NBA Teams that Are on the Rise

For the past several seasons, the NBA has been dominated by traditional powerhouse teams such as the LA Lakers, and the Boston Celtics. Many fans outside of LA, Boston, and San Antonio are gearing up as these dynasties come to an end. Kobe Bryant is not immune to the effects of time, and most will agree that when Kobe goes down, the Lakers franchise follows. At least, temporarily. The trio of stars in Boston are also nearing the expiration date, leaving behind a still-young Rajon Rondo. San Antonio is past their prime, proving this in the playoffs, when they simply could not keep up with a younger and more athletic Memphis team. With the NBA lockout threatening to take away the 2011-2012 season, it looks like fans may have to wait a bit longer to watch these following teams in action.

The Miami Heat- This may seem like a bad selection, but the Miami Heat are poised to dominate the East for many seasons to come. The Heat have LeBron and Dwayne Wade for another five years, which is plenty of time to bring some championships to South Beach. After last year's bitter defeat in the Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, I cannot imagine a team as hungry for a championship as the Miami Heat.

The Minnesota Timberwolves- The Minnesota Timberwolves have been among the laughing-stock of the NBA for many years. With a young, talented nucleus in place, and an arrival of even more talent, the T-Wolves may finally break out of the losing tradition in Minnesota. The arrival of Ricky Rubio gives them a legitimate passer at the point guard position. While not expected to be a superstar, most believe that Derrick Williams will be a solid player at the 3 for Minnesota. The only downside with this team comes from the uncertainty in the coaching position.With Kevin Love anchoring the defense, and a plethora of talent, I am expecting playoff runs from Minnesota in the coming seasons.

The New York Knicks- While I believe that New York would be better off getting rid of D'Antoni, the Knicks's acquisition of Carmelo and Amar'e this past season automatically thrusts this team into the playoff mix in the East. Just two season ago, this team was struggling with no clear vision in sight. With the arrival of two legitimate superstars, this team will have no trouble scoring on the offensive end. The surprising play of Landry Fields is a bonus for the Knicks. Once they get their defense together, this team has a very good chance of making a deep playoff run.

The Chicago Bulls- Fueled by the magnificent play of their point guard, Derrick Rose, Chicago is now truly a powerhouse team in the East. The acquisition of Carlos Boozer gives them more muscle inside, while Joakim Noah had another Joakim Noah season, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds. The evolution of Derrick Rose is what truly changed this team from a a 4th-6th seed in the East to looking down at everyone as the #1 seed in the whole league. The spectacular job that Tom Thibodeau has done deserves recognition also. Equipped with a great coach, and great players, the Bulls will be a force to reckon with for a long time.

The Los Angeles Clippers- The biggest key to the rise of the LA Clippers will be their explosive power forward Blake Griffin. With a core of young, athletic, and motivated individuals, for the first time in a long time, Los Angeles is excited about the LA Clippers. After being the shy step-brother of the Lakers for a long time, Blake Griffin has brought this team into the spotlight. After so many lottery picks, the LA Clippers finally have enough talent to start making strides in the NBA. The trade of Baron Davis to Cleveland was a great decision for the Clippers, and also represents the burial of the old losing habits of the Clippers.

The next few season will mark the beginning of the new era in the NBA, where old dynasties and big-market cities give way to the next generation of "super-star" teams, and small-market cities such as Oklahoma City and Memphis. There are many young athletes waiting in the wings for their chance to shine, and their time will come in the following seasons.