[Zen653]

Andrew Bynum is 20-years old and was playing like an all-star before he got injured. Even 75% of Bynum is better than Kendrick Perkins and most other centers in this league.

You'll get no argument from me than Bynum is better than Kendrick Perkins. But does Bynum improve the Laker defense? Has a 20 yearold ever been a difference-maker on a championship basketball team? I think you're expecting too much out of him. We don't even know how he'll play once he returns from injury. A kneecap injury is pretty serious in a player who relies on superior athleticism and leaping ability to score, rebound and block shots.

The Spurs are old. They would need to add one more significant player to be a contender. Robert Horry is going to retire, Brent Barry and Bruce Bowen should retire. Michael Finley, Kurt Thomas, damn, these guys are old.

I'd never count out Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. The Spurs could be in the market for someone like James Posey to replace Bowen. They were a tired team this year. By the time they faced the Lakers, they had nothing left in terms of energy. The 7-game series against the young upstart Hornets took a lot out of them.

The Celtics on the other hand, are an old team. Next year Ray Allen will be 33, Kevin Garnett 32, Paul Pierce 31.

You're right, as I noted previously, I'm not as confident about Boston's chances next year as I was this year. Allen, in particular, seems to be declining. There were certain weeks in the season where he contributed absolutely nothing on offense. He couldn't sink his patented jump shots, and that's dangerous territory for a guy who makes his living off of jump shots. He was a streaky shooter this year who had short bursts of good stretches tainted by long anemic ones.

I haven't noticed any decline from Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett, however. Pierce is actually getting better with age. Garnett, meanwhile, probably needs to reduce his workload to around 35 minutes a game.

Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown are not returning. I don't see Rajon Rondo improving his horrid outside shooting... The only player I see on the Celtics significantly improving is Glen Davis. in short, the Celtics are likely to be worse next year, the Lakers are likely to be better next year.

Cassell and Brown can easily be replaced. As the defending NBA Champions, there will be plenty of veteran role players willing to sign for the league minimum with the Celtics in an effort to win a ring. This always happens. The Spurs benefited from it in recent years, as did the Lakers during the three-peat.

I expect improvement from Rondo (he's only in his second year), Perkins (gets better every year), Powe and Big Baby. Ainge seems to be high on Gabe Pruitt and thinks the former USC standout could be Rondo's primary backup as soon as this upcoming season. Another player to watch out for is Tony Allen. He's very underrated. I'd like to see the Celtics re-sign him. I honestly believe he could be the next Ron Artest, if given at least 25 minutes a game. He's phenomenal defensively and explodes well to the basket. He's been debilitated by knee injuries the last two years.