Bleacher Report's NBA Offseason Roundtable: A Look Back, Part 1

With the 2009-2010 playoffs over, it was time for one final look back on certain, players, teams, and events of the season, before turning our undivided attention towards 2010-2011.

To make sense of Kobe Bryant, the Celtics, Tyreke Evans, and last year’s acquisitions, I’ve assembled an all-star team of Bleacherreport writers, Andrew Ungvari, Robert Kleeman, Harrison Moore, and Hadarii Jones, for their expertise on the NBA world.

Enjoy!

 1) With the Los Angeles Lakers winning this year’s championship, Kobe Bryant now has a fifth NBA ring. However, many will criticize Kobe based on his mortal NBA Finals, and near-disastrous Game Seven. What are your takes on Kobe’s Finals performance and his place in NBA history?

Andrew:

Kobe’s Finals performance wasn’t pretty but he still managed to average close to 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. The Celtics did a fantastic job guarding Kobe throughout the series and that opened things up for his teammates. The most effective thing Kobe did was call out his teammates for their horrible defense in Game 5 and that set the tone for the final two games of the series.

I had no problem with Kobe going off and trying to carry the load offensively in Game 5. If they could have come away with one or two stops in that 3rd quarter then the Lakers might have had a chance to win that game.

The first act of Kobe’s career was the first seven years of the Shaq/Kobe era. The second act was everything that happened from the events in Eagle, Colorado to the loss to the Pistons to the 2004 Finals to the Shaq trade, his trade request, and ultimately the arrival of Pau Gasol. Everything that has happened since will represent the final act of his career. He’ll never be considered the game’s greatest player. But he has definitely solidified his place amongst the game’s greatest players and winners. He heard every criticism and responded accordingly. It's not often that the league's highest-paid player is also it's hardest-working.

Robert:

It wasn’t Bryant’s Finals to win. Tony and Ray, the two Allens, possessed the discipline, body strength, and enough fortitude to stomach the near impossible assignment of guarding him. The Lakers were not going to dispatch the Celtics with six or seven of his 40-point shooting clinics.

This series was about Pau Gasol, and he delivered when it mattered most. His activity on the boards and his length became big factors the Celtics frontline could not overcome. Boston knocked off Dwyane Wade and LeBron James in successive series. Doc Rivers had to know his team could also corral Bryant.

Why else would he demand his team stick to single coverage, even as Bryant torched them with 19 third-quarter points in Game Five?

Gasol mattered more because the Celtics were one of the league’s worst regular-season rebounding units. The Spaniard’s field goal-percentage nose-dived into the low 40s as the series progressed, no thanks to bruising defense from Rasheed Wallace, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett.

In a seven-game battle of Gasol’s height advantage vs. the Celtics’ physicality, though, height won.

Tony Allen was particularly effective because his length and speed forced Bryant into help spots, or right to the teeth of the interior defense. That a roster built to neutralize the impact of perimeter stars made Bryant appear mortal should surprise no one.

Paltry shooting in a Finals game seven also serves as a small blemish on his remarkable resume. Should we just forget that Bryant drilled six game winners in the regular season? The Lakers might be a third or fourth seed if not for his frequent endgame heroics.

He saved more butts than a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills. He willed the Lakers past the resolute Phoenix Suns in Game Six of the Western Conference Finals. Remember that shot he swished over Grant Hill?

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce also delivered disastrous Game Seven outings. When you consider that Garnett was the lone star who shot more than 50 percent in that clangfest, Bryant’s miserable tribute to John Starks becomes understandable and acceptable.

I did not watch Magic Johnson start at center against the Philadelphia 76ers live. I have, however, seen his astonishing rookie Finals performance more than once. Thank you NBATV and ESPN Classic. He started in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabar, establishing himself early as one of the most versatile players in league history.

Bryant will never surpass Johnson as the greatest Laker because of that and so many other historic performances. He won’t touch Michael Jordan, either, even if he is the closest thing the basketball loving world will ever see to His Airness.

