%
MORE: How the Nuggets snapped Utah's win streak
Which team most needs to be a trade deadline buyer?
With a chance to potentially cause some damage in the West, the young Denver Nuggets are the most popular pick here.
Denver Nuggets: 34.6%
Milwaukee Bucks: 19.2%
Philadelphia 76ers: 11.5%
Which team most needs to be a trade deadline seller?
The "someone save Bradley Beal" memes are surely a factor here, as the Washington Wizards currently have the worst record in the weaker Eastern Conference.
Washington Wizards: 38.5%
New Orleans Pelicans: 15.4%
Golden State Warriors: 11.5%
MORE: No one was right about Luka Doncic's ceiling
Fact or fiction: All 30 teams will play 72 regular-season games
The NBA's plans to make up all postponed games due to COVID-19 protocols remain unclear right now, but our panel predicts it's unlikely that every team completes the scheduled 72 games, which could lead to some interesting wrinkles to the playoff race down the stretch.
Fiction: 92.3%
Fact: 7.7%
MORE: What RPM reveals about this season
Fact or fiction: LeBron James is the best player in the league
James won the 2020 Finals MVP after losing out in the regular-season MVP race to Giannis Antetokounmpo. Despite LeBron turning 36 in December, our panel still sees him as the best player in the association.
Fact: 69.2%
Fiction: 30.8%