Which Big 3 West team will decline first?
(SA, PHO, DAL)
Which Big 3 West team will decline first?
Moderators: Kilroy, Danny Darko, TyCobb
Which Big 3 West team will decline first?
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dingclancy
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Sofa King
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SashAlex
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J Rob
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Its a good question cause last year they all seemed so invincible, whereas this year they all have shown weaknesses.
Suns: I think Marion will be gone sooner or later and although he's playing great, Steve Nash isn't getting any younger.
They're also relying heavily on Grant Hill for their success and you simply never know with the guy.
So if something happens to either of those guys, they are severely lacking in any depth.
Spurs: They're still the best team out of the three, but Duncan, as well as, a few of their role players are starting to get up in years.
They've also shown they aren't exactly invincible if the injury bug hits one of their big three.
Mavs: They go as Nowitzki goes. When he's on they're tough to beat. But who knows if he can continue carry the load.
I think they're still one of the top 5 teams in the league, but it seems like their best basketball is behind them imo.
So who goes down first?
It will have a lot to do with injuries and Nash's and Duncan's longetivity, but I'd probably say the Suns will be the first to go down, then the Spurs.
I can see them ending up having a Kings-like demise.
Suns: I think Marion will be gone sooner or later and although he's playing great, Steve Nash isn't getting any younger.
They're also relying heavily on Grant Hill for their success and you simply never know with the guy.
So if something happens to either of those guys, they are severely lacking in any depth.
Spurs: They're still the best team out of the three, but Duncan, as well as, a few of their role players are starting to get up in years.
They've also shown they aren't exactly invincible if the injury bug hits one of their big three.
Mavs: They go as Nowitzki goes. When he's on they're tough to beat. But who knows if he can continue carry the load.
I think they're still one of the top 5 teams in the league, but it seems like their best basketball is behind them imo.
So who goes down first?
It will have a lot to do with injuries and Nash's and Duncan's longetivity, but I'd probably say the Suns will be the first to go down, then the Spurs.
I can see them ending up having a Kings-like demise.
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SashAlex
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slifersd
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I think Phoenix has already started declining this year. They are not nearly as sharp as they seemed the last couple of years. It can be expected considering how they emptied their bench and their young drafted players for nothing in return. Grant Hill is a good player but he is not the difference maker that will take this team over the top and he certainly does not address their depth issue in a variety of positions. Nash might still be great on offense, but his defense is getting exposed even more than last a few years. Maybe it is still too early in the season for me to conclude that the Suns are declining, but they just don't seem that intimidating any more.
The Spurs will remain the top team in the league for as long as Duncan holds up his production. Ginobili has already declined, but they are using him as a sixth man nowadays anyways. Spurs always make the right draft choices and free agent signings, which means their role players will easily be replaced as they age. The only way the Spurs will go down the ranks will be when Duncan starts to drastically decline Shaq style. Ginobili isn't going to be able to make up the difference and neither can Parker.
Dallas is still very young and will be where they are for a very long time given how their boss isn't afraid of spending a little money on the team. I think they can use another franchise level player because Nowitzki is a bit too fragile to take his team to the top. Other than that, they have very little need for reinforcements.
The Spurs will remain the top team in the league for as long as Duncan holds up his production. Ginobili has already declined, but they are using him as a sixth man nowadays anyways. Spurs always make the right draft choices and free agent signings, which means their role players will easily be replaced as they age. The only way the Spurs will go down the ranks will be when Duncan starts to drastically decline Shaq style. Ginobili isn't going to be able to make up the difference and neither can Parker.
Dallas is still very young and will be where they are for a very long time given how their boss isn't afraid of spending a little money on the team. I think they can use another franchise level player because Nowitzki is a bit too fragile to take his team to the top. Other than that, they have very little need for reinforcements.
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seccom
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slifersd wrote:The Spurs will remain the top team in the league for as long as Duncan holds up his production. Ginobili has already declined, but they are using him as a sixth man nowadays anyways. Spurs always make the right draft choices and free agent signings, which means their role players will easily be replaced as they age. The only way the Spurs will go down the ranks will be when Duncan starts to drastically decline Shaq style. Ginobili isn't going to be able to make up the difference and neither can Parker. [\quote]
Can you be more specific? Who do they sign or draft for the last few years?
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Joe Kleazy
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Spurs management is just too good at drafting and scouting to fall off but who knows how great they will be after timmy( parkers pet name) is finished.
**** the Suns.
The Mavs will be about the same for some time. They have a good young PG, Dirk still has a few years and cuban go CASH.
I see us gradually removing the spurs out of the stall and having a seat on the gold toilet to drop a few loads on the league as the next few years pass(pun intended lol) along.
**** the Suns.
The Mavs will be about the same for some time. They have a good young PG, Dirk still has a few years and cuban go CASH.
