Miami Is The Best Team In The League.....yes I Said It

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Okay.........I think what your attempting to say is he's a great scorer. Every time you mention he's great, you say something about scoring. He went to the finals ONE time, and I bet you 100$ he'll never see the finals again. Why? because he isn't GREAT. Even on a team with a superstar, he'll always need 20-25 shots a game. You mention how he gets doubled and tripled teamed, but even when he's open he STILL BRICKS a high percentage of shots. Allen Iverson= GREAT SCORER/GOOD PLAYER/TERRIBLE SHOOTER</div>

Let me just say if you think AI is anything less than great <font color="Red">then I know your points are very ignorant.</font> He is not great? I guess they just give out MVP awards to scrubs now right? He is a perennial all star, former league mvp, three time scoring champion, fifth in the league in assists this year, has the third highest scoring average in NBA history for a players career. I can keep on going, and make this into a whole AI article, but do not want to get away from the topic. He is a great scorer, but that is just a part of his game. I just find it amazing how you say AI is not great and has only been to one final yet feel Mcgrady is the greatest player alive, and he has yet to advance out of the first round. Allen Iverson is a great scorer, leader (most MVP?s are), and superstar probably the best little man ever to play the game of basketball with honorable mentions to players like Isaiah Thomas and Nate Archibald. Just out of curiosity how many 76er games a year do you watch?

Though I think the Heat is a good team on paper, to try and go back to the original topic. I still feel the Spurs are better they did not totally retool their team like the Heat did yet they still managed to add great pieces and veterans such as Van Exel and Finley. They already had probably the best starting five in the league (along with Detroit), and they just got even better. I feel the Heat franchise right now could win a lot of games in the regular season, and very well make it to the finals. However, the egos on that team, and the fact that almost every key acquisition they made this offseason needs his shots prevents me from saying they are the best team in the league. Everyone made the same proclamation about the Lakers when they had Malone, Payton, Kobe, and Shaq yet they ended up losing to a ?team? that had closer chemistry, and worked hard.

<font color="Red">Watch the personal attacks BKS- AznxBaller.</font>

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Okay.........I think what your attempting to say is he's a great scorer. Every time you mention he's great, you say something about scoring. He went to the finals ONE time, and I bet you 100$ he'll never see the finals again. Why? because he isn't GREAT. Even on a team with a superstar, he'll always need 20-25 shots a game. You mention how he gets doubled and tripled teamed, but even when he's open he STILL BRICKS a high percentage of shots. Allen Iverson= GREAT SCORER/GOOD PLAYER/TERRIBLE SHOOTER


Okay...........I'll simplify it for you.

<div align="center">Jason Williams
Dwayne Wade
James Posey
Walker
Mourning</div>
Might be the quickest line up in the league. There is no line up San Antonio has that can keep up with this line up.

<div align="center">Gary Payton
Dwayne Wade
Antoine Walker
Mourning
Shaq</div>


That's a nasty line up. I don't think San Antonio can bang with this line up. Even the point guard can post up. San Antonio can play big, but doesn't have the same talent that Miami has. Just Shaq and Mourning on the floor at the same time is scary, but with Walker at the SF, and Wade (San Antonio has nobody to hold him), they will be DISGUSTING. Don't get wrong, Manu is good. But let's not overreact, he's NOWHERE quicker than Wade. Parker is quick, but NOWHERE quicker than JWill. In other words, Miami is BETTER. With Payton, I think they'll have a vet to come in and get the offense set up.

