Here is the new showcased fanpost. Breaking away from the Boston Celtics/Orlando Magic talk, 3QC member FLYNN47 reflects on the changing of the guard in the NBA. Question for the community, how does everyone feel about the new flood of stars slowly taking the game over from the "old heads"? - ER

Taking a brief break from the Magic's playoff campaign, I thought it time to put pen to paper so to speak, on how the NBA and its stars have changed.

When i was first old enough to take in the game and appreciate it as an adult, there were marquee players who graced the posters in my room, the commercials for Nike and Adidas, the All-star games and the playoffs.

I'm talking about the NBA circa 2003-04: T-Mac was lighting up the scoring (though, not much else) in his final season with the Magic, A.I. was unstoppable in Philly, the Shaq and Kobe show was still alive in L.A. and KG was still carrying the load in Minny and the world was being introduced to rookies LeBron, Wade, Bosh and Melo on a truly national stage.

But how things have changed. The torch has this year more than ever, been passed to the new heirs to the throne, and this years playoffs show that more than ever.

The 2004 western heavyweight T'Wolves are back in the basement, with Sacramento and Memphis. The up and coming Suns have had their moment in the spotlight and are on the outside looking in on this years playoffs. The Lakers and Dallas are still in there, but the only real piece from either team from 04 to today is Kobe and Dirk respectivly.

The East is just as different. Indiana is a mess, Milwaukee, NJ and NY are on the rebuild, all minus their 04 centrepiece, and Detroit- old age, as expected, has finally caught up with the boys from motor city.

2004 marquee players such as Steve Nash, T-Mac, Shaq, Tim Duncan, Iverson, and Vinsanity are all home this April watching ESPN.

The Baby-faces of 2004, 05 and 06 have the NBA in the palm of their hands. Dwight Howard is now the loveable big man, Lebron is the face of the NBA marketing world, Chris Paul and Brandon Roy have supplanted Nash and Kidd as the premier floor generals. Instead of VC making us gasp with highlight dunks, it is Dwayne 'Flash' Wade soaring high in April.

Mind you, there are some 'old-heads' who have stood the time test. KG, Kobe, Paul Pierce, continue to hold their own in a game played by those who idolized them, but you have to wonder about the 04 All-star's who have not.

It can't sit well with McGrady, with A.I., with Carter that their best days are truly behind them. This game has truly changed. The 'me first' attitude seems to be dying with this new crop of players, and the league is better for it. 

As with any sport, players age, retire and new ones replace them but this trend seems more evident in the NBA today than i personally have ever seen, and as exciting as the past has been, the future may be just that little bit brighter.