NBA Playoffs 2012: 140-Character Postseason Farewells from Eliminated Teams

The 2012 NBA Playoffs are starting to wind down as four teams are left where there were once 16, which means we're in the thick of the Conference Finals.

While there are fewer teams left, the excitement level is as high as ever with the Spurs-Thunder series looking like it's going to be one of the best in years and with the Celtics doing what they can to put a dent in the Heat armor.

However, with 12 teams now enjoying their summer, there's a need to reflect and how they can move forward.

So, in a bit of a tribute, I've made a farewell tweet for each team whose season is over with their biggest thoughts on the future in mind.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers ended up leaving the playoffs disappointed for the second year in a row with a five-game loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

What comes during th offseason will be a lot of speculation and a little bit of big action by the Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak in order to get his team re-tooled for another postseason run next year. 

So, the Lakers farewell tweet comes with Kupchak himself in mind:

"

For Sale/Trade: One young center with potential and/or one older finesse power forward. Want multiple pieces or big superstar in return.

"

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls were doomed from Game One after Derrick Rose went down with a torn ACL in the waning moments of a victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Chicago struggled with the Sixers, but for a bit there it seemed as if they would pull off the win in the first round. However, Carlos Boozer never stepped up and Luol Deng never really got going either, leading to a six-game loss.

Their farewell tweet comes with Rose, and the future of this team, in mind:

"

W/O Rose we needed someone to step up, nobody did. Hands up if we should amnesty Carlos Boozer.

"

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis came into these playoffs with destruction in mind. They were looking at the Los Angeles Clippers and licking their chops, but things didn't turn out quite like they hoped.

After a Game One implosion the likes of which have never been seen before in the playoffs, Memphis never really got rolling like they did last year and were eliminated in seven games.

Their farewell tweet comes with a bright outlook on the future and a sunny disposition on the past:

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Everything went wrong in playoffs, but we'll be back hungrier, angrier and tougher for next year. 

"

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers came into the playoffs with no respect from the pundits, but things wouldn't be that way for long.

They dispatched the Orlando Magic in five games, really getting things going after losing Game One. Indiana then shocked the basketball world after getting up two games to one on the Heat, but Miami then ran won three straight to sending the Pacers home early.

Indiana's farewell tweet, like Memphis', takes a hopeful look toward the future.

"

Made the world respect us, but got soft after that. Granger/George/Hibbert will take us farther next season.

"

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2006 when Elton Brand and Sam Cassell took the Clippers to the second round, and they did so with a lot more hope for the future.

Los Angeles beat Memphis in the first round before running into the juggernaut that is the San Antonio Spurs, who quickly disposed of them.

Their farewell tweet comes with determination and desire for the future while bearing no hard feelings for the beatdown that the Spurs threw their way:

"

The internet calls us floppers, but SA was flopping for years before us. Learning from the best can't be a bad plan. #2013Champs

"

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta continued to be the Eastern Conference's middle-of-the-road playoff team with their six-game loss to the Boston Celtics in the first round.

The Hawks find themselves with more questions than answers after the playoffs, and their farewell tweet comes with that confusion in mind:

"

We might look different next year, but we'll be back and better for playoffs. No more mediocrity in our future...right?

"

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets came so close to taking down the Lakers in the first round, but too few shots fell for them and too many fell for the Lakers, leading to a game-seven loss.

The Nuggets learned quite a bit about themselves in these playoffs—from knowing their real threats to how well they can play with the big boys of the NBA.

Because of their relative success in the playoffs, their farewell tweet comes with hope for the future and the Internet's favorite baller, JaVale McGee, in mind:

"

@JaValeMcGee34 Way to unleash on Bynum in playoffs. Maybe do it every game next season and we'll add some figures to that contract.

"

Orlando Magic

We got a bit of a preview of how the Orlando Magic are going to look when (not if) they end up trading Dwight Howard, and it wasn't exactly a good preview.

Howard was out with an injury for the playoffs, and, despite winning the first game of their series with the Pacers, they didn't show up at all in the next four games.

Their farewell tweet comes with a bit of a pessimistic look back and a slightly nervous look forward:

"

Not the best way to (probably) end the Dwight Howard Era. Let's hope the next few draft classes are deep.

"

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks took all of their eggs out of this year's basket and threw them into next season's with the hope that they can end up signing Deron Williams in the offseason.

However, because of that they had to rely on the likes of Ian Mahinmi and Brendan Haywood to play center, which went okay, but not as well as Tyson Chandler.

Their farewell tweet comes with desperation for the Summer and shrugs off their loss in the playoffs:

"

Can't wait for Deron to come for next season. We need some explosiveness on this roster.

"

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks went down in five games to the Miami Heat, and, in reality, they should feel lucky to have walked away with one win in that series.

No team was bitten by the injury bug quite as often as the Knicks, and they ended up dearly missing their injured players in every game.

Their farewell tweet, however, comes with an optimistic look to the future and brings back one of the NBA's most popular hashtags from this season:

"

After Baron & Shump's knees, Amar'e's hand can only get better next season when #Linsanity returns.

"

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz were the guys that ended up winning the three-way race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference only to realize how futile that race had been.

Utah traded their slight chance at a top-three pick for four playoff games and humiliation at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs.

Their farewell tweet comes with the unfettered optimism that you've got to have in this league:

"

Spurs killed us, but we've got youth and skill. That plus trade assets means Utah will be back and better next season.

"

Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Iguodala and the Philadelphia 76ers nearly pulled off what no eight seed has done since the '99 Knicks by almost making the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Sixers limped into the playoffs and ended up getting a fair share of luck throughout the playoffs, with Derrick Rose getting injured and with injuries going as poorly as possible for the Boston Celtics.

So, their farewell tweet comes in the form of a humble brag, even it if isn't warranted:

"

Took down a #1 seed and took 2008 champs to game 7. Not bad for an eighth seed, eh?

"

If you are one of those twitterers, you can follow me @JDorsey33.