Is this the end of an era?

[illantari]

First of all, YAY US!

In the last two days, the two teams that used to be the stalwarts of the NBA were knocked off.  For years it was the Pistons in the East and the Spurs in the West.  With both losing in the conference finals, the question I have is, are they done?  Are both teams too old now?

And if they are, what's next?  Is it going to be another Lakers-Celtics era?  What about the emergence of younger teams like the Sixers and the Hornets?

[BudweiserCeltic]

Not quite yet... the Pistons still have some good young talent in there, and the Spurs just need to tweak their team a bit. Manu, Parker, and Duncan can still get it done... their supporting cast simply needs an upgrade. One or two good free-agent pick-ups, a trade or two here and there and they should be in good shape. They have great scouts, so they should be able to manage and open their window for a couple of more years.

I know some would disagree with some of these, but I think the teams that are in need of a makeover more than anyone are Suns, Dallas, Cleveland, and Houston. I'd throw Denver in there, but I don't think there much problem with the players there as I think there's more of a coaching problem.  I'd keep both Melo and Iverson in there and try to ride them till Iverson has nothing left in the tank.

[Bahku]

I think it is the end of an era ... and more importantly, the beginning of a new era, and the re-emergence of the Celtics and Lakers as domintaing forces in their respective conferences.

I also think there are many new, young teams that will be coming forward, and many of the "stalwarts" like Detroit and SA, that will go through some major shake-ups and transformations.

This is the start of a truly exciting time for us as Boston fans, and you can feel the electricity!

"I can feel it comin' in the air tonight ... Oh, Lord"

                                                                - Phil Collins

[illantari]

Not quite yet... the Pistons still have some good young talent in there, and the Spurs just need to tweak their team a bit. Manu, Parker, and Duncan can still get it done... their supporting cast simply needs an upgrade. One or two good free-agent pick-ups, a trade or two here and there and they should be in good shape. They have great scouts, so they should be able to manage and open their window for a couple of more years.

I know some would disagree with some of these, but I think the teams that are in need of a makeover more than anyone are Suns, Dallas, Cleveland, and Houston. I'd throw Denver in there, but I don't think there much problem with the players there as I think there's more of a coaching problem.  I'd keep both Melo and Iverson in there and try to ride them till Iverson has nothing left in the tank.

I think the Pistons' attitude problem will doom them a lot sooner than their age would dictate; not sure who they'd have to move to get rid of that.  And Dallas tried with the Kidd trade, but that probably hurt them in the long run.  As for the other teams, I guess we'll have to see what happens in the next few months.

Bahku, I hope you're right.

[nickagneta]

No. It's just the re-emergence of an old one.

Celtics-Lakers will probably dominate this league for the next few years. Both teams have superstar veterans and good veteran supporting casts and some very promising youth that are getting a championship pedigree early in their careers.

Ah there's nothing like a Green and White and Purple and Gold night in June to appreciate the era that one lives in.

Lakers.

Celtics.

In basketball, does it get any better than this?

[Steve Weinman]

Not quite yet... the Pistons still have some good young talent in there, and the Spurs just need to tweak their team a bit. Manu, Parker, and Duncan can still get it done... their supporting cast simply needs an upgrade. One or two good free-agent pick-ups, a trade or two here and there and they should be in good shape. They have great scouts, so they should be able to manage and open their window for a couple of more years.

I know some would disagree with some of these, but I think the teams that are in need of a makeover more than anyone are Suns, Dallas, Cleveland, and Houston. I'd throw Denver in there, but I don't think there much problem with the players there as I think there's more of a coaching problem.  I'd keep both Melo and Iverson in there and try to ride them till Iverson has nothing left in the tank.

TP, Budweiser.  I'm not as much of a booster of the player personnel there are you seem to be (I don't think you can win with a team full of head cases...I'm a big believer of my patented "One Lunatic Theory"), but i think we'd see some major changes for the better in Denver with a non-Karl figure at the helm.  He has a history of being divisive to his own locker rooms...very surprised that Denver moved so quickly to retain him after this year's sweep.

-sw

[Who]

Detroit

Too many people overrate their team's mental approach. The truth is that they're not a top tier team. They lack talent. They have to play near the top of their game to stand any chance against a top side and that just won't happen throughout an entire playoffs. That's why they lose each year, it's just a question of when.

They have to sack their coach. Flip Saunders is a very good coach for a low playoff seed but he's a terrible coach for a contender. He doesn't prepare them well enough, he doesn't preach the way to win.

As for their team ..... it's the end of the Detroit era. I was very impressed by their regular season and their ability to beat Orlando (3 of their wins could easily have gone the other way mind you) but they were always overachieving.