Jordan starred in the 80s and 90s, when the public cared more about what athletes did on the court than off it. Bryant laced em up in the age of the blogosphere, Twitter, Facebook, expanded ESPN coverage, and increased interest in celebrity dirt.

Boy, he picked the wrong time to try to become the sport’s most beloved figure. Colorado, Game Seven in Phoenix, and those years with Shaquille O’Neal will unfairly hold him back.

I refuse to begrudge him for previous mistakes, especially those more perceived than real. No one—not even a delusional, grammatically challenged Golden State Warriors fan—can deny Bryant’s majesty. He remains the NBA’s real king.

It says here that Bryant ranks as the second best shooting guard ever behind Jordan. If his franchise’s brass ever built a five-face Mount Lakermore, he would be on it—alongside Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Jerry West.

If you can think of better historical company…

Harrison:

Kobe’s Game 7 performance was a perfect example of how narrow minded history can be. Losses are demonizing, wins are deifying. Period. It doesn’t really matter how either comes about.

I honestly spent the majority of the game wondering if Kobe’s ill-advised shot selection was a result of the desperation that comes with playing Game 7 of the NBA Finals or if he just thought he was playing a game of horse at his local YMCA.

However, the greatest players in the game’s history have always found a way to leave their fingerprints on the outcome of big games, and that’s what Kobe did when he pulled down an unprecedented 15 rebounds. That said, I have a problem with people pushing aside Magic Johnson and catapulting Kobe in to the greatest Laker of all time slot.

Magic was a far better decision maker, a much more consistent offensive presence overall and his 11 assist per game average is the highest in the NBA’s history. Whereas Kobe can become too dependent on his jumpshot, Magic had a nearly infinite bag of tricks. He could make any pass from any distance and could get himself virtually any shot he wanted.

Magic refused to settle for poor shots and that’s why he was able to successfully convert on 52% of them throughout the duration of his career.

Kobe is the most successful player in the game today, easily, but it’ll take more than a 6-24 shooting performance to supplant Magic, at least in my book.

Hadarii:

There is no denying Kobe’s Game Seven performance was horrible, but he did average a series high 28 points per game. I think the Celtics’ defense deserves much of the credit for Kobe’s shooting percentage because they made it hard to get to the places he prefers on the court. Kobe’s place in history was probably decided before the 2010 Finals’ series, but after winning his fifth ring, it’s hard not to rank him among the best ever.

Erick:

If you look at the total body of work, Kobe had a solid Finals, with five good games, an awful Game Three, and an awful Game Seven. It’s unfair to expect a player to be extraordinary, especially against a defense of Boston’s caliber.

The times Kobe struggled came when he overdribbled in isolations and when he showed poor judgment on shot selection. It’s very difficult for a player—even Michael Jordan—to score in repeated isolation situations against top-level defenses like Boston’s. A defender can crowd the ball-handler and force him into help, and helpers only have to primarily concentrate on the isolation player.

This is what happened in Game Three. Kobe would isolate, Boston would crowd him, deny him the middle, and send baseline help when he tried to penetrate. Kobe obliged by dribbling around and forcing at least a half dozen shots. In Game Seven, it was the same story. Kobe would take too long to initiate his offense, and the extra dribbles gave time for Boston’s defense to set up.

For the rest of the series, Kobe was solid. The Celtics’ screen/roll strategy in Game One was not to provide help off the wings. Kobe’s decision making was flawless and the Lakers’ offense hummed.

Game Two saw an ordinary performance from Kobe as the Celtics began pinching their wings to stop screen/rolls. He didn’t see any open looks, but still punished the Celtics for every mistake they made.

In Game Four he moved without the ball more to free himself from Boston’s help, and despite a high number of turnovers made the right passes to beat Boston’s defense. He didn’t get enough help.

In Game Five he was extraordinary in the second half beating great Celtics defense with an offensive barrage, but nobody else on the Lakers played well.

In Game Six Kobe was sharp and helped put the Celtics away early to force Game Seven.

