Name 10 players you expect to decline

[Don Draper]

Tmac doesn't need to "rebound", he was very good last year. Statically, he can do better but he played well enough last year. Tmac was the main reason why the Rockets won 55 games.

I noticed that you are quite critical of players from the Rockets, especially our star players. I want to hear your assessment of the Rockets from the past season. I mean, if both Tmac and Yao suks and none of our players are any good, how the hell are we a +50 win team every single year? We're lucky maybe?

I disagree. It was their defense. T-Mac drawing of double teams and passing were big but he couldn't hit the side of his face. Their defense was second only to the Celtics last year. That's why they won 55 games.

[lethalweapon3]

Declines beginning the minute the ink dries on their new contracts...

Ben Gordon
Dorrell Wright
Bassy Telfair
Mickael Gelabale
James Posey
NoNad Krstic
Ryan Gomes
Quinton Ross
Francisco Elson
Boobie Gibson

~lw3

[chaldean]

Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
Rajon Rondo
Tony Allen
Sam Cassell
Leon Powe
Glen Davis
Kendrick Perkins
James Posey (if he stays with Boston)

[tha_rock220]

Decline:

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

Timmy Duncan's decline has been expected for 3 seasons now, and it still hasn't happened yet.

I think Iverson's decline will accelerate this season, but he'll still keep shooting more than 'Melo.

[og15]

Kobe- still elite but noticeable like Duncan this year
Duncan- slowly decline, gets more noticeable each pasting year
KG- end of his prime this year; less effective in 09
Nash- not looking good
Jamison- got his money
Elton Brand- same as Jamison

Brand and Jamison have already previously "got their money", so I'm not sure how getting new contracts is going to be a reason for them to decline.

[JMillott]

1. Jason Kidd : This may very well be his last year as a fulltime NBA starter in this league and it wouldn't be a surprize if his body stats to breakdown on him.
2. Rafer Alston : May be a surprize to make any list but he was actually pretty solid last year, which I think was born out of them trying so hard to replace him last summer. I think he feels comfortable again and plays awful.
3. Bruce Bowen : I think his days as a defensive stopper are done, welcome to the end of the line Mr cheapshot he is no longer capable of handling more then spot minutes 10/15 a night at his age.
4. Tim Duncan: He will still be one of the best big men in the league but I believe the Spurs days of being able to play him next to dime a dozen role players and still dominate the paint are over, he will need legit help from now on.
5. Cuttino Mobley: Not a big name guy sure but he has been a decent starting SG in this league but he is basically done at this point. It will not take Eric Gordon long to get handed the job and Mobley will be out of the league soon.
6. Steve Nash : It already started last year in my opinion but his days as one of the truely elite players in this league are done. He will still be a very good offensive player but not quite what he has been and his defense just continues to get worse.
7. Shaq O'Neal : I think he gave his last best effort as a rebounder and shot-blocker to the Suns after the trade. I think he will still be passable when he plays but he will not be matching his rebounding nubers from after the trade again.
8. Marcus Camby : This streak of healthy production from Marcus Camby will be coming to an end this season in my opinion. I see a return to the DL and expect his rebound and shotblocking to dip as well.
9. Antonio McDyess : I think his last best chance at a title came to an end last season for a guy who was able to re-invent himself half-way through his NBA career after injuries derailed what once promissed to be a HOF career. I think he shrinks into a more limited role giving way to Maxiell and Johnson for the Pistons.
10. Zydrunas Ilgauskas : He falls into my opinion that guys his size can only stay in this league for so long before their legs and feet can no longer take the pounding of the NBA with a body size that human legs and feet were designed to carry.

[Albanian Damien]

Kevin Garnett
Paul Pierce
Ray Allen
Rajon Rondo
Tony Allen
Sam Cassell
Leon Powe
Glen Davis
Kendrick Perkins
James Posey (if he stays with Boston)

If that happens you guys can put up another Atlantic Divison championship banner.

[Scalabrine]

I think Michael Redd will have a worse year, Jefferson is a better more all around offensive player than him and should be the first scorer with Redd getting many open shots, his stats may drop though because he wont be the first option. Maybe Mo Williams could have a drop too with the emergence late of Sessions but that would just have been a rookie plahying well when the games dont matter and then sucking when the competitions is higher the next year.

[Loose Cannon]

I disagree. It was their defense. T-Mac drawing of double teams and passing were big but he couldn't hit the side of his face. Their defense was second only to the Celtics last year. That's why they won 55 games.

Thing is, he was really the only player producing offensively for Houston and that's where he's coming from. That momentum swing in the 22-game winning streak was huge in getting them more wins than they should've ended up with. Half of the streak, T-Mac was without Yao, all of it, T-Mac was without an offense. While it was the tenacious defense, Tracy was the sole focal point, in charge of carrying the load and distributing. If there was one player that's most responsible for the Rockets success in that stretch, it's Tracy.