The Players
Billups' best days have passed, heck they passed two years ago well before they signed him to that extension. Billups can still be a solid starter but his defense has slipped badly and his days as a top 5 point guard are gone. Soon enough he'll be outside of the top 10. He can still be a solid starter and quality leader though so he has considerable value (although not as much as they're paying him). Rip Hamilton is an excellent two guard, one of the top 5 SGs in the league, and has a long way to go yet. Tayshaun Prince is the most overrated player in the league and needs to be dumped. Antonio McDyess should be their first or second big off the bench, not a starter. His offense has falled by the wayside over the past two years. Rasheed Wallace is a fine centre (his declining athleticism limits his ability to defend the four) and fourth option at this stage of his career but he's not capable of being your best big man or leading interior scorer.

Rodney Stuckey is a brilliant piece. He's a startering quality two guard with the ability to become an all-star, unforunately he's a two guard and not a point. That means your best prospect plays the same position as the only starter with a long term future on your team. Something has to give here ... I think Joe needs to give up one of them to upgrade another position.

As for the rest of the bench ... Jason Maxiell is next on the list. He's close to peaking. He's a quality backup big man. He's a good player and very useful but also overrated. Hayes is worthless, he can't defend at a high enough level and doesn't add enough offense to be worth minutes on a contender. Hunter is done. Theo is done. Affalo is a budding stopper with a bright future but once again he's a two guard so that's three players at your best position and none of them have the size to play small forward. Then comes Amir Johnson, Amir is the big variable in all of this. Still very young, very talented and he is a player who could go on to big things and be a huge coup for Detroit. Unfortunately the D-League has held him back and really hurt his development over the past three years. He's spent the entire season trying to forget all the bad habits he picked up down there. No idea what he becomes but there's a lot of upside to him.

Detroit aren't a contender and haven't been one for two years. They are not going to be a contender again until they make very large roster changes. Joe Dumars is going to have to take some chances in rebuilding his team because (1) His team is too good, even if their old players just retire most of their youth will keep them competitive (2) His players have low trade value in terms of attracting an All-Star in a trade.

For the core of this Detroit team .... their era is definitely over.

[Nerf MVP]

While the Lakers figure to be even stronger next season with Bynum back, I wouldn't pronounce the Spurs dead just yet. Duncan/Parker/Ginobli aren't that old, and it's not that surprising that the Spurs didn't reach the Finals this year seeing as how they've never been WC champs two consecutive years.

I take satisfaction in pointing out that the Pistons have been knocked off pre-finals 3 consecutive years. I'm tired of hearing that they're " the class of the East" and how they have a chip on their shoulder from lack of respect.

[RebusRankin]

I wonder if the Lakers will have problems integrating Bynum. Odom isn't a sf.

[Cman]

Not quite yet... the Pistons still have some good young talent in there, and the Spurs just need to tweak their team a bit. Manu, Parker, and Duncan can still get it done... their supporting cast simply needs an upgrade. One or two good free-agent pick-ups, a trade or two here and there and they should be in good shape. They have great scouts, so they should be able to manage and open their window for a couple of more years.

I know some would disagree with some of these, but I think the teams that are in need of a makeover more than anyone are Suns, Dallas, Cleveland, and Houston. I'd throw Denver in there, but I don't think there much problem with the players there as I think there's more of a coaching problem.  I'd keep both Melo and Iverson in there and try to ride them till Iverson has nothing left in the tank.

I think Dallas and Cleveland have one more year before they try to blow things up.  Cleveland will see what a full year of playing together will do for the team, but I could see them getting involved in things next February's trade deadline with Wally's contract.  Likewise, Dallas will see if a full year of Kidd playing with Dirk, Howard, Terry and Stackhouse works. 

Changes for Houston maybe?  If they are smart they will see what they can get for TMac.

Detroit will probably try to trade Wallace -- he could be a valuable big man off the bench for a contender next year and that will give Amir more PT. 

My picks for the East and West teams that will change the most over the summer (for better or worse): Washington and Golden State.  Both are stuck in neutral, both have big players up for new contracts (Arenas and Baron Davis) and both will need to make dramatic moves to get to the next level.

[GLS]

Not sure about Dallas.....I think the franchise has been set back with the Kidd acquisition.  Kidd cannot handle any point guards (or any other position) defensively now, his O is very poor, and he simply does not create for other players any longer. 

Aside from all that, I guess he is a decent enough locker room presence.  But last time I checked, that didn't automatically translate into W's for anyone.

[RebusRankin]

I think the Kidd trade for Dallas was horrid and they'll be in a decline, along with Phoenix in the West, who made the horrible Shaq trade.

[cuckroller]

The class of the East for the next few years will be Boston.  I really don't see any up and comers other than those that came out in the last part of the season, notably Philadelphia.  Cleveland, with the tightwad management that it has will probably stand pat and not give Lebron any help, again...  The possible notable exception that may come out of nowhere next year might be Chicago.  Orlando will probably remain as they were this year.