Message to everybody: THIS IS MY PREDICTION......At the end of the season, you guys will be praising me</div>


The Spurs right now are the favorite to win it all. They have kept the majority of the key players that won a championship last year. These players know how to win (Horry, Duncan, Manu, etc.). Let's also take into account that Posey, J-Will, and Walker have been awful in the playoffs. Did you happen to watch the Grizzlies in the playoffs this year? These are players that have never been in a situation like Spurs player have. They have never been put in clutch situations and produced in the postseason. Jason Williams and Antoine Walker are also very poor on D. Do not forget the Spurs had a pretty decent off-season as well (NVE, Finley). Many said that whoever acquired Finley (Heat, Spurs, and Suns) that team would be the favorite, I agree. The Heat wanted Finley, House, and other. Instead of acquiring these players they signed an aging GP.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Let me just say if you think AI is anything less than great you must be stupid or retarded. He is not great? I guess they just give out MVP awards to scrubs now right? He is a perennial all star, former league mvp, three time scoring champion, fifth in the league in assists this year, has the third highest scoring average in NBA history for a players career. I can keep on going, and make this into a whole AI article, but do not want to get away from the topic. He is a great scorer, but that is just a part of his game. I just find it amazing how you say AI is not great and has only been to one final yet feel Mcgrady is the greatest player alive, and he has yet to advance out of the first round. Allen Iverson is a great scorer, leader (most MVP?s are), and superstar probably the best little man ever to play the game of basketball with honorable mentions to players like Isaiah Thomas and Nate Archibald. Just out of curiosity how many 76er games a year do you watch?.</div>
Being a rock fan..........I must say that Tmac hasn't reached "GREAT" yet. With that said, he's closer to getting there than Iverson is. Tmac carried the Magic without Grant Hill and shot better, so the double and triple team excuse is irrelevant. Like I've always stated, if you take away Iverson's scoring, he's just another player on the court. Scoring is the reason why he's an allstar. Scoring is why he got his MVP award. But one MVP award and a Finals appearance doesn't make you "GREAT". That's what some of you fail to realize. I could understand if the guy scored at will, but c'mon. If Marbury, Bibby, or Francis took as many shots as AI, they'd average 30pts a game too. It's called effiency, and Iverson is terribley ineffecient. Dominque Wilkins was one of the greatest scorers, but his teams were mostly mediocore. That's where AI is headed. People get his heart mixed up with greatness.
Isiah was great because if he didn't score, he would lock his defender down. He would do the little things besides score, and when he shot, he didn't have to "pray" it went in. Thats "GREAT". Anyway, don't get a GREAT scorer mixed up with GREAT OVERRALL PLAYER.

Allnet.............I understand your a Ginobli fan but your going a little overboard. Dwayne Wade is about 10 times quicker than Ginobli EVER WILL BE. Ginobli has a nice first step, but he can't keep up with Flash. Advantage clearly goes to Wade. Bowen is a good defender, but your exaggerating. He can't keep up with Wade either. Shaq will punish which ever bigman the Spurs throw at him. Mourning is a very agile bigman, and he's just as if not more effective than Nazi. Everybody knows Miami is the most talented, the question is can they develop chemistry? I say they will.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post"> Being a rock fan..........I must say that Tmac hasn't reached "GREAT" yet. With that said, he's closer to getting there than Iverson is. Tmac carried the Magic without Grant Hill and shot better, so the double and triple team excuse is irrelevant. Like I've always stated, if you take away Iverson's scoring, he's just another player on the court. Scoring is the reason why he's an allstar. Scoring is why he got his MVP award. But one MVP award and a Finals appearance doesn't make you "GREAT". That's what some of you fail to realize. I could understand if the guy scored at will, but c'mon. If Marbury, Bibby, or Francis took as many shots as AI, they'd average 30pts a game too. It's called effiency, and Iverson is terribley ineffecient. Dominque Wilkins was one of the greatest scorers, but his teams were mostly mediocore. That's where AI is headed. People get his heart mixed up with greatness. </div>
Just in case you had not noticed Tracy is 6?7? 6?8? AI is not even six feet tall maybe that is why the double and triple teams are more effective just a though though. You are over looking the fact that Allen has a career average of six assists a game, and has never averaged fewer than 4.5, and in the years in which he has played point guard he has averaged 7.9 assists at the highest point. The lowest being 6.2, and that was in his second season in the league. I would still like to know how many Sixer games a year do you watch, and how you feel Mcgrady is closer to being ?great? then AI is when he has not been out of the first round? You base your whole argument against Allen on shooting percentage when a player is the only real scorer on his team, and is realistically under six feet tall how good of a field goal percentage do you want him to have? I admit he does not shoot the greatest percentage, but he is great at getting to the line and they points he gets from their make up for his field goal shooting. Also going back to something you stated earlier when you said even when he gets an open shot he misses it that could not be further from the truth. You want prove check the multiple game winners he hit this year. There is your proof.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Just in case you had not noticed Tracy is 6?7? 6?8? AI is not even six feet tall maybe that is why the double and triple teams are more effective just a though though. You are over looking the fact that Allen has a career average of six assists a game, and has never averaged fewer than 4.5, and in the years in which he has played point guard he has averaged 7.9 assists at the highest point. The lowest being 6.2, and that was in his second season in the league. I would still like to know how many Sixer games a year do you watch, and how you feel Mcgrady is closer to being ?great? then AI is when he has not been out of the first round? You base your whole argument against Allen on shooting percentage when a player is the only real scorer on his team, and is realistically under six feet tall how good of a field goal percentage do you want him to have? I admit he does not shoot the greatest percentage, but he is great at getting to the line and they points he gets from their make up for his field goal shooting. Also going back to something you stated earlier when you said even when he gets an open shot he misses it that could not be further from the truth. You want prove check the multiple game winners he hit this year. There is your proof.</div>
He's a great scorer............a decent passer, rebounder, and below average defender. Take away his shot (which is impossible, because he won't stop shooting) and he isn't great, period. Scoring is the only attribute we've been debating for the last couple hours. That's the only thing he's great at, jacking up shots. His size is irrelevant. He'll either shoot you in a game, or shoot you out a game. He's good at steals, but the other qualities he's nowhere near being "GREAT" at. If Iverson doesn't score, he's not effective. The Sixers will be pretty much be mediocore aslong as AI is throwin up bricks for them. Also, I thought to be great, you had to be a winner. Does one trip to the Finals, make you a winner?