And one thing great players do to win championships is to make plays when their shots aren’t falling, especially down the stretch. Kobe had 15 rebounds in Game Seven. He scored double figures in the fourth quarter and made eight of nine free throws. He also assisted on Ron Artest’s game-sealing three. He made championship plays to earn his fifth ring, even when his shot was falling.

He’s not Jordan and no amount of rings will ever change that. Anybody who has seen enough of both the Jordan era and the Bryant era will attest to that. Jordan wasn’t only spectacular, but he was also spectacularly efficient in ways that would take too long to explain in this roundtable.

But that’s not a slight on Kobe.

Aside from his petulant stage during the middle of the 2000’s, Kobe has been nothing short of a championship performer. He’s spectacularly talented, has a tremendous basketball IQ that maximizes the talent around him, and has a ruthless competitive instinct. He’s used those traits to anchor two mini-dynasties, the three-peat Lakers earlier in the decade, and the current group that has been to three straight Finals and won two straight titles.

Kobe’s a basketball immortal. Everyone who says otherwise is simply a hater.

2) What will the Lakers have to do in order to threepeat?

Andrew:

Everybody will talk about the need for a point guard but it’s more important that this team stay healthy if they want to win a third consecutive title.

Derek Fisher is obviously a priority. Whether he is re-signed as a starter or a back-up, you can’t underestimate how important he is to team chemistry.

I don’t expect them to bring back all six of their free agents. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Fisher is the only one of the six who is retained. Jordan Farmar is a restricted free agent but he will likely receive an offer the Lakers might be unwilling to match.

I think Shannon Brown, Adam Morrison, DJ Mbenga, and Josh Powell are all goners.

I think Delonte West will be a target for the Lakers if he clears up his legal mess this summer. The Cavs will most likely trade West to get someone that LeBron would love to play with. West has a $500,000 buy-out that a team could use to clear out cap space that would make him an unrestricted free agent. The Lakers have already added Javaris Crittenton to their summer league team. There is a lot of chatter in LA about Steve Blake and Shaun Livingston being targeted.

Blake and West are ideal targets for the Lakers because they can both play either guard spot.

Robert:

Better question: can anyone or anything stop the Lakers from a threepeat? Since Gasol arrived via a trade from Memphis, L.A. has reached three straight NBA Finals. Yikes.

I don’t mean the L.A. Clippers. Sorry, Blake Griffin. I feel for you buddy.

Harrison:

Derek Fisher is a class act. He’s a very likable guy, a very physical presence and one of the best locker room leaders in the league.

That said, the Lakers cannot continue to get away with starting him. They just can’t.

Though Shannon Brown has to shoulder some of the blame for his absent-minded defense against Ray Allen while he set an NBA Finals record 8 3-pointers, the majority of the blame has to be lain at the feet of Fisher. Fisher was terribly slow getting around screens and was completely incapable of denying Allen access to the rim whenever Allen decided to put his foot on the gas.

Scary fact: in a month Ray Allen will be 35 years old. If Fisher struggled that much with a player of Allen’s age, how could he effectively start through another 82 game season and a playoff run featuring names like Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams and Steve Nash?

Its not that the Lakers have to send Fisher packing. Fisher’s really only good for locker room presence, the occasional three pointer and his physicality. I fail to see why any of these traits would be diminished from the bench.

The Lakers won’t likely stumble upon a point guard phenom in the offseason, but they do need a safe, reliable option to start at point guard – and not a whole bunch else.

When Andrew Bynum is healthy, they’ve already got the best frontcourt in the game as is, but if Chris Bosh really does follow through with the rumors and winds up in L.A. there may not be another NBA Champion for the next 3 years.

Hadarii:

The main thing will be to maintain focus and not be felled by complacency. It would be nice to get a back-up point guard who can shoot and play defense, but the chemistry and formula the Lakers have has been tested under fire.

