Are Miami and OKC still the prime contenders next season?

[Venti Quattro]

If not, who are going to be?

[JamStone]

Most likely.

Have to wait for the off season and see where guys like Dwight Howard and Deron Williams land before any other team stands out as a potential favorite. Until then, I'd say Miami and OKC are the teams most likely to be in the Finals next season, barring injury. Both still very young and I believe both will still have their core group of players again next year.

[TIMMYtoZO]

Yes, they are. The west is old and rebuilding and the east is weak outside of Miami. The Heat will be even better next season.

[LkrFan]

They are the measuring sticks and will be for the next few years.

[tesseractive]

The Heat will be even better next season.

How do you figure?

[cheguevara]

Ogacihc

[DesignatedT]

Yes.

[TIMMYtoZO]

How do you figure?

Mostly within, but upgrading at center should also help. The Heat's confidence level will be higher than ever. Winning a championship is only going to make them closer and mentally tougher. In addition, the 3 Kings aren't on their last legs. Miami is set up perfectly for a dynasty.

[Reck]

Yes, they are. The west is old and rebuilding and the east is weak outside of Miami. The Heat will be even better next season.

This may ever be the only thing we agree upon. :lol

[tesseractive]

Mostly within, but upgrading at center should also help. The Heat's confidence level will be higher than ever. Winning a championship is only going to make them closer and mentally tougher. In addition, the 3 Kings aren't on their last legs. Miami is set up perfectly for a dynasty.

I agree that the big 3 aren't on their last legs, but isn't a lot of the supporting cast old and declining? Battier, Haslem, Jones, and Miller are all on the wrong side of 30, and that's half the supporting cast.

[gaKNOW!blee]

I agree that the big 3 aren't on their last legs, but isn't a lot of the supporting cast old and declining? Battier, Haslem, Jones, and Miller are all on the wrong side of 30, and that's half the supporting cast.

Guys like haslem and miller mean nothing...they are easily replaceable.

As long as they have Lebron, the heat are the favorite in the east.

[Latarian Milton]

OKC ain't never reaching climax cuz of their limited market size, they making finals this year but it's premature E

[lefty]

Yes

[Clipper Nation]

Clippers... Griffin's going to have a breakthrough year tbh... very scary for the rest of the league, plus he's gonna have more chemistry with the league's best point guard, CP3. If we get Ray Allen, that'll be huge.

If the Nets get Dwight, they'll challenge the Heat in the weak East.

[KaiRMD1]

Seeing as how Rose is out for the year, the Heat will have nobody to challenge them in the east. I don't think the Thunder will be the only ones in the West though.