Next Year

[1Parker1]

BTW, Nothing will be easy for the Spurs next season either. Though I have no doubt they'll still be compe ive and still a championship contender, the compe ion will be double what it was this season. Suns, with Amare back, scare me the most. The Mavs could very well be the defending champs (it feels weird just typing that! ) or at the very least, the reigning conference champs, Lakers if they make some trades this offseason will always be scary as long as Phil and Kobe are there.

For the Pistons, they'll still have to worry about the Miami Heat (defending champs? ), Cavs should be their biggest obstacle, the Nets are still scary with their Big 3, and up and comming teams like the Bulls, Magic, and Sixers ( I just through that in for my sake).

Pistons better hope that Ben Wallace decides to stay.

[Streakyshooter08]

Well, I think it comes down to how the offseason turns out for both teams. If Detroit looses Ben somehow it will be tough for them to find a replacement and be as strong as this year. If they keep the S5 and sign 1-2 good role players they will be really good...

The Spurs need to sign sb. athletic who is able to defend the wing. If they sign Javtokas, a good tall 3 and a backup PG, they will be in shape to be a contender once again.

[1Parker1]

I wonder why no one has mentioned the Suns as a possibility to come out of the West next year. They'll have Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas back and with those guys PHO could kick everyones' asses, and I'm humble and objective enough to admit that could include that of my Mavs'. Part of the reason they lost to the Mavs was injury problems and lack of depth, but next year their depth could be awesome.

C K. Thomas - B. Grant (if he picks up his option) - B. Diaw
PF A. Stoudemire - S. Marion
SF S. Marion - B. Diaw - J. James
PG S. Nash - L. Barbosa
SG R. Bell - E. House

150 ppg? lol....they'll have way better rebounding for sure and they have lots of athleticism and sky-high-upside youth in Stoudemire, Barbosa, and Diaw.

Suns look scary next season. With Marion, Nash, and Amare back.....but this time with up and comming role players in Diaw and Barbosa, as well as solid defense from Raja Bell and Thomas, they look downright scary for the Spurs and the Mavs.

[picnroll]

I've said in several posts that I'm more worried about the Suns than the Mavs next year. Not that the Mavs won't be good but there is no one on the Mavs or Spurs that can handle a fully restored Amare. Add a Diaw with an improved outside shot and the way he palys the high-low and you have bad news.

[NCaliSpurs]

I think the Pistons also let the something slip away. Just because the final scores weren't close doesn't tell the entire story. Pistons, known for their mental strength and swagger, unraveled during a crucial time. Pistons are a team that won 64 regular season games, was on pace to win 70 at one point, had 4 All Stars, and mentally brokedown during the most important time of the season.......the definitely let this one slip away. If they had played better/smarter and they way they are capable of this entire playoffs, they could have taken on Miami.

I was referring to last year against the Spurs.

But I agree with you about this year too.

[leemajors]

I wonder why no one has mentioned the Suns as a possibility to come out of the West next year. They'll have Stoudemire and Kurt Thomas back and with those guys PHO could kick everyones' asses, and I'm humble and objective enough to admit that could include that of my Mavs'. Part of the reason they lost to the Mavs was injury problems and lack of depth, but next year their depth could be awesome.

C K. Thomas - B. Grant (if he picks up his option) - B. Diaw
PF A. Stoudemire - S. Marion
SF S. Marion - B. Diaw - J. James
PG S. Nash - L. Barbosa
SG R. Bell - E. House

150 ppg? lol....they'll have way better rebounding for sure and they have lots of athleticism and sky-high-upside youth in Stoudemire, Barbosa, and Diaw.

i would actually consider starting amare at c, marion at pf, diaw at sg, nash and bell. i think diaw functions best as a starter and they should have him on the floor as much as possible. that way you have your two best ballhandlers on the court at the same time, and create incredible mismatches in your favor. the suns also need a better option at backup pg than eddie house, he's a chucker.

[Mavschick]

i would actually consider starting amare at c, marion at pf, diaw at sg, nash and bell. i think diaw functions best as a starter and they should have him on the floor as much as possible. that way you have your two best ballhandlers on the court at the same time, and create incredible mismatches in your favor. the suns also need a better option at backup pg than eddie house, he's a chucker.

Well that just shows how versatile the Suns will be next year, able to reshape their lineup as they see fit depending on the matchup. I kind of see Diaw with his ball-handling and passing skills as a younger-Antoine-Walker-like-point-forward, able to bring the ball up court and initiate plays when Nash is off the floor.