Erick:

Winning back-to-back rings is hard enough, a third ring triply so. The Lakers stand to lose Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown to free agency, and Derek Fisher isn’t getting any younger. Signing a point guard who is willing to come off of the bench, yet talented enough to provide starter minutes is a priority.

An upgrade over Josh Powell wouldn’t hurt, as would a reliable backup wing.

Phil Jackson and his staff are great at not allowing teams to grow stagnant, but adding a new rotation player brings in fresh blood and provides a crisp energy level.

Otherwise, the Lakers have the best wing, big, perimeter defender, and coach in the game, let everyone else make adjustments.

3) Obviously the Lakers will be counted as one because they won the title, but who are this season’s biggest winners and losers?

Andrew:

You’d have to say that the only teams that exceeded expectations this year were the Thunder, Suns, Heat, Bulls, Bucks, and Bobcats.

The Bulls were willing to risk missing the playoffs in order to free up more cap space for this summer and managed to not only make the playoffs but perform well enough to actually be mentioned a possible landing spot for this summer’s biggest free agents.

The Suns went from missing the playoffs to the NBA's Final Four.

The Bucks were picked by many to be the league's worst team.

The Bobcats made the playoffs with no discernible star player.

The Heat snagged the fifth-seed despite having Dwyane Wade and a bunch of expiring contracts.

The Thunder would have to be the biggest winners because you could make the case that they played the biggest part in waking the Lakers up from their season-ending slumber. They made a giant leap from youngest team to the NBA's most exciting and will have plenty of flexibility with which to improve over the next year and a half.

In my opinion, the biggest losers were the teams that failed to meet expectations.

The Nuggets and Mavs failed to get past the first round of the playoffs.

The Spurs got swept by the Suns in the second round after making a big splash last summer.

The Cavs had the best record in the league for the second straight year and failed to even make it to the conference finals.

The Magic failed to show up for their conference finals series with Boston until they were down 3-0.

A lot of people thought the Wizards would be the fifth-best team in the east and their season was disastrous up until the draft lottery. You’d have to consider them one of the biggest losers.

The Raptors were another team that tried to rebuild on the fly with decent-sized expectations. Sure they had injuries to key players but even at their healthiest they failed to meet their own expectations.

Other teams like the Clippers and Warriors were beset by disastrous injuries so it’s hard to call them the biggest losers except when it comes to bad luck.

There were also a bunch of teams who went into the season with their eyes on next season like the Knicks and Nets so it would be hard-pressed to call them losers given their goals this season were more off-the-court related.

Robert:

The Oklahoma City Thunder qualified for the postseason one year ahead of schedule. The young cast will continue to improve as will tactful rookie sideline chief Scott Brooks.

In that playoff appearance, The Thunder scared the crap out of the eventual, two-time champs. Kevin Durant also became the league’s youngest scoring champ.

The Celtics lost 32 games, including a home date against the woeful New Jersey Nets, and fell to fourth in a torturous regular season. That agony did not resurface until late last week. Boston outsted the teams with the top two records en route to a seven-game championship series with the Lakers.

The team with the league’s ninth-best record was two fantastic minutes away from adding Bryant and Gasol to its lengthy list of All-Star victims—Lebron, D-Wade, and Dwight Howard. Major win.

The San Antonio Spurs trudged through a tqreacherous 50-win campaign that tested the faith of everyone from Owner Peter Holt to Gregg Popovich to Tim Duncan to this writer. The team found its championship-caliber mojo in March and knocked out the 55-win Dallas Mavericks as a seventh seed. The Phoenix Suns presented a bad matchup, a fluke if you will, loaded with trey bombers who could not miss.

If Tiago Splitter leaves Spain to join the Spurs, Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess will make more sense. Observers underestimate how much added size will help those acquisitions on both ends.

The biggest losers? The Cavaliers rented a $20 million Shaquille O’Neal then added Antawn Jaminson’s mammoth salary and still could not produce a long-awaited title for Cleveland. Now, they might lose LeBron James.

