The 3rd round of the NBA playoffs has just started and a few story lines have come to the forefront. As the Western and Eastern Conference finals begin to decide who will play for the championship, let us take a closer look at the NBA as a whole.
Atlanta Hawks – Have they maxed out with their current team and will the inability of Al Horford and Josh Smith mean one must be moved in order to
improved team chemistry?
Boston Celtics – With father time and younger legs (The Miami Heat) catching up to them and Ray Allen’s and Kevin Garnett’s Boston era likely ending with their contracts expiring this year, maybe the Celtics should have took that Rondo for Westbrook trade and started rebuilding.
Brooklyn Nets – Will they trade Deron Williams before he leaves? Gasol for Williams and Brook Lopez as brought up on ESPN might be the start of major offseason moves in free agency and the draft that this moving franchise needs to shake the status quo.
Charlotte Bobcats – Will firing the best player in NBA history, Michael Jordan, actually make this franchise better? Rumors amass that Jordan’s main focus is golf and he surrounds his front office with friends, not smart basketball executives, which shows on draft night.
Chicago Bulls – Will Derrick Rose ever be the same and are the Bulls just a big man away from being a perennial championship contender?
Dallas Mavericks – Their window is not just closing, it’s about to be slammed shut. Was not over paying a few free agents really worth losing the chance to defend your NBA championship? Look for them to be a major player in the Dwight Howard and Deron Williams sweepstakes.
Denver Nuggets – A good young team improving daily, they just might have reached their plateau.
Los Angeles Clippers - Is Chancey Phillips done or can he be the final piece to lead this young team to the next level? His leadership is key to this teams ascension.
Los Angeles Lakers – Who to keep and who to trade. Kobe stated in the Lakers exit interviews that he will not fade away quietly into the night. Do you keep Gasol or Bynum? Do you get a new coach and learn a new system again? How about Kobe for Wade, Bynum for Howard and Gasol for Williams and Lopez? Lebron gets the Mamba and the Lakers get Howard, Lopez, Williams, and Wade…hmmmm.
Miami Heat – Pat Riley has said that if this team doesnt win this year, no one except Lebron is untradeable. How about Chris Bosh for Pau Gasol? That is a win-win scenario for both teams, but are franchises willing to pull the trigger?
New York Knicks – With the coach locked up for several years and Carmelo not going anywhere, Amare seems to be the odd man out. Linsanity is set to explode over a full season and the only thing keeping this team from exceeding is Carmelo fighting the urge to take over every game (something a championship helped Kobe learn in L.A.).
Oklahoma City Thunder – Please resubmit the Westbrook for Rondo trade. Just trust me on this.
Pheonix Suns – Steve Nash has been on record saying he wouldn’t mind taking his talents to Miami. The Suns are in a rebuilding year and their fans need to realize that Charles Barkley and Kevin Johnson are not walking through that locker room door. It will be a few years, but this proud franchise is run by great owners and will soon be back to prominence.
San Antoni Spurs - For San Antonio there is no next year. It’s this year or bust for this aging roster and all their hopes ride on winning the title and going into rebuilding with another championship banner hanging from their rafters.
Here are some highlight from the past 2011-12 NBA season, enjoy. http://youtu.be/L5iUpIGQoig
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