I know more about the West teams.  The Spurs are not done.  Duncan should be effective at least another 2 or 3 years, but the Owner of this team, unfortunately for them, is another tightwad.  They need to clean house of the old bench players that are just no longer productive, e.g., Finley, Horry, etc., and they need a young consistent shooting guard to start (if they intend to continue to have Ginobili come in off the bench), also a replacement for the ineffective Oberto is necessary, plus another couple of young scorers coming in off the bench.  With their finances it is hard to see how they can bring off a big change for an impact player however.

Teams that will stand pat are Dallas, and Utah.  Utah really does not need to change that much though a couple of quicker players coming in off the bench would help.  Dallas will just basically dry out on the vine next year.  The Kidd trade was disastrous, and the management whittered away their good young futurable players, that could have helped them, during the year.  Denver will remain Denver.  Ever the high-scoring team, that does not know how to play defense, at least since the now forgotten likes of T.R. Dunn and Fats Lever retired.  That brings us to Phoenix.  I really don't know what to make of this team.  I do not even have any idea of what system will be installed with a new coaching staff.  This has been a team that for a while all of the major players had to play their maximum for the team to win.  Very questionable defensively, and I can not think that O'Neal, with another year under his belt, will find the way to lead this divided team to the promised land.

New Orleans - a tweak here and there and this team will contend the next few years in the West.  They only lack experience.  Houston is tough to figure,  great defense.  I think that with just one more bona fide scoring forward this could be just a tough nut to crack in the future.

Golden State - depends on who resigns during the off-season.  Another team that it is a pleasure to watch play ball offensively, but that needs defense if they really want to pass to the next level.

Portland - the jury is out on this team.  For it's youth, it did a great job this year.  I want to see how this team plays with their injured Center before I can have an opinion.  Could be a dark horse next year.

Last, my team, the Lakers.  Lots of questions for the off-season.  They need to resign Odom, and I am sure that there are lots of contending franchises out there that would love to subtract this players from the Lakers if they can.  Fisher is getting a bit long in the tooth by now, though still effective.  I personally don't think that Farmar is quite ready for the prime time as yet.  Everybody in Los Angeles seems to think that Bynum is the man of the second coming.  As a Laker fan, I might hope so, but I still have to see how next years team will insert him into the line-up.  I can foresee compatibility problems with a possible Bynum-Gasol-Odom front line.  It is just possible that the Lakers may try to form a second unit with Gasol as the center piece.  For me, the sooner they get rid of "goofball" Radmanovic, the better - just too inconsistent, no defense.  Where are we going to stick Ariza, in the second unit?  Defensive specialist? 

[slamtheking]

C's figure to be the class of the conference through Ray's contract.  Orlando should improve.  Toronto has the pieces to be better.  Chicago is the unknown--the first pick this year will definitely help them become a threat.  Detroit will still be tough.  Cleveland needs another solid forward and they'll be dangerous.

What concerns me about the C's is how they'll stay at the top after 2 more years.  Ray should be coming off the bench by then as instant offense but they don't have a solid prospect to take his place-->haven't seen enough of Pruitt and TA has disappointed me this year (and I've been his biggest supporter here).  Powe and Davis could be good bench contributors but definitely not all-stars.  Danny has a very late pick this year and no pick next year.  This means too much reliance on free agents which is not Danny's strong suit.  The C's should also strengthen the bench to ensure a continued string of title runs the next 2 years.  Posey is the only keeper.  Everyone else can be upgraded. 

[PerkinsERA43]

C's figure to be the class of the conference through Ray's contract.  Orlando should improve.  Toronto has the pieces to be better.  Chicago is the unknown--the first pick this year will definitely help them become a threat.  Detroit will still be tough.  Cleveland needs another solid forward and they'll be dangerous.

What concerns me about the C's is how they'll stay at the top after 2 more years.  Ray should be coming off the bench by then as instant offense but they don't have a solid prospect to take his place-->haven't seen enough of Pruitt and TA has disappointed me this year (and I've been his biggest supporter here).  Powe and Davis could be good bench contributors but definitely not all-stars.  Danny has a very late pick this year and no pick next year.  This means too much reliance on free agents which is not Danny's strong suit.  The C's should also strengthen the bench to ensure a continued string of title runs the next 2 years.  Posey is the only keeper.  Everyone else can be upgraded. 

Posey is def a keeper. That's been established. However, also think Leon is a keeper, as he provides quality minutes every time he steps on the floor. Davis is a nice piece to. A high quality 8th man. He's the kinda guy you have getting 10 mins a game on a very deep contender. Concerning Eddie House: absolute keeper. So much energy, instant offense, and a fan favorite. Hopefully he resigns. TA, Sam, PJ (who I love, but doubt will be back), Pruitt, Scalabrine, and Pollard can all go. We need a large, athletic big man with our #30 pick, and a experienced ballhandler brought in through free agency. That would make us crazy deep.

That being said.... we are in trouble when the Big 3 begins to break down. T-R-O-U-B-L-E trouble.