The Toronto Raptors—the Downy Dinos as I call them—still lack direction, a worthy franchise star, and a modicum of toughness in the starting lineup. The two guys on that roster I would bring to a fight: Reggie Evans and Jarrett Jack. Not good.

The New York Knicks sucked again and must land a star this summer to avoid the franchise’s 11th straight losing season.

The 15-win Minnesota Timberwolves hired an imbecile to head the front office and still wobble under the shaky stewardship of cheapskate Owner Glen Taylor. They added several draft picks and a few free agent pieces last summer, and lost more games than the previous season.

The New Jersey Nets won 12 games. Enough said.

Harrison:

Honestly only one team out of 30 really wins in the NBA and we all know who’s been filling that spot. Who else can really claim to be a winner after an NBA season? The other elite teams have all come up short and the non-playoff teams with high lottery picks don’t get to prove themselves until the following year.

As far as the biggest losers two teams come to mind immediately: Boston and Cleveland.

(The only reason the Magic won’t make an appearance here is because they still have their key guys under contract and should be able to make another title run next year.)

The purple and gold confetti and streamers hadn’t even been swept off the Staples Center’s floor before the rumors of Rasheed Wallace retiring began circulating. The talks of shopping Ray Allen (again) weren’t very far behind and Doc Rivers may have coached his last game.

The off-season for the 2010 Celtics looks is starting to bear a dangerous resemblance to that of the 2004 Lakers.

To be fair, it was understood that the Ray Allen/Kevin Garnett/Paul Pierce era had a short term expiration date to begin with, but it was believed that the Celtics would at least retire together.

Though the Celtics do have Rajon Rondo to build around, they teeter on the edge of receding to the bowels of irrelevancy that took them 22 years to claw their way out from.

But at least that team has hope. At least that team won a championship.

The Cavaliers’ franchise isn’t half as illustrious. Everything, their only NBA Finals appearance, their two 60 win seasons, their 2 seasons with the league MVP, the two post-seasons they went in ranked as the NBA’s number one overall seed, everything came due to the stellar play of LeBron James.

However, the Cavaliers loss to the Celtics not only branded them as the one man team and post-season failures they are, it alienated LeBron – perhaps permanently.

I won’t waste time trying to calculate the odds of LeBron staying or leaving, but the mere possibility that the most important man in Cavalier history could leave counts as a loss in my book.

Hadarii:

I would say the Celtics are right up there with the Lakers mainly because everyone pretty much wrote them off. Boston was a half quarter away from defeating each of the NBA’s top three regular season teams in the playoffs. That’s impressive. I would have to count Cleveland as the season’s biggest loser and disappointment. Many people’s opinion about LeBron James changed with the loss against Boston, and for the first time in his career he was forced to deal with questions about his desire.

Erick:

Under the winner category, The Phoenix Suns, the Milwaukee Bucks, and Donnie Walsh.

The Suns proved that the run-and-gun can be fun again, lasting all the way to Game Six of the Western Conference Finals. Many thought they’d never have the defense to make to the Conference Finals, but Alvin Gentry got the Suns to play their best defense of the decade, while their offense returned to juggernaut form.

Scott Skiles took a group many believed would be the worst in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks got nothing from their most established scorer, had an up-and-down season from their 2009 lottery pick, got nothing from their 2008 lottery pick, and saw their starting center go down for the season late in the year. They still made the playoffs and took the Atlanta Hawks to the seventh game before their season ended.

Donnie Walsh pulled a Houdini act and got the Knicks so far under the cap that they may be able to sign two max-contract free agents.

The Cleveland Cavs, New Jersey Nets, and Gilbert Arenas were the season’s biggest duds.

Cleveland curled up into a ball and died, getting overwhelmed by the Celtics in the second round of the playoffs.

The New Jersey Nets played pathetic basketball all season long. They were supposed to be at least respectable, but then again, Devin Harris was supposed to not take the season off.

