Both the Lakers and Spurs have dominated the Western Conference for over a decade and a half, competing in the Finals in 13 of the last 16 seasons. But with neither team in the running for a title this year, I think it’s safe to say the hold these two franchises had on the Western Conference has finally come to an end.
I was a firm believer that the Spurs were going to win their sixth championship this year to go out in style as a tribute to the end of the “Big Three Era” and to cap off Tim Duncan’s exceptional career. I just knew that if they could somehow get past the Clippers, Gregg Popovich would out-coach everyone else. Unfortunately, the “Big Three” farewell came a little earlier than I expected.
When the Spurs lost Game 7, I think the celebration they had afterwards showed the realization of Popovich and the rest of the team that their historic run is just about over. He even said it himself after the loss that the personnel of the team will look totally different next year moving ?forward.
Although the Spurs and Lakers have been dominating the league as long as I’ve been watching the NBA, this year proved even they can’t be at the top forever. Time catches up with every athlete, and when this happens to franchise players teams must look to rebuild. The Lakers tried everything they could to give Kobe Bryant his last chance at another Finals ring by acquiring Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, but injuries and lack of depth proved to be too much to handle.
The Lakers had arguably the worst season in franchise history this year without Bryant, and I don’t see them getting much better anytime soon. The Spurs will be going into their rebuilding stage, and although I don’t see them dropping off as hard as the Lakers, I don’t think they will be competing in the Finals in the near future ?either.
With Hall-of-Famers like Bryant and Duncan on their way out the door, new stars like Blake Griffin, Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis are emerging and taking the stage for the West. This means younger teams will be at the top of the conference now, and this year begins a new era for the West.
I predict that, once Durant is back, the Thunder will be the new powerhouse team to beat, taking the torch from the Lakers and Spurs.
frbonner@indiana.edu
