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While all eyes are focused on the titanic Celtics-Lakers Finals,
other NBA powerhouses have been licking their wounds and thinking of
the future. The Celtics beat perennial contender Detroit Pistons to
reach the Finals while the Lakers convincingly won over the
defending champions San Antonio Spurs.
The firing of Pistons Coach Flip Saunders
signals the beginning of a new era in Detroit. For the past six
years since 2002, the Pistons have been a fixture in the Eastern
Conference Finals. They even pulled off one of the biggest upsets in
sports history when they outplayed and outhustled the Lakers in the
2004 NBA Finals. The following year, their dreams of a
“back-to-back” title were shattered by the San Antonio Spurs. In
the past three Eastern Conference Finals, including the most recent
one versus Boston, the Pistons have fallen short. This has prompted
the team’s management to shake the tree, so to speak.
In a recent interview, Pistons President Joe
Dumars signified his desire to make substantial changes in the team
saying “that everybody is in play. There are no sacred cows
here.” This means that he is seriously looking at breaking up the
core of the Detroit Pistons which includes Chauncey Billups, Rasheed
Wallace, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.
As things stand, it looks like Wallace will be
the first on the trading block since he only has a one-year contract
not to mention his personality swings that sometimes affects a
game’s outcome. Case in point, among many, was his sub-par
performance in the season-ending Game 6 against Boston wherein he
scored only four points and committed three turnovers.
In all probability, the Pistons may trade away
Billups and Wallace to inject more youth in their team. This also
gives youngsters’ Aaron Afflalo, Rodney Stuckey, and Jason Maxiell
more room to develop. Unless there is a good trade offer, Rip and
Prince will most likely stay with the Pistons since they are in the
prime of their careers.
Out in the West, San Antonio’s aspirations to
win their fifth championship in ten years was stopped cold by Kobe
Bryant and the younger Lakers. Many times during the series, the
Spurs simply looked old and tired.
The Spurs are the oldest team in the NBA.
Franchise player Tim Duncan is 32 while Manu Ginobili is 31. Another
starter Bruce Bowen is turning 38. The Spurs’ bench includes
Michael Finley (35), Robert Horry (38 although he is probably
retiring), Brent Barry (36), and Kurt Thomas (35). Clearly, there is
a need to make drastic changes if the Spurs are to remain
competitive in a much tougher Western Conference.
The New Orleans Hornets and the Utah Jazz are
packed with younger, more athletic players and are future contenders
in the West. Of course the Lakers will continue to dominate if they
are able to keep this present team intact.
Expect the Spurs to look intently at the free
agent market since they don’t have much in the way of draft pick
placements. And the tradability of most of their players is low
given their age. Horry, Damon Stoudemire, Finley, and even Barry may
be retired by next season.
Please e-mail your comments and suggestions to raffyrledesma@yahoo.com
SIDELINES. Going back to the NBA Finals,
the Boston Celtics are one of the best defensive teams of all-time.
Since the league began tracking turnovers in 1973 to 1974, the 2007
to 2008 Celtics rank third in defensive efficiency behind the 2003
to 2004 San Antonio Spurs and the 1992 to 1993 New York Knicks.
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