Tracy Mcgrady can be effective without scoring. He also knows how to pass the ball now. He also plays both ends of the floor, and can shut your best player down on most nights. Though not great, can very well be. Haven't heard of Iverson shutting anybody down. See the difference

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">He's a great scorer............a decent passer, rebounder, and below average defender. Take away his shot (which is impossible, because he won't stop shooting) and he isn't great, period. Scoring is the only attribute we've been debating for the last couple hours. That's the only thing he's great at, jacking up shots. His size is irrelevant. He'll either shoot you in a game, or shoot you out a game. He's good at steals, but the other qualities he's nowhere near being "GREAT" at. If Iverson doesn't score, he's not effective. The Sixers will be pretty much be mediocore aslong as AI is throwin up bricks for them. Also, I thought to be great, you had to be a winner. Does one trip to the Finals, make you a winner?</div>
Look at what you just said to be great you have to be a winner does one trip to the finals make you a winner. If one trip to the finals does not make you a winner how does repeated loses in the first round put you closer to being great then a player who made the finals? I want to know? For the third time I reiterate the question how many 76ers games a year do you watch. His size is relevant to his field goal percentage so what's your point if he shoots a lot of shots? If he averaged 24 points and 10 assists this season would he be a ?great? player in your book. Their are a lot more things to Allen that make him quote unquote ?great? besides the states. He is a good passer, but whom has he had in the past to pass it to give Allen Shaquille O ? Neal and see if he does not lead the league in assists. This team struggled to win 20 games in a season before acquiring Allen Iverson and made the playoffs several years in a row after acquiring him. They rebuilt for a couple seasons, and missed the playoffs once after the departure of Larry Brown, but now they are again poised to be a factor in the playoffs. You do not always have to have multiple titles to be great. That is all about the team you have around you one player ca not do it all. Would you dispute the fact that Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, and Gary Payton where great players in their primes?


