Let's talk about the most optimistic team in the league that thinks they can win with the exact same 4 starters on the team back in 2005
.
They aren't going anywhere except a first round exit at the most.
Brendan Haywood is now moving into his 30s...
Antawn Jamison is already in his 30s and well into his decline.
Caron Butler is decent, but has slowed a little with health issues and some more age.
Gilbert Arenas has had nothing BUT injuries, and now they expect him to be the same All-NBA 3rd Teamer he was in a more competitive league?!
They had no chance against the Cavs when they looked like this:
LBJ, Drew, Z, Larry, Snow; Marshall, Andy, Damon
And they expect to beat them like this??
LBJ, Andy, Shaq, West, Mo; Moon, Powe/J.J., Z, Parker, Gibson
The Wizards still aren't defensively ethical... Their depth isn't really that great compared to 4 years ago (at full health)...
Butler, Jamison, Haywood, Young, Arenas; Miller, McGuire, Blatche/McGee, Foye/Crittenton/Stevenson, James (it's stronger than the 8th in the East, but it's not the most effective...)
And they expect to compete against THIS?
Boston: Pierce, KG, Perkins, Allen, Rondo; Daniels, Davis, Wallace, Allen, House
Magic: Pietrus, Lewis, Howard, Carter, Nelson; Barnes, Bass, Gortat, Redick, Johnson
Hawks: Marvin, Josh, Horford, Johnson, Bibby; Evans, Smith, Zaza, Crawford, Teague
Heat: Jones, Haslem, J. O'Neal, Wade, Chalmers; Quentin, Beasley, Joel, Cook, Quinn
Bulls: Deng, Tyrus, Noah, Salmons, Rose; Taj, Johnson, Miller, Hinrich, Pargo/Hunter
All of these teams have a strong defensive concept (Celts, Magic, Heat), athleticism (Hawks), a super difference-maker (Celts, Magic, Heat, and Hawks [maybe Bulls too]), or just better depth (Celts, Magic). The Wiz better improve under Flip, and even worse, they better not flame out like Flip's other teams did in the playoffs...