I see us gradually removing the spurs out of the stall and having a seat on the gold toilet to drop a few loads on the league as the next few years pass(pun intended lol) along.
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Sedale Threatt
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Phoenix, without a doubt.
As soon as Nash starts to falter, their whole system goes. Marion and Stoudemire both feed off him, and Barbosa doesn't even come close as a playmaker. They'll still be solid if they keep those three, but Nash is the one that makes them a contender.
And as J-Rob pointed out, he ain't getting any younger. Granted, Stockton was able to play at a high level into his 40s. But that's not something you can exactly count on with Nash considering Stock was a freak of nature.
Plus, if they lose again if the playoffs, you have to wonder what's going to happen with team morale, particularly as it relates to D'Antoni. Nobody's ever won a championship playing the way the Suns do, so the team could start to fracture if they lose again.
Using the Phoenix board as a very small sample, you already get the sense their fan base is starting to tire of him.
Agree totally with slifersd regarding SA and Dallas.
One thing to keep in mind about the Spurs -- in addition to the injuries they've had (they were 17-3 even after they started to hit) this is a veteran team that's been through the battles.
They're not going to crank it up too high until the playoffs start to approach, especially Duncan. He knows how to pace himself for the long haul ahead, and I expect him to be a dominant player for at least another three or four years, especially on the defensive end.
As soon as Nash starts to falter, their whole system goes. Marion and Stoudemire both feed off him, and Barbosa doesn't even come close as a playmaker. They'll still be solid if they keep those three, but Nash is the one that makes them a contender.
And as J-Rob pointed out, he ain't getting any younger. Granted, Stockton was able to play at a high level into his 40s. But that's not something you can exactly count on with Nash considering Stock was a freak of nature.
Plus, if they lose again if the playoffs, you have to wonder what's going to happen with team morale, particularly as it relates to D'Antoni. Nobody's ever won a championship playing the way the Suns do, so the team could start to fracture if they lose again.
Using the Phoenix board as a very small sample, you already get the sense their fan base is starting to tire of him.
Agree totally with slifersd regarding SA and Dallas.
One thing to keep in mind about the Spurs -- in addition to the injuries they've had (they were 17-3 even after they started to hit) this is a veteran team that's been through the battles.
They're not going to crank it up too high until the playoffs start to approach, especially Duncan. He knows how to pace himself for the long haul ahead, and I expect him to be a dominant player for at least another three or four years, especially on the defensive end.
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large1974
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I think Phoenix will be the first to go then Dallas.
If you look at the pros and cons of the fastbreak offense, it is that you where you team down and its players down. Think of all those years that Phoenix runs up and down the court its only a matter of time before the team gets worn out. So I guess what im saying is small ball is for teams who want immediate success and half court sets like lakers, spurs, pistons,tend to win or catch up in the long run.
If you look at the pros and cons of the fastbreak offense, it is that you where you team down and its players down. Think of all those years that Phoenix runs up and down the court its only a matter of time before the team gets worn out. So I guess what im saying is small ball is for teams who want immediate success and half court sets like lakers, spurs, pistons,tend to win or catch up in the long run.
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TonyMontana
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Im with Sofa on this one , I could careless about all of them .
I dont like the Suns with a passion , the sooner they drop to the bottom of the pile the happier I will become .
Since we ran them off the court for so many years and after our team had declined since the trade of Shaq , all I heard from the Valley of NOBODIES is how they beat us in the playoffs , all I heard was how the Suns are better team than the Lakers , about KOBE being a rapist , and we got elimnated by them in the first round ....
Well Karmas a M.F , isnt it ?
It took us a few years , but we have climbed back on top of the league , we are playing better than most teams out there .
Since Dec we have been 14-3 the third highest winning % next to teams like Celtics , Portland .
We have beat them ( Suns) twice by double digits , and we have one of the youngest team's in the league .
So as far as Im concerned I dont care who goes down first , as long as its not the Lakers , I could careless after that .
I dont like the Suns with a passion , the sooner they drop to the bottom of the pile the happier I will become .
Since we ran them off the court for so many years and after our team had declined since the trade of Shaq , all I heard from the Valley of NOBODIES is how they beat us in the playoffs , all I heard was how the Suns are better team than the Lakers , about KOBE being a rapist , and we got elimnated by them in the first round ....
Well Karmas a M.F , isnt it ?
It took us a few years , but we have climbed back on top of the league , we are playing better than most teams out there .
Since Dec we have been 14-3 the third highest winning % next to teams like Celtics , Portland .
We have beat them ( Suns) twice by double digits , and we have one of the youngest team's in the league .
So as far as Im concerned I dont care who goes down first , as long as its not the Lakers , I could careless after that .
