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Everybody likes to young players improve as they gain experience, but another group of players every year has to decline in ability by about the same amount.

So name 10 players who you think will have the most dramatic declines in production.

My list in no particular order:
Shaq - already declining fast, next season may have him tasting Kobe's ass.

Rasheed Wallace - He's nearing the end of his contract and probably has one eye on retirement already.

Jason Kidd - His poor production in Dallas was not just Avery's doing.

Iverson - He's mentioned every year as a player expected to decline... it's gotta happen some time.

Steve Nash - With Shaq clogging the lane, Marion no longer around to finish alley oops, D'Antoni in New York, and age and mileage catching up, I believe Nash is being set up for a disappointing season.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Was showing his age last season, will show it even more this season. With the other bigs on the Cavs taking up his PT, expect his numbers to drop.

Grant Hill - Had a bit of a bounce back season with the Suns, but people were ready to write him off before that.

Antawn Jamison - The Wiz never really had their big three play at their respective bests all at the same time for an entire season (Arenas injured or Butler still developing). Expect Arenas and Butler to squeeze out point production from Jamison.

Ray Allen - Showed signs in the playoffs that he's slowing down. A guy to watch next season.

Jamaal Tinsley - averaged around 12pts and over 8 assists because the Pacers had nobody better to play at the point. With Ford taking his place, who will want to play him now?

I agree with the list, my change would be Jermaine O'neal for Jamison. I think Jamison still have 2/3 more years at his current level. J.O pass from all-star to excellent role player.

It's no fun picking players who are already on the decline, so I'm going to pick a few players that had down seasons who I think will rebound, and some players that I think will fall off:

Rebound
1. Tracy McGrady - maybe Yao can stay healthy and take the strain off T-Mac efficiency.
2. Vince Carter - with Jefferson and Kidd out of the way, he will be calling all the shots
3. Shawn Marion - 2008 was first time he played less than 79 games, new system in Miami

Decline
1. Jermaine O'Neal - I think his efficiency will see a boost, but Bosh will take most of his shots
2. Pau Gasol - already not the team's strongest rebounder, his role will shrink with Bynum/Odom
3. Jose Calderon - I don't think he will have full success until he adapts to being an 82-game starter

Shaq - already declining fast, next season may have him tasting Kobe's ass.

Tell me you didn't make this entire thread just to slip that in.

Malinhion wrote:It's no fun picking players who are already on the decline, so I'm going to pick a few players that had down seasons who I think will rebound, and some players that I think will fall off:

Rebound
1. Tracy McGrady - maybe Yao can stay healthy and take the strain off T-Mac efficiency.
2. Vince Carter - with Jefferson and Kidd out of the way, he will be calling all the shots
3. Shawn Marion - 2008 was first time he played less than 79 games, new system in Miami

Decline
1. Jermaine O'Neal - I think his efficiency will see a boost, but Bosh will take most of his shots
2. Pau Gasol - already not the team's strongest rebounder, his role will shrink with Bynum/Odom
3. Jose Calderon - I don't think he will have full success until he adapts to being an 82-game starter

Shaq - already declining fast, next season may have him tasting Kobe's ass.

Tell me you didn't make this entire thread just to slip that in.

two former raptors on the rise
and two current raptors on decline?

youuuu youuuu **************************************
hopefully JO and Jose prove you wrong.

I think Jose will rebound, but he'll struggle with starting full time at first. I was very impressed with him last season, especially on my fantasy team. I expect a small drop in his assist-rate, but it should climb back up.

JO might actually have a better season from a production standpoint. I think Bosh taking the offensive load will greatly help his efficiency and he can be the defender he once was. However, I think the overall drop in stats will be a bit deceptive, and lead people to think that he's actually playing worse when he might actually be a better asset from a team standpoint.

Vince will clearly have better stats next year, at least in terms of volume, since he's the team's only star and he's meshing with a bunch of young guys who he'll be expected to carry.

