As you all know, the Conference Finals are going on in the NBA and three out of the four teams left are some of the youngest teams in the league. It got me thinking...If you're a fan of an older team like I am (Mavericks) it might be long time before you see the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs and Mavericks compete for championship again. Sure, they'll all be playoff teams, but they will get beat by the younger, more athletic super teams that are starting forming across the league. For example:
Top Tier
Miami - LBJ & Wade + Bosh...nuff said
OKC - Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka + Role Players
Chicago - Rose + Great defense
Mid Tier
Teams that are one player away from competing...
Knicks - Melo, Amare (possibly CP3 or D-Williams in 2012) IMO the next super team
Orlando - Howard (no real help)
Atlanta - Joe Johnson (no real leader)
Portland - Aldridge (Roy probably will never be the same)
Then you have the veteran teams trying to hold it together...
Spurs - Very good team...Timmy D is old and Manu is injury prone
Lakers - Very good team...old PG, washed up SF and aging Kobe Bryant
Celtics - Old as dirt - Rondo still can't score and bench is lacking
Mavericks - Dirk's still great but they need a PG and SG bad...plus Chandler is a free agent after the playoffs.
With the exception of the Mavericks...the other three veteran teams above have won 10 championships since Jordan retired from the Bulls after the 98-99 season. The other two (Detroit and Miami) were veteran ball clubs that won a chip.
That's over now. Young teams like the Grizzlies, Clippers, Kings, Pacers, 76ers, Suns and the Rockets will follow suit and continue to get younger and more athletic. Veteran teams will make trades and sign free agents to extend their runs but eventually those old legs will tire out.
It's a new NBA. If you're a fan of an old team like the Lakers you better pray they trade for Dwight. Otherwise they're wrapped. Just like the rest of them.
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