Gilbert Arenas proved that he’s too irresponsible to be a decent human being, let alone a winning basketball player. His selfishness, immaturity, and colossal ego have sabotaged too many seasons in Washington. The sad part is that he’s talented enough to give fans just enough hope to break their hearts.

4) The Boston Celtics’ roster is now a year older. Do they have enough to compete for next year’s title, and if not, what do they need to add?

Andrew:

I absolutely think they have enough as currently constructed to compete for another title. But that has more to do with I think is going to happen to the rest of the eastern conference this off-season.

Two of the top four teams in the eastern conference fired their coaches. So there’s already instability atop the conference. The Magic will have most of their team back next season but the Celtics are clearly not afraid of them.

I agree with Doc Rivers when he says Kevin Garnett should be better next season despite being a year older. He’s not the old KG but he should have one really good year left in him.

Kendrick Perkins and Big Baby will be in contract years so you know they’re going to bring it every night.

The biggest questions are who will they bring back amongst Ray Allen, Tony Allen, and Nate Robinson and whether or not Rasheed Wallace will retire.

I would sooner bet that Ray Allen is kept than the other two because I think Paul Pierce and KG will put pressure on ownership to give it one more try with the three of them and Rondo. The Celtics have proven over the last three years that they can lure veteran free agents to take a pay cut to play with them.

They could definitely use another big man—two more if Wallace retires.

And of course the biggest question will be whether or not Doc Rivers returns to coach another season. I get the feeling he won’t. At that point it would depend on who they get to replace him.

Robert:

Game Seven was the Celtics’ last hurrah. GM Danny Ainge cannot justify handing Ray Allen, 34, a multi-year deal after his epic brickfest. Ainge has precious little cap room to spend on his five other free agents.

Pierce can opt out of his contract.

Defensive architect Tom Thibodeau accepted the Chicago Bulls’ head coaching job two weeks ago.

If Rasheed Wallace retires, the team needs a backup forward-center and another big who can stretch the floor. If Doc Rivers leaves, the team needs a new coach.

Kevin Garnett cannot avoid that neon exit sign a few miles ahead. How much longer can his teammates drag him up the floor like Bernie Lomax? He stunk for much of the regular season but found his extra gear in time for the playoffs. Can he continue to flip the switch until his contract expires?

The Celtics’ hopes now rest in the capable hands of youngster Rajon Rondo. He cemented himself as a superstar-caliber player and represents their best chance at future success. Now, if he could just make a three-pointer or a free throw…

Harrison:

As I said in the previous question the Celtics are on the brink of nothingness. It’s hard to tell whether they’ll fall off the edge or not, but my guess is they will.

Again, I’ll return to my deifying wins/demonizing losses theory. Had the Celtics been able to hold on to their 13 point lead in Game 7 I doubt we’d even be having this conversation. Instead they lost and now everyone wants to break apart a proven winner.

For the record, I’d still take the Pierce/Garnett/Allen trio over the best three players on 90% of the league’s teams, but I think the Celtics seemed too deflated after the game.

The 2008 Lakers seemed angry, the 2009 Magic seemed hopeful but these Celtics seem broken.

If the Celtics are serious about coming back they have to keep their starting lineup intact, throw in a physical big and probabaly another dependable shooter, preferably one who can switch between the 2 and 3 positions.

Hadarii:

I think the Celtics have at least one more championship run in them but they have to add youth, and maintaining relative good health is imperative.

Erick:

So long as Kevin Garnett gives Boston’s defense versatility, while the rest of the Conference contenders show no competitive fire, then the East will be there for the taking. However, Ray Allen is approaching 35, Kevin Garnett is 34, and Paul Pierce will be 33 before next season. Allen looked gassed during the Finals and has lost his ability to create off the bounce. Paul Pierce has lost a step, and Kevin Garnett is little more than a turnaround jump shooter.

