Which Playoff Team(s) Fall Off Next Season

Followup to yesterday's poll about bottom feeders on the rise. Not including every team since some seem damn unlikely.

 

I'm saying Utah and New Orleans. The Jazz because I get the feeling Boozer will opt out (maybe Okur too?) and New Orleans could take a step back because of their money situation and the need to shed some salary in hurry (eg. Chandler on the block again?)

 

Isn't it also a contract year for J-Kidd? If he decides to leave - they might also be in a free-fall unless wholesale changes are made there.

Utah is interesting as well.

On the other hand - I just can't see NOH falling all the way out - CP3 is too good a player to allow this to happen, imho.

 

Dallas or Utah. Boozer isn't coming back next season. Dallas isn't getting any better. SA will be just as good or better considering they were banged up most of this season. Who knows, maybe OKC takes that 8th spot next year?

 

Utah and Dallas definitely seem like the best candidates.

Utah has already faded a lot from the past two years, when they were near-elite. If they also lose Boozer (or Milsap), it'll drop them even further.

Dallas is aging. Nowitzki had a good year, but he's been falling off year by year since 2005-06. Terry is getting older. Kidd will be a free agent and is declining as well.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

I said Dallas. Kidd will be gone, and everyone else is aging. Utah is possible, but they still have some decent young players. I think they'll bounce back next year. I also expect New Orleans to still be in it. San Antonio will have Manu back next year, and the big three will probably be healthy. If not, and Duncan and Manu are injured, they could possibly fall out.

Still, I'm sticking with Dallas.

 

What? I don't see any way Dallas lets Kidd back anywhere near the team this summer and beyond.

 

True, but who takes his place? Barea?

 

Dallas, since their first round playoff upset, has been on a downward trend.

But Utah and New Orleans could suffer if they don't re-sign their FAs, especially New Orleans, as George Shinn is a notorious tightwad. He's already committed too much money to the wrong players. And if their best players aren't re-signed, Chris Paul won't want to stay.

Man, good to not have to worry about an owner keeping our best players, isn't it?

 

Barea is hardly a bad option.

 

Anyway, as for the original question, I'll take New Orleans for the main reason already stated: money.

 

You must have inside information - but Cuban and his boys seem to think Kidd was the best player on their team this year.

While I disagree with that assessment - if he leaves - they are very short in the PG department...

 

Cuban is always the last guy in at least the NBA (possibly pro sports) to publicly smear his own players. He's obnoxious to the media/officials, but he will talk up his players like holy hell. Him thinking Kidd is the best player on the team is just talk.

 

Again - the superior inside information I can not argue with...

 

I don't think any of them will fall off really. Looking at the rest of the West, I don't see anyone else that looks to seriously challenge those bottom seeds for their spots. Thunder are still another season away. Clips won't develope chemistry. Memphis is still too green.

 

Suns could, with a decent off-season, Amare healthy and one of Utah or Dallas getting worse.

 

T-Pups with some competent GM'ing could as well. Al-Jeff is a force. K-Love is a quality secondary big-man. Miller can shoot from long-range. They need a better PG and/or star SG. Of course - they could have been a force with Mayo/Al-Jeff inside/outside punch...

 

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Weoooo that was a funny line!

 

Utah. Definitely. They're just barely making the playoffs this season.