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djericho
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First to go:
Suns - since coangelo's departure they haven't done that great in finding steals and hidden gems of the draft IMO. They have a atl's (?) pick next draft but are looking to trade in attempts to get talent to win now. Nothing they've done since coangelo's departure has strengthened them.
Mavs - as long as Cuban shells out money, he'll attract talent. Just doesn't seem to find great talent for cheap. Had to let nash go, biggest mistake they've made it seams. Finley somewhere 2nd.
Spurs - After coangelo, it seemed they always found a good foreign player, but now the words out in the league about foreign talent so their talent pool isn't that big. But with their big 3 and healthy playing team basketball and good defense, they'll content for a couple more years.
Suns - since coangelo's departure they haven't done that great in finding steals and hidden gems of the draft IMO. They have a atl's (?) pick next draft but are looking to trade in attempts to get talent to win now. Nothing they've done since coangelo's departure has strengthened them.
Mavs - as long as Cuban shells out money, he'll attract talent. Just doesn't seem to find great talent for cheap. Had to let nash go, biggest mistake they've made it seams. Finley somewhere 2nd.
Spurs - After coangelo, it seemed they always found a good foreign player, but now the words out in the league about foreign talent so their talent pool isn't that big. But with their big 3 and healthy playing team basketball and good defense, they'll content for a couple more years.
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TruSkool
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suns will be the first to decline
1. marion is gone after this year
2. amare never even reached his full potential due to injuries..hes still a monster, but could have been something more furious.
3. as long as nash is a sun, phoenix will be ok
then the spurs
1.duncan wont slow down anytime soon, but his supporting cast will.
2. tony parker will keep giving some night in and night out
3. the rest of the spurs are too old to maintain-finley, bowen, horry, etc are nearing retirement.
and finally, the mavs
1. they have a lot of weapons.
2. dirk is trying to pull a duncan to conserve himself for the playoffs
3. stackhouse can fill in for 20ppg any night
4. howard is still young, and good, but not good enough to be a leader.
expect the lakers, blazers, and hornets to be the next big 3.
1. marion is gone after this year
2. amare never even reached his full potential due to injuries..hes still a monster, but could have been something more furious.
3. as long as nash is a sun, phoenix will be ok
then the spurs
1.duncan wont slow down anytime soon, but his supporting cast will.
2. tony parker will keep giving some night in and night out
3. the rest of the spurs are too old to maintain-finley, bowen, horry, etc are nearing retirement.
and finally, the mavs
1. they have a lot of weapons.
2. dirk is trying to pull a duncan to conserve himself for the playoffs
3. stackhouse can fill in for 20ppg any night
4. howard is still young, and good, but not good enough to be a leader.
expect the lakers, blazers, and hornets to be the next big 3.
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marik1234xx
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The biggest reason Nash won't play anywhere near 40 like Stockton is because Stockton played in one of the slowest halfcourt offenses ever for Jerry Sloan on the Jazz.
Nash plays in a very fast run and gun offense for D'Antoni.
Nash will be nowhere near the player he is right now when his contract is up after next season. He'll either retire then or go join a contender in a smaller role.
Phoenix will definitely be the first to decline.
It's already started with this year with them being worse. Marion also has an opt out this offseason and I would not be surprised at ALL to see him exercise it and end up going to another team because the Suns owner won't have the commitment to give Marion that long term contract. Marion will more than likely be gone in a S&T or sign with another team who has CAP space.
After that comes the Spurs, Duncan has about 2-3 years of high play level left in him. Parker is young and Ginobli is already declining. The Spurs will be Top 1-3 in the West for another 2-3 years because Horry/Barry/Finley and Bowen are all also getting old.
Dallas will be the last to decline. Dirk is young and in his prime, Devin Harris is mad young and Josh Howard is going to enter his prime soon. Diop is semi-young too and Terry is in his prime.
Nash plays in a very fast run and gun offense for D'Antoni.
Nash will be nowhere near the player he is right now when his contract is up after next season. He'll either retire then or go join a contender in a smaller role.
Phoenix will definitely be the first to decline.
It's already started with this year with them being worse. Marion also has an opt out this offseason and I would not be surprised at ALL to see him exercise it and end up going to another team because the Suns owner won't have the commitment to give Marion that long term contract. Marion will more than likely be gone in a S&T or sign with another team who has CAP space.
After that comes the Spurs, Duncan has about 2-3 years of high play level left in him. Parker is young and Ginobli is already declining. The Spurs will be Top 1-3 in the West for another 2-3 years because Horry/Barry/Finley and Bowen are all also getting old.
Dallas will be the last to decline. Dirk is young and in his prime, Devin Harris is mad young and Josh Howard is going to enter his prime soon. Diop is semi-young too and Terry is in his prime.
Knicks!