They’ll need production to replace what Father Time is taking away. If Ray Allen is willing to accept a paycut, bringing him back plus an athletic offensive sixth man would do wonders. If Allen leaves, Boston would be best served acquiring a prime-time shooting guard. Replacing Rasheed Wallace with another exceptional post defender who can score is another must. Fixing Rajon Rondo’s and Tony Allen’s jump shooting would also help. And it’s doubtful any of this would matter if Doc Rivers doesn’t come back.

Should Boston obey this checklist, not suffer serious injury, and not see any of the Big Three decay away, then they have a fighter’s chance of winning the 2010-11 crown.

(Editor’s Note : Many of these answers were submitted before Rasheed Wallace officially declared his retirement).

5) Which 2010 playoff team stands to see the biggest drop off, and which stands to see the greatest improvement in 2011?

Andrew:

It’s hard to tell because there are playoff teams like Miami and Chicago who have cap space to play with this summer. Cleveland has the most at stake and Miami seems to be the team that has the most to gain.

It’s looking more and more like either Amaré Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, or Chris Bosh will end up in Miami alongside Dwyane Wade and there’s a strong chance that one of the other two will end up in Chicago.

Personally I think LeBron James is going to stay in Cleveland. So if I had to choose a team I would say that Phoenix looks like they’ll have the biggest drop-off because they were a final four team this past season with an owner who seems willing to let his franchise power forward leave without compensation.

But if I were to look at all of the teams as currently constructed you would have to say Oklahoma City should see an improvement next year as well.

Robert:

I cannot answer this question until teams set training camp rosters. What transpires this summer will affect my response in a few months.

Harrison:

Well, if LeBron James skips town it’ll be interesting to see if the Cavaliers experience the biggest drop off in NBA history.

The Phoenix Suns are good candidates too, Amar’e Stoudemire already has one foot out of the door and the Suns would have been hard pressed to return to the Western Conference Finals anyway.

The Thunder are on the rise, the Nuggets breakdown can be attributed to the large void George Karl left behind as he tended to health issues and after Yao Ming was forced to sit out the entire season with a foot injury, the Rockets are probably his best option – and the roster he’d return to is significantly more stable than the one he was forced to leave behind.

The Suns will probably perform well enough to contend for the playoffs, but the crazy depth of the Western Conference has chewed up and spat out better teams than them and I doubt they’ll be able to duplicate their post-season success in the midst of such excellent competition.

On the other hand, the Nets should show the biggest improvement in the league if for no other reason than how difficult it has to be to repeat a regular season that pitiful. Besides they’ve got the third pick in the lottery and the most ambitious owner since Mark Cuban.

The Hornets may be somewhat of a surprise next season though – when someone of Chris Paul’s caliber comes into an NBA season with something to prove it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Hadarii:

I think the Suns will see the biggest drop-off due to Steve Kerr’s decision to walk away. Kerr is the person who built Phoenix into an over-achieving powerhouse, and couple his loss with the potential loss of Amare Stoudemire, and the Suns become an average team. I also believe the Milwaukee bucks stand to see the most improvement. If Andrew Bogut had not been hurt, then the Bucks may have made some noise this postseason. With a year of experience under his belt for Brandon Jennings, and a healthy Bogut, the Bucks could be very good.

Erick:

Simply because of the nature of the Western Conference, it’s difficult to imagine the Phoenix Suns reaching the Western Conference Finals again, especially because of the uncertainty regarding Amare Stoudemire. Should he leave, the Suns would lose a tremendous amount of frontcourt scoring and explosiveness.

Even if he stays, it’s hard to envision Phoenix’ defense staying at the level it needs to be to advance to the conference finals. And the older Steve Nash and Grant Hill get, the more difficult it becomes to expect production.

Leaving aside squads like Chicago and Miami which could suddenly become superteams because of their cap situation, the Blazers could be the franchise that takes the biggest leap next year. They battled through adversity to make the postseason last year despite an inordinate amount of injuries.

Should they stay healthy, they’ll have Brandon Roy back at the wing and comfortable with Andre Miller. Rudy Fernandez can’t have a worse season than this past one, and the Blazers are loaded at the center position. On paper, they should make it to the second round at least.