Putting McGrady on the list was a peace offering to all the Rockets fans with whom I have such a wonderful routine of mutual antagonization.

Decline:

Tim Duncan
Steve Nash
Lamar Odom
Shaq
Jason Kidd
Ray Allen
Ginobli
The Pistons
Big Z
Vince Carter

The 1st person that came to mind when I saw this thread was Ray Allen. . .

Shaq, Kidd, Tinsley? Dang you really stuck your neck out there on those.

James Posey.

shaq already has declined. couldn't past the first round with phoenix. puts up like 6-8 pts lol.
maybe paul pierce? i know he was finals mvp and all..but he looks slow out there and his shot isn't as smooth as it was b4.

ropjhk wrote:Zydrunas Ilgauskas - Was showing his age last season, will show it even more this season. With the other bigs on the Cavs taking up his PT, expect his numbers to drop.

Please feel free to point out where Z was declining last year? His stats were pretty much dead on his career stats and his rebounding numbers were the best ever in his career.

Wally Szerbiak is going to fall of the face of the earth.

Malinhion wrote:I think Jose will rebound, but he'll struggle with starting full time at first. I was very impressed with him last season, especially on my fantasy team. I expect a small drop in his assist-rate, but it should climb back up.

So then why is he on your list? Your argument didn't seem like it warrants a place on your list. Jose has improved in every statistical category every year. I know he's probably not going to climb higher (ie I'm expecting the same type of performance from last season), but I think Jose is a bit too young to be considered "on the decline".

I actually think Ray Allen is going to be better next year. This year he was still recovering from the ankle surgery, and fitting in with the team. In the Detroit and LA series, he was finally figuring things out.

Richard Jefferson is going to have a big drop in production in Milwaukee.
One of Butler and Arenas will have a drop off. It should be Arenas, who plays second fiddle, but my guess is that it will be butler.

PennY1 wrote:shaq already has declined. couldn't past the first round with phoenix. puts up like 6-8 pts lol.
maybe paul pierce? i know he was finals mvp and all..but he looks slow out there and his shot isn't as smooth as it was b4.

It was actually like 14ppg not 6-8 points but whatever u say.

obinna wrote:Decline:

Tim Duncan
Steve Nash
Lamar Odom
Shaq
Jason Kidd
Ray Allen
Ginobli
The Pistons
Big Z
Vince Carter

Officially making it the 5th season we've been on the decline.

P2 wrote:James Posey.

How do you decline from 7/4?

RTM wrote:

obinna wrote:Decline:

Tim Duncan
Steve Nash
Lamar Odom
Shaq
Jason Kidd
Ray Allen
Ginobli
The Pistons
Big Z
Vince Carter

Officially making it the 5th season we've been on the decline.

And the 5th straight season Pistons fans thought they would win the championship. I guess neither one of us was right.

Malinhion wrote:3. Jose Calderon - I don't think he will have full success until he adapts to being an 82-game starter
.

He started 56 games last year and was consistent every game averaging around 14 and 10. He won't have any problem playing in a role he was in all last season.

I figure these guys just signed lucrative deals so it'll be time to relax a bit and rest more for minor injuries:

Baron Davis
Corey Maggette

Antawn Jamison's numbers will decline with the return of Arenas.

Emeka Okafar hasn't signed yet but this injury plagued big man is sure to be slowed by injuries after a relatively healthy year.

Josh Smith....I dunno...something about those players that have crazy athleticism but not a ton of offensive skill or shooting range. Think of Andre Kirilenko and Gerald Wallace. Don't ask me to defend this one cuz I won't. It's just a hunch.

Kirk Hinrich...duh...they just used the number 1 overall pick to replace him.

Dirk Nowitzki.....something tells me Rick Carlisle and he are not going to get along.

Shawn Marion...if he stays in Miami, he'll lose touches to Beasley but if he's moved to the right team he could actually excel.

Mike Bibby...age is catching up to him.

Steve Nash...see Mike Bibby.