To me, the playoffs this year has proven enlightening in terms of how teams may fare in the future. With so many risky trades and the "win now" attitude of many teams, the balance of power in the league seems to be quickly shifting. That said, which playoff teams do you think will be on the rise next year, and which will be on the decline?
Here's my take:
Teams on the rise:
Orlando- should return with more hunger and experience next year.
Atlanta- gained a great deal of experience playing against the vaunted Celtics.
L.A. Lakers- they have a solid core, and with health, they will be a serious threat for the title.
New Orleans- they have already exceeded expectations, and they are growing by the game.
Utah- next year may see this team make a serious run at the championship.
Houston- they brought in solid young talent in Scola and Landry to hopefully complement a health T-Mac and Yao.
Teams on the decline:
Boston- they still should contend in the East, but will likely not run away with the regular season as they did this year. Those legs will have a lot more tread next year.
Detroit- they should also still contend, but they aren't getting any younger.
Phoenix- will still likely make the playoffs, but their days as a championship contender may be over with many young teams in the West working their way up.
Dallas- playoff contender, but no longer a title contender.
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