In addition to answer your edit about Tracy? Did you not just say that in your mind you have to be a ?winner? to be great how does Tracy fit that description? In case you haven?t watched 76ers games (which I assume you haven?t since you won?t answer the question) Allen is a good passer probably better than Tracy is. He can not ?shut down? people on defense your right, but notice the difference in height between Allen and Tracy that right their gives you a reason why Tracy can at times play better man to man defense. So that statement is a none factor.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm obviously a Rocket fan, but Miami is the clear victor this offseason. Why? Because they have too many different looks. People say they have too many stars, but I say THE HELL WITH THAT. I'll take that problem anyday. Some people point to the Lakers with Karl Malone and GP. But that team got to the finals, and with a healthy Karl Malone, they could have beat Detroit. Miami is BETTER than that team, and San Antonio can't overpower them like they did Detroit last year.They got a fast break line up, and halfcourt line up, a small line up, a big line up. I'll go ahead and say it before anybody else:

<div align="center">MIAMI WINS 2005-2006 CHAMPIONSHIP</div>


You know where you heard it first</div>

Agreed...nuff said!

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Allnet.............I understand your a Ginobli fan but your going a little overboard. Dwayne Wade is about 10 times quicker than Ginobli EVER WILL BE. Ginobli has a nice first step, but he can't keep up with Flash. Advantage clearly goes to Wade. Bowen is a good defender, but your exaggerating. He can't keep up with Wade either. Shaq will punish which ever bigman the Spurs throw at him. Mourning is a very agile bigman, and he's just as if not more effective than Nazi. Everybody knows Miami is the most talented, the question is can they develop chemistry? I say they will.</div>

Manu may not be as quick as Wade but he isn't far behind either. Manu's quickness is unreal. There's a reason like Wade that teams try and step away from it in fear of getting blown by.

As for Bowen, he can keep up with everyone he matches up against. If he can keep up with guys like Rip Hamilton he can keep with with Wade. Granted he won't be able to stop him but the chances of the Spurs stopping him is higher than the Heat stopping Parker or Manu.

As for Shaq, as I mentioned the Spurs can throw alot more bodies at Shaq then the Heat can at Duncan. The guys the Heat have to guard Duncan will be very undersized apart from Zo. The Spurs have basically three 7 footers to guard Shaq with. So Shaq will have more trouble than Duncan will.

Now last of all don't think that I don't believe the Heat are a great team. They do look great on paper but they have alot to prove. They may well make the finals and on paper this should be a great and tight series.

I will give you credit, you started a topic that has got quite a debate going which is what is needed heading into the season.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Look at what you just said to be great you have to be a winner does one trip to the finals make you a winner. If one trip to the finals does not make you a winner how does repeated loses in the first round put you closer to being great then a player who made the finals? I want to know? For the third time I reiterate the question how many 76ers games a year do you watch. His size is relevant to his field goal percentage so what's your point if he shoots a lot of shots? If he averaged 24 points and 10 assists this season would he be a ?great? player in your book. Their are a lot more things to Allen that make him quote unquote ?great? besides the states. He is a good passer, but whom has he had in the past to pass it to give .</div>

First off, let me be clear. I CLEARLY said I wouldn't consider Tmac great yet. So I don't know what your little hissyfit is about. What I said was that he might be on the verge of greatness. Being that the Rockets are headed in the right direction, and they'll only go as far as Tmac will take them. He is the LEADER of the Rockets. Secondly, if Iverson averaged 24pts and 10assist, and his team atleast competed for a championship, then that would be a "GREAT" accomplishment. He would have to take his team to another level. AI fans like to use the cop out that he doesn't have any talent around him. But we ALL know that they tried putting more scorers around him, and the players complained about getting the ball. Chris Webber hasn't even been there a full year, and there were rumors he was yappin about Iverson's GREAT ballhogging skills. Stackhouse was a tremendous scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Larry Hughes turned out to be a really solid scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Kenny Thomas CHEERED when he got traded, said that he's glad to be on a team that passes the ball.

