Changing of the Guard?

The whimpering demise of the Spurs, Lakers, and Celtics during this year's Playoffs, the burgeoning growth of the young gun Thunder and Bulls, and the unexpected success of the underdog Grizzlies and Hawks has got me thinking a lot about the NBA's so-called "changing of the guard," and the transience of success in the league.

A conversation with some friends a few days ago highlighted just how rapid this change can be. While watching Game 4 of Celtics-Heat, we started arguing about when LeBoob's Cavs made their only Finals trip, and were utterly dismantled by the Spurs. I remembered that the Cavs issued a surprising beat-down on the Number-1 seeded Pistons during the Eastern Conference Finals, so I was convinced it couldn't be later than 2004. After all, the Pistons have been playing like gutter trash for years, right?

Wrong. A quick interwebs search validated my friend Ben's seemingly-absurd claim that it was only four years ago--in 2007--that the Pistons and Cavs met in a riveting Eastern Conference Finals clash. I dug a little deeper, and uncovered some utterly outrageous information about just how much the league has changed in four years. I now present to you (drum roll please) the 2007 Eastern Conference Playoffs:

1. Detroit Pistons

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Toronto Raptors

4. Miami Heat

5. Chicago Bulls

6. New Jersey Nets

7. Washington Wizards

8. Orlando Magic

Yes, that's right, 5 out of the 8 2007 East Playoff teams combined to finish an impressive 118-292 this season; they comprise 5 out of the 7 worst records in 2011.

Let's dig a little deeper, though, and check out our 4-5 first round matchup; maybe it's a preview of this year's conference finals?

The number 4 Miami Heat, fresh off their 2006 Championship and led by DWade and the Big Aristotle himself were swept--swept!--by the number 5 Chicago Bulls, paced by Ben Gordon, Chris Duhon, and Kirk Heinrich. Ben Gordon dropped in a career high 40 points in Game 2, and the Bulls' rookie future--Tyrus Thomas and Thabo Sefalosha (duh)--provided athletic plays throughout the series.

And now? Most of these names are forgotten. The Heat enjoyed marginal success since 2007, and needed to put together an evil empire to become contenders. The Bulls blew up rebuild pt. 1 and won the Derrick Rose lottery sweepstakes to begin rebuild pt. 2.

What does this teach us? I'm not sure, except that it gives me hope as a Wizards fan, and should strike fear into the hearts of fans of the Hawks--with that albatross Joe Johnson contract--and Celtics--with Garnett, Pierce, and Allen's bodies deteriorating a little more every game.