Changing of the guard? Lots of elite teams will regress next year

the heat are done too

 

Boston, lakers, and spurs won't be contending, but those teams are still playoff teams if they stay as is. Unless teams get severely shaken up, it'll be tough for the Rockets to make the playoffs. But is there a point in sneaking into the playoffs? The bottom-seeded teams are just fodder for the higher seeds that are actually contending.

 

There could still be alot of shakeup depending on where certain players end up. Howard and Deron might not stick with their teams, plus KG, Ray Allen and Nash are FA's.

Either way you could probably argue OKC will be the favorite regardless of what happens just due to their age.

 

People forget that good management helps teams stay strong. Never count the Spurs/ Lakers out.

I expect:

Celtics to have a rebuilding period where they will suck for a few years (after next year when they make the playoffs as 8th seed)
Spurs to have a great regular season once again, might lose in the playoffs again though.
The Bulls will still be damn good because of their system/ coach, but will never get past ECF.
T-Wolves/ Blazers will go through a lot of roster change.
Jazz + Pacers + Grizzlies will continue to be pretenders until they get a real star.
Future of the Rockets depend on how good D-Mo is.
Cleveland becomes the next rising OKC.

Yeah no real challengers against the Heat/ Thunder until Spurs, Lakers, Celtics load up again. Because good management always wins.

 

Spurs aren't done.

Celtics if they keep Garnett aren't done either.

 

Spurs are done. Duncan's contract expired. Ginobili's contract expires after next season. Only Parker is left to lead the team.

Celtics are senior citizens except for Rondo. Contracts for Allen and Garnett expired. They may retire at 36 yrs old. Garnett's days of 20 pts/10 rebs/1.5 blocks are over.

Lakers will be stronger than the Spurs without Duncan. They have 2 more years to make the Finals with Kobe and Gasol. Their contracts expire in 2014. Bynum's contract expires in 2013.

 

The Lakes, Cs and Spurs are where they are because they have good, solid pieces and the ability to augment. All three will have home court next spring.

The Bulls will bring in Kidd, Jason that is, and be home court but not likely a threat until Rose comes all the back (and reincorporates in what they're doing).

Minny, Griz, Knicks all have talent and FO issues that beget optimism limitations.

Rox may very well be a p/o team, and possibly a good one.

But who can project, as of 6/13/12 that is, that any team not named OKC will be AOK in 6/13?

 

Umm Duncan will be back. He said so himself. He said he has a few years left. Probably might even take a discount.

 

Rockets grab Dwight & Deron...championship

 

Charlotte Bobcats are about to blow up

 

Spurs shot at a title is pretty much over.

Doesn't mean they won't keep kicking our asses, though.

 

Lakers are never permanently done, because stars want to play there. What's holding them back is their management.

 

So Spurs losing in 6 to the Thunder in the WCF means they're done?

And Boston with half their team hurt as well?

How many times have the Spurs and Boston been done anyway? Like the past 3 seasons?

 

Exactly. They'll stay competitive with the elite coaches that they have.

 

I highly doubt Boston is done when their best player, Rondo, will be there for years to come, along with a great young defensive player in Bradley and Jeff Green coming back from their respective injuries..

Boston is set with a great young experienced core and Boston will def retain at least one of the big 3, preferably Garnett, and also sign some more impactful players and theyll still be ultra competitive in the East

Boston isnt going anywhere, especially, in the weak Eastern conference

Look for Boston to retool and and continue being a top team in the East

 

the team thats truly done is the heat, whom it looks like ur hoping is still intact next year

MIA showed theyre just about done, when they allowed an injury riddled old Bos team, dam near eliminate them from the playoffs

Boston will remain a beast in the East

 

If most patterns hold true, this should've been Duncan's last highly productive season. They'll remain competitive (top 4 seed) for another year or two, but the odds are against them winning a title again.

Boston is done because of age, and the fact it will be hard to keep that unit together. They're probably going to lose a few guys in FA. Add in the fact that they couldn't beat a weakened Miami team, and that Chicago isn't going anywhere, and their title window is effectively closed.

 

Lakers, Boston, and SA are still good for at least the 2nd round. Problem is that with their current roster, they're not going to win a championship. So at some point within the next couple of years, they have to start rebuilding otherwise they'll end up like the Astros a couple of years ago.

Lakers can do an instant rebuild since Dwight Howard has them on his radar. Boston can build around Rondo. Not sure about the Spurs though.