My point is Iverson has had talent around him before. Don't act like it's the GM's fault.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">
In addition to answer your edit about Tracy? Did you not just say that in your mind you have to be a ?winner? to be great how does Tracy fit that description? In case you haven?t watched 76ers games (which I assume you haven?t since you won?t answer the question) Allen is a good passer probably better than Tracy is. He can not ?shut down? people on defense your right, but notice the difference in height between Allen and Tracy that right their gives you a reason why Tracy can at times play better man to man defense. So that statement is a none factor.</div>
I NEVER SAID TMAC HAS REACHED GREATNESS YET. But I will say he probably will be. I have the league pass so I catch quite a bit of Sixers games. I'll tell you that AI does give the ball up, ONLY AT GUNPOINT. He's been in the league almost 10yrs, and just recently became a "good" passer. Is that "GREATNESS"? You and Allnet seem to ignore the fact that he doesn't play D. Both your excuses are his size........ But if you check the history of the game, there were players around his size that could play SERIOUS DEFENSE. Isiah Thomas is one. He comes to mind because he could score on anybody (Like AI), was small (Like AI), but a "GREAT" passer (unlike AI) and actually played "GREAT" defense. See where I'm going with this. Championships are only part of it. Isiah was an all around player, making him overrall "GREAT". He also went to practice. Scoring alone doesn't make anybody great.............

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">First off, let me be clear. I CLEARLY said I wouldn't consider Tmac great yet. So I don't know what your little hissyfit is about. What I said was that he might be on the verge of greatness. Being that the Rockets are headed in the right direction, and they'll only go as far as Tmac will take them. He is the LEADER of the Rockets. Secondly, if Iverson averaged 24pts and 10assist, and his team atleast competed for a championship, then that would be a "GREAT" accomplishment. He would have to take his team to another level. AI fans like to use the cop out that he doesn't have any talent around him. But we ALL know that they tried putting more scorers around him, and the players complained about getting the ball. Chris Webber hasn't even been there a full year, and there were rumors he was yappin about Iverson's GREAT ballhogging skills. Stackhouse was a tremendous scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Larry Hughes turned out to be a really solid scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Kenny Thomas CHEERED when he got traded, said that he's glad to be on a team that passes the ball.

My point is Iverson has had talent around him before. Don't act like it's the GM's fault.


I NEVER SAID TMAC HAS REACHED GREATNESS YET. But I will say he probably will be. I have the league pass so I catch quite a bit of Sixers games. I'll tell you that AI does give the ball up, ONLY AT GUNPOINT. He's been in the league almost 10yrs, and just recently became a "good" passer. Is that "GREATNESS"? You and Allnet seem to ignore the fact that he doesn't play D. Both your excuses are his size........ But if you check the history of the game, there were players around his size that could play SERIOUS DEFENSE. Isiah Thomas is one. He comes to mind because he could score on anybody (Like AI), was small (Like AI), but a "GREAT" passer (unlike AI) and actually played "GREAT" defense. See where I'm going with this. Championships are only part of it. Isiah was an all around player, making him overrall "GREAT". He also went to practice. Scoring alone doesn't make anybody great.............</div>

You can talk about McGrady in the same breath as Iverson when he makes it out of the first round! These players stats are similar, but the fact of the matter is T-Mac has not done anything in the playoffs.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting emannen:</div><div class="quote_post">You can talk about McGrady in the same breath as Iverson when he makes it out of the first round! These players stats are similar, but the fact of the matter is T-Mac has not done anything in the playoffs.</div>
Both haven't reached greatness.............I guess that's fair

 

I still say that the best team in the league os San Antonio. SA has one of the most important ingrediants to winning a title, team chemistry. Miami doesnt have that yet. Miami has too many big name players on their team meaning half of them are not going to know their roles on the team. Namely, Antoine, JWill and GP. Please. GP defensive is now suspect. He has been playing the same matador defense that JWill and Antoine has been playing for years. One crossover dribble and you past these guys. Antoine will let the threes fly at some time during the year. I dont care how dominant you think Shaq has been in the past years. He is not the Shag of 2,3 years ago. Dwayne Wade is my boy but he is too fragile. He gets hurt for stretches at a time. He may play in these stretches but he is not the same player. The Heat will have some of the biggest names on their roster this year but it will not translate into a championship. Sh-t it wont even guarantee them of getting out of the East.

 

Lol, yet another "Iverson isn't so great" genius, you guys just keep multiplying huh? Well unlike AllNet and BKS I won't even bother typing paragraphs trying to convince on how o' so wrong you are. So I'll be very concise and simply ask you one question Rock4life.

