The most consistent and dominant team over the last 15 years may have finally reached the end of the run. With Timmy, Tony & Manu all in the waning days of their careers the chapter may be closing on their spectacular run. Yes, they have Kwahi. And they signed LaMarcus Aldridge to a big contract a year ago so they will probably continue to be a playoff team going forward but without the addition of another great player or two, the championship window may have just closed.
But where one thing closes, another opens.
You probably guessed it, I'm talking Wolves. With the addition of another young talented player through the draft and a couple in through free agency I think that 50 wins is well within range in the coming season.
You probably guessed it, I'm talking Wolves. With the addition of another young talented player through the draft and a couple in through free agency I think that 50 wins is well within range in the coming season.
Even falling well short of that could result in the end of the playoff draught. This year the Rockets made it at 41 - 41. They're going to lose Dwight Howard and I personally hope that James Harden never wins a championship, so they may not even make the playoffs next year. The Spurs, Grizzlies and Mavericks are deep with veterans which seemed to start biting each team this year.
So that's four of the 8 Western Conference playoff teams this year that may not make it the same next year. Now certainly there are other young squads poised to make the jump up, the Jazz most notably amongst them. The Kings were 10th this year but will continue to be dysfunctional so I don't give them much hope of getting it together. Then it was the Nuggets and the Pelicans ahead of the Wolves. The Nuggets could certainly take another step and jump up into the top 8 but I don't know if the same can be said of New Orleans. Another Davis is elite, when healthy, but the rest of the team is suspect.
So say the Spurs drop off some next year, which I think will happen though probably not all the way out of the playoffs. If any of the Grizzlies, Mavs and Rockets do the likely thing and slide down the rankings next seasons then the door will certainly be opened for the Pups to become Wolves.
What isn't in question, is that as one of the greatest NBA dynasty's of all time may have just ended. So let's reflect on that and appreciate it as sports fans but recognize that if it indeed has just happened then the Spurs will not be alone in the slide and will leave the door open for other teams to finally jump up.
Howl at it KAT and Wigs cause it's your time!
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