NBA: The Next Wave

Just a few years ago we were talking about how the Lakers would have to be rebuilt from the ground up. The New Orleans Hornets were trying to get the hell out of Dodge. The Boston Celtics, Portland Trailblazers, and Atlanta Hawks were teams that good teams played when they needed confidence. The Miami Heat were on top of the world as NBA Champions, along with the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavs, and San Antonio Spurs.

A lot has changed in a few years.

The Lakers never got rid of Kobe, who they were supposed to be getting rid of for the last few years. (As a Chicago fan, I am very bitter about these events because they destroyed our team.)

Instead they decided to build around Kobe, adding Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

Now the Lakers sit atop the West looking down upon the teams that once laughed at them. 

The New Orleans Hornets are still the New Orleans Hornets.  They are playing tremendously and have spent plenty of time atop the deep Western Conference standings.

Chris Paul is looked at by few as the MVP candidate, not bad for somebody that wasn't even considered the best player of his draft class.

Tyson Chandler has been playing lights out underneath, and, well, Peja is still Peja and can hit the three-point shot at any time he wants.

The Boston Celtics made quite a turnaround last off-season.  A year ago they were trying to get the No. 1 draft pick and now they are tearing apart teams left and right as they pave their way to the top seed in the East.

The Portland Trailblazers were finally getting some attention as a good team last season when they lucked into the No. 1 pick through the lottery.

Greg Oden was the pick, but he was injured and was taken out for the season.  That's it for them right?  WRONG.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy have combined to form a tremendous young duo and they have been playing extremely well this season.

The Trailblazers look to be one season away from seriously contending for the Western Conference title. 

The Atlanta Hawks spent the last 50 or so years as the NBA bottom-feeders.  After acquiring Mike Bibby, the Atlanta Hawks are tied for the 8th spot in the East and look they could finally make the playoffs.

As for those teams that used to be powerhouses, the Heat are, well, back to the worst team in the NBA.

The Suns made a move that is already being looked at as the wrong move.  Shaquille O'Neal has not worked out for the Suns so far. They look like they still have what it takes to at least be competitive for a few years, but they are only a shell of what they were just last season.

That has been the consensus this point all the good teams that I mentioned above.

Age hits hard, and when you bring in a group of players all within five years in age from each other, you are bound to have to make some changes at some point.

The Spurs may still be competitive, but with aging players like Parker, Duncan, and Ginobli, they will be out within two years without major moves. 

The Spurs, Suns, and Mavs look to be headed out of the crop of top teams of the NBA.  And being ushered in are the new young talents that will soon amaze us all.

It happens every few years that a major shift in good teams happens, and this appears to be one of those years. 

I'm Joe W.