Would you consider a HOF?er or future HOF'er as "great"? Yes or No? I want a direct answer no in between or sugar coated answer. Just yes or no.

 

I'm not going to detract from the topic at hand here, although I do find the Iverson argument a very interesting one and will be keeping an eye on it. I also find it interesting that Rock4life is only selectively answering others' points. What happened to your responses to Voodoo Child and AllNet?

If anyone needs any recent team that compares to the Heat, do not look at the 03-04 Lakers. Although they had four stars, the rest of the team wasn't very strong. Look at the Blazers of 00-01. They had a starting lineup of Arvydas Sabonis, Rasheed Wallace, Scottie Pippen, Bonzi Wells and Greg Anthony. Off the bench, there were Shawn Kemp, Dale Davis, Greg Anthony, Steve Smith, Stacey Augmon, Rod Strickland and Detlef Schrempf. The team finished with just 50 wins and went out in the first round of the playoffs, being swept by the Lakers.

The Heat this season has a similar look roster in that they can go two/three deep at every position, but there are always possiblities that feuds could arise and someone would get grumpy about the lack of shots. With Walker, Payton and Williams all having previous cases of such nature before, it definitely won't be all smooth for the Heat, and they are by no means the favorites to win the championship.

 

San Antonio is the best team in the league, and they got better. Miami is going to be a contender, but their team additions most likely won't be as smooth as SA's additions of two solid vets.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">First off, let me be clear. I CLEARLY said I wouldn't consider Tmac great yet. So I don't know what your little hissyfit is about. What I said was that he might be on the verge of greatness. Being that the Rockets are headed in the right direction, and they'll only go as far as Tmac will take them. He is the LEADER of the Rockets. Secondly, if Iverson averaged 24pts and 10assist, and his team atleast competed for a championship, then that would be a "GREAT" accomplishment. He would have to take his team to another level. AI fans like to use the cop out that he doesn't have any talent around him. But we ALL know that they tried putting more scorers around him, and the players complained about getting the ball. Chris Webber hasn't even been there a full year, and there were rumors he was yappin about Iverson's GREAT ballhogging skills. Stackhouse was a tremendous scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Larry Hughes turned out to be a really solid scorer and couldn't coexist with Iverson. Kenny Thomas CHEERED when he got traded, said that he's glad to be on a team that passes the ball.

My point is Iverson has had talent around him before. Don't act like it's the GM's fault.


I NEVER SAID TMAC HAS REACHED GREATNESS YET. But I will say he probably will be. I have the league pass so I catch quite a bit of Sixers games. I'll tell you that AI does give the ball up, ONLY AT GUNPOINT. He's been in the league almost 10yrs, and just recently became a "good" passer. Is that "GREATNESS"? You and Allnet seem to ignore the fact that he doesn't play D. Both your excuses are his size........ But if you check the history of the game, there were players around his size that could play SERIOUS DEFENSE. Isiah Thomas is one. He comes to mind because he could score on anybody (Like AI), was small (Like AI), but a "GREAT" passer (unlike AI) and actually played "GREAT" defense. See where I'm going with this. Championships are only part of it. Isiah was an all around player, making him overrall "GREAT". He also went to practice. Scoring alone doesn't make anybody great.............</div>
You are taking the names Larry Hughes, Jerry Stackhouse, etc and acting like it means something because of the reputation they have now in the league, but with the 76ers both where still very young players. Stackhouse was a pretty decent scorer already, but his youth detracted from the teams overall chemistry, and Hughes was just beginning to transform from potential to a truly good player, but he requested a trade. Which this very year he proclaimed the biggest mistake of his career, and wished he had not done it. Most of the other options that Allen has had outside of Mutombo and Ratliff have been past their primes or not in them don?t try to use the name that they have made in the league now as a shot at Allen. In conclusion since I have basically been saying the same thing over and over for the past four or five posts, been asking the same question still have no response to, so I?m done. Like Avery said there is no use writing a big argument when people are just stubborn. Ai has a lot more to his game then scoring he is top ten in the league in assists, in steals, in free throw attempts, etc. You act like Iverson has made it once to the finals and lost in the first round all other years he has made it to the finals, as well as several years into the second round, and a lot of those series went to six games. The quote unquote ?hissy fit? I am throwing is because you said that quote ? I don?t believe Tracy is great yet, but he is closer then Iverson? which is completely absurd when he has not made it past the first round. Though he looks to have a good team around him this year. It is still a fact as of today that he has not made it out of the first round. End of story. Also the comment about Kenny Thomas he cheered probably because he was falling out of favor with JO, and hated (like a majority of the team) the system. Which barely allowed the big man to drive to the basket, and get the ball early in the shot clock to create his own shot. That is not Allen?s fault that is the coaches.

