Boston Celtics and 5 NBA Teams Getting Older Fast
It may be a touchy subject for fans of the older, veteran ball clubs, yet in 2012 it is apparent there are teams that seem to be reaching their peaks—the end of their runs as contenders in the league.
After contending for NBA championships and winning one in 2008, the Boston Celtics are now one of the teams that, although they are contenders in 2012 for a title, are aging rapidly.
They are one of a handful of teams that seem to be getting older quickly, including teams like the Tim Duncan-led San Antonio Spurs.
These are the five teams that are aging most quickly in the league.
5. San Antonio Spurs
1 of 5Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are three of the more integral components of what was a team that competed for NBA championships for handfuls of seasons.
If there is any team that has won games most consistently since 2000, it is these San Antonio Spurs.
In 2012, with a 35-year-old Duncan at center, Manu Ginobili, 34, and Stephen Jackson, 33, the Spurs boast some older veteran talents and still have a 30-14 record on the year. Given their success last season and continued success in 2012, they aren't the worst of the bunch yet still warrant a spot on the list.
If not for a remarkable streak for Tony Parker and his 20 points per game on the season, the team would have not come nearly as close to a 30-14 mark on the year.
4. Boston Celtics
2 of 5Ray Allen and the Big Three have had a solid five-year run in Boston, taking the team to two NBA finals and winning an NBA championship in 2008.
Yet these same Celtics have struggled since losing the NBA finals to the L.A. Lakers in 4-3 fashion in 2010, as they were dismantled by the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA playoffs and were under .500 for the better part of the 2012 NBA season before making a run at the midway point.
At just 24-21 on the season, there is no doubt these Celtics are in need of an extra boost in the free-agency market going into the playoffs, as they currently lack front court help for Kevin Garnett.
3. L.A. Lakers
3 of 5The L.A. Lakers have made significant strides in this regard in recent weeks, getting rid of Derek Fisher and adding stud guard Ramon Sessions.
Yet all in all, this is a team that is undoubtedly aging. Kobe Bryant is taking a healthy helping of shots per game at 23.8 a contest. It is easily a career-high for Bryant, as he has been forced to take more shots to sustain the type of production he needs to put up for this team.
Pau Gasol, meanwhile, has had his spurts of struggles in spite of his top-notch talented play, as it would seem age has gotten to him at times as well.
The Lakers, much like the Celtics and Spurs, certainly have championship runs left in them. Although higher up on the list than those teams, there is no doubt this team is the most likely of the three to continue to make championship runs in the next several seasons.
2. Phoenix Suns
4 of 5If not for the fact that the Phoenix Suns won't compete for an NBA championship in 2012, this team would rank No. 1 on this list.
The Suns, led by veteran talents Steve Nash, 38, and Grant Hill, 39, are certainly the case of a team aging fast. The rest of the team is relatively young, yet the two better, significantly more productive players are heading for their 40s.
Even though Nash is still the most dominant facilitator in basketball, this team has undoubtedly become older quickly and as a result, faded off the map. It was just several seasons ago this team had Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Vince Carter at different points in time as well.
1. Dallas Mavericks
5 of 5Who else could it be?
After winning the 2011 NBA championship, the aging, talented Dallas Mavericks only worsened in the aging department. In the 2011 offseason, the team gave up starting center Tyson Chandler and top-notch talent J.J. Barea and brought in veteran Lamar Odom.
These moves made this team much older and ultimately got rid of the little youth this team had. Currently, the team boasts eight players over the age of 32, including Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry, Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion—five of the team's best players.
In 2012 an evident hit has been taken on this team as a result, at just 27-21 the team is six games worse than the 33-15 record the team boasted at this point last season through 48 games.
