IN the NBA, the championship window closes as quickly as it opens. When it does open, the window of opportunity can only be one season — or multiple seasons. The league is so dynamic with all the trades, player movements and even injuries that championship opportunities don't last. Here is the list of teams whose championship windows have closed or are already closing: Milwaukee Bucks. After the Boston Celtics, the Bucks are the next team favored to win in the Eastern Conference. After all, they have two-time Most Valuable Player Giannis Antetokounmpo at the peak of his powers. They also have eight-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard to quarterback their offense. If the two are healthy, the Bucks are contenders. However, their core is beginning to age, with Brook Lopez (36), Khris Middleton (33) and Lillard (34) on the downside of their peak. After winning the franchise's second NBA championship in 2021, the Bucks have come up short in the playoffs for three straight seasons. If they fail to go deep into the playoffs, this will be the last season this line-up will be together. Philadelphia 76ers. When healthy, center Joel Embiid is the most dominant player in the NBA. The former MVP has been included in five All-NBA teams, has won two scoring titles and recently got an Olympic gold medal. Still, going into his ninth on-court season, he has never gotten past the second round of the playoffs. The team's acquisition of superstar Paul George to complement Embiid has busted their championship window. Like superstar guard Tyrese Maxey, George doesn't need the ball in his hands to stay effective, unlike the other ball dominant guards (Ben Simmons and James Harden) that teamed up with Embiid before. Still, the 76ers' hopes are tied to Embiid's health. On average, he misses around 28 games per regular season, so if he again gets injured and misses serious time, it's over for Philadelphia. Phoenix Suns. At the start of last season, the Suns were among the most favored teams to bag the title but struggled mightily in the regular season with a 49-33 win-loss record, only good for sixth place in the entire Western Conference. The Suns mortgaged their future and depth when they acquired Bradley Beal, who was supposed to put them in contention. However, Beal missed substantial time due to injuries, and the team was unceremoniously swept by the younger and more athletic Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2024 Playoffs. Resident superstar Kevin Durant (35) is no longer a spring chicken, while Beal and Devin Booker are too similar and look redundant on the court. In the tough West, this iteration of the Suns will just remain a playoff team but never a contender. Golden State Warriors. The dynasty has been over since the 2022 championship run, and the end was highlighted by the departure of Klay Thompson in the offseason. Still, hope springs eternal for the Warriors, and they have gotten reinforcements to extend the championship window of Steph Curry, who was 36 at the start of the season. The Warriors signed guard De'Anthony Melton and acquired Kyle Anderson from Minnesota and Buddy Hield from Philadelphia in a sign-and-trade deal as part of a six-team trade. The Warriors may think this is enough to give Curry his swan song, but they'd be lucky to make the playoffs. raffyrledesma@yahoo.com
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