As far as the AI comment about his defense go back in history since their are so many find me ten of these ?many? small players who played ?great? defense. The knock on AI?s defense is that he takes to many risks when going for steals he is still a good defender, but does not perform well in one on one isolation plays, because the guards playing shooting guard are usually taller and can rise up and shoot over him.

 

Come on now rock4life he's not a below average defender. The guy is the 3rd in Alltime leaders steals per game. And to say the Rockets will only go as far as Tracy takes them is taking it to far. Tracy Mcgrady is my favorite player right now in the league but Ming and the rest of the Rockets are helping tremendously in my opinion.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">? I don?t believe Tracy is great yet, but he is closer then Iverson? which is completely absurd when he has not made it past the first round. Though he looks to have a good team around him this year. It is still a fact as of today that he has not made it out of the first round. End of story. Also the comment about Kenny Thomas he cheered probably because he was falling out of favor with JO, and hated (like a majority of the team) the system. Which barely allowed the big man to drive to the basket, and get the ball early in the shot clock to create his own shot. That is not Allen?s fault that is the coaches..</div> All you've done is place blame, from the GM to the coaches. If your GREAT, you shouldn't have to blame coaches. As far as Tmac, I'm not the only one who thinks he might be on the verge of greatness. The Rockets will be good for a YEARS to come (while the Sixers will be mediocore). Houston will be contenders, and Tmac will lead them there. The reason why I say him over Iverson, is because Tmac is a better all around player. Not only does he score, he plays both ends relentlessley. Steals are good, but defense means stopping your man. Iverson can't stop ANYBODY. His idea of defense is outscoring his opponent, that's not GREAT. By the way, answer this..........Do you think Iverson is a GREAT defender? Don't make any excuses about his size either. If you admit that he isn't, I'll leave it alone.


<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">
As far as the AI comment about his defense go back in history since their are so many find me ten of these ?many? small players who played ?great? defense. .</div>
That's a cop out question BestKept............By pointing out he's "small", your basically saying he's unable to play "GREAT" defense. There haven't been many players under 6'0 in the league, so it's hard to answer that anyway. But if your going to label him GREAT then you have to compare him to other GREAT players at his position. 95% of all the GREAT point guards in this league (past & present) have played BOTH ends. They knew how to SHUT DOWN the opposing player. Keep that in mind. If I haven't answered ALL your questions here, I'm sorry. Some of you haven't answered any of my questions either.

Miami will win the championship. San Antonio is MOST of ya'll favorite, but I KNOW Miami will beat them. For one, Miami matches up with them better than Detroit. Second, Manu isn't NEAR as good as some of you are making him out to be. Bowen can't guard Wade. Mourning will guard Duncan, allowing Shaq to concentrate on PUNISHING anybody guarding him. I refuse to compare Miami with the old Portland team for one reason, MIAMI IS BETTER THAN THEY WERE. Also, Miami's bench is the best in the league. At the end of the season, you'll look back at this thread and thank me. TRUST ME

 

Didn't read all of the post (because I'm lazy), but all I can say is Miami isn't the best team in the league and I really don't think they're the best out of the east.....Shaq is not what he used to be, and once again injuries can play huge factor when it comes to his production..........and granted TMac hasn't made it out of the first round and Iverson hasn't won a title, but both players are great talents.