An Important Offseason for NBA Teams in Texas
It’s going to be a quiet time for Texas in the months of May and June after the remaining NBA team in Texas, the San Antonio Spurs, were eliminated from playoff contention last Thursday. The Oklahoma City Thunder who have been serious competition for the Spurs over the past years finally got the best out of them this year. The end result was shocking due to the fact that in game one of the series the Spurs managed to demolish the Thunder for winning that game by 35 points. Afterwards, throughout the remainder of the series, both teams were equally tied up until game four. The spurs appeared to be winded and unprepared for the firepower that Oklahoma City brought upon them. It was only a matter of time until the veteran players of the Spurs, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, could no longer keep up with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook who are the star players for the Thunder.
Not to mention, throughout this season, many people speculated as to whether this would be Tim Duncan’s last year with the Spurs. After 19 years of being in the league, Duncan has learned a thing or two about what the game has to offer. With the Spurs being out of the playoffs, it will give Duncan time to reflect on whether or not he chooses to play again or finally throw in the towel. Nobody would blame him if he were to retire now, due to the fact that he has brought recognition and light to the city of San Antonio. The AT&T Center was the only place where fans got the chance to celebrate and cheer for Duncan during the games. As the NBA is close to finished, not only will Duncan have time to think of his future, but so will the Spurs as they search for new talent to arrive to the team.
The Spurs weren’t the only team who brought attention from Texas, the Houston Rockets were also a part of the playoffs this season. Unfortunately, they fell short of expectation as they were eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Rockets fans and everyone else watching the playoffs knew this was going to be a tough challenge playing against the Warriors who were the number one team in the league. James Harden, who is the superstar of the team alongside with Dwight Howard both failed to lead the team to victory. There seemed to be tension between the two and the rest of the team as they played with each other. Many Rockets fans are wondering if Howard will remain with the team for the following year or pack his bags and depart to another city. The argument that is being held in Houston is whether Howard should stay or not and if he does will he serve as an asset or a liability? The biggest issue the Rockets may have is finding the appropriate coach to lead this team to a championship. There are more than enough problems existing in Houston right now, fortunately they can utilize this offseason to fix what is broken.
As for the Dallas Mavericks, they have always been short of receiving the most recognition in Texas due to the fact that “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys resides in the same city. The Mavericks have not posed as a serious threat to the Spurs or the Rockets in past years. If anything, the Mavericks have been known for undergoing the rebuilding mode this season. Dirk Nowitzki who is the beloved star for the Mavericks is coming to his final days of playing in the league. The Mavericks failed to advance to the next round of the playoffs after being eliminated by the Thunder as well. It wouldn’t be such a surprise if next year consisted of their fans purchasing tickets to see the Spurs or Rockets play instead. This offseason is crucial for the Mavericks to sign or trade for players who will give them the potential to compete with the best in the NBA.
Not to mention, throughout this season, many people speculated as to whether this would be Tim Duncan’s last year with the Spurs. After 19 years of being in the league, Duncan has learned a thing or two about what the game has to offer. With the Spurs being out of the playoffs, it will give Duncan time to reflect on whether or not he chooses to play again or finally throw in the towel. Nobody would blame him if he were to retire now, due to the fact that he has brought recognition and light to the city of San Antonio. The AT&T Center was the only place where fans got the chance to celebrate and cheer for Duncan during the games. As the NBA is close to finished, not only will Duncan have time to think of his future, but so will the Spurs as they search for new talent to arrive to the team.
The Spurs weren’t the only team who brought attention from Texas, the Houston Rockets were also a part of the playoffs this season. Unfortunately, they fell short of expectation as they were eliminated in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Rockets fans and everyone else watching the playoffs knew this was going to be a tough challenge playing against the Warriors who were the number one team in the league. James Harden, who is the superstar of the team alongside with Dwight Howard both failed to lead the team to victory. There seemed to be tension between the two and the rest of the team as they played with each other. Many Rockets fans are wondering if Howard will remain with the team for the following year or pack his bags and depart to another city. The argument that is being held in Houston is whether Howard should stay or not and if he does will he serve as an asset or a liability? The biggest issue the Rockets may have is finding the appropriate coach to lead this team to a championship. There are more than enough problems existing in Houston right now, fortunately they can utilize this offseason to fix what is broken.
As for the Dallas Mavericks, they have always been short of receiving the most recognition in Texas due to the fact that “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys resides in the same city. The Mavericks have not posed as a serious threat to the Spurs or the Rockets in past years. If anything, the Mavericks have been known for undergoing the rebuilding mode this season. Dirk Nowitzki who is the beloved star for the Mavericks is coming to his final days of playing in the league. The Mavericks failed to advance to the next round of the playoffs after being eliminated by the Thunder as well. It wouldn’t be such a surprise if next year consisted of their fans purchasing tickets to see the Spurs or Rockets play instead. This offseason is crucial for the Mavericks to sign or trade for players who will give them the potential to compete with the best in the NBA.