anyone else scared? The Atlantic is getting stacked. Toronto won the Atlantic last year and didn't lose much so you can't count them out, Boston has Ray Allen and its looking like KG, so they have arguably the best Trio in the league. Philly isnt strong still but they came up strong at the end of the year, and Iggy showed how good he was, and NY has arguably the best downlow offensive duo in the league, and they still have Lee coming off the bench to solidify there PF/C combinations. The Nets have made little things to get better, but Boston and NY are really making a push at the crown. I think this year the Atlantic has a chance to be a top division in the league, which wasn't said in years past. We still have a strong Trio but things got a lot harder, especially if the KG trade goes through. Anyone think Thorn will make a strong push for Jermaine if it does go through?
Imagin NJ gets O'neal. Think of it. O'Neal, Bosh, Garnett and Randolph in 1 divison. Man PF's own this divison.
I bet Thorn would push for Jermaine if this deal goes down. Pierce, Allen, and KG vs Kidd, Carter, and Jermaine. The Atlantic division would go from the joke of the NBA, to the best division in the NBA. I think we should really go hard for Jermaine if it happens, cause I know the Lakers will try hard to get him before we do.
It's definitely going to be interesting for the Eastern Conference, but even if this trade goes down, it doesn't mean Thorn will look to acquire O'Neal again. Celtics look really good on paper, but I would like to see them play, before I start to panic. They won't be a struggling team, that's for sure, but there are other factors that needed to be taken into consideration. On another note, Philly probably won't be much of an opponent when it comes to Division standings, and I'm still not convinced with NY.
It's down to Boston, NJ and the Atlantic Division Champions Toronto Raptors (no bias...) I see a dog fight till the end. And you can quote me on that.
Like Kidd said, we don't know how good Boston will mesh. But I still think that it is between New Jersey and Boston. I see Boston being the ECF Champs though. KG in the east on a really good team is just as scary as Kobe with the Bulls in the east
I think they will play real well together. KG doesn't demand the ball alot and Pierce, KG, and Allen are all stars who want rings before they retire. I think their determination will get them far also. It will make their stats go down, but as a team they will do pretty damn good.
yea i think they will be fine, Ray Allen played with 2 other allstars before in Glen Robinson (say what you want he was a monster in his prime) as well as Sam Cassell. KG doesnt really demand the ball much and also did fine with 2 potential allstars, and Pierce seems like a complete player and hegot along with Walker while in Boston.
I just think Boston dosen't have the right PG. If there in no good PG to distribute, then the "Big 3" will get angry and want a new one, putting Rondo on the hot seat.
There are still some good free agent point guards out, right? I think this team is too talented to let a little thing like that get in their way.
<div class="quote_poster">Legacy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">There are still some good free agent point guards out, right? I think this team is too talented to let a little thing like that get in their way.</div> Brevin Knight would be perfect for the Celtics, but can they afford him?
<div class="quote_poster">Kidd Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Brevin Knight would be perfect for the Celtics, but can they afford him?</div> I doubt it, KG gets 22 (highest payed) Pierce 16some( 15th highest) Ray Allen 16 on the dot(18th highest). thats about 53-54 million since i rounded. I'm not sure about the MLE and stuff but i think its highly unlikely.
The fact they kept Rondo is key. They have a player who plays good defense and can pass the ball, even if he can't shoot, they have three amazing scorers on that team. They still got a nice shooter in Veal, and a terrific player in Tony Allen. Leon Powe is a good player when healthy...I really like their chances of being a contender this year. Like Kidd said, we shouldn't be in panic mode yet. So I doubt Rod has even made a call to Indy about JO, because letting other teams know we're in that state would only diminish what we have as trade bargainers. I say we keep our stance and that if a viable JO option trade is there, go for it. Otherwise keep the team in tact.
I agree that the Celts keeping Rondo over Telfair was a GREAT move. Telfair's future is not looking good at all, while Rondo has potential to be an all-star in 3-5 years. Anyway, there really isn't need to panic. The Celtics have obviously improved by leaps and bounds but IMO aren't more than a 50 win team right now (which the Nets can be too). Rondo will be a superb point guard in a few years but right now is too young, undertalented and inexperienced to be the starting point guard for a team that wants to conted for a title. If the Celtics manage to sign Brevin Knight, that'll be huge for them as Rondo can learn from him and fill in the role of backup PG (which is currently a gaping hole in Boston's lineup). Plus, Knight is a proven distributer (anyone remember his incredible season with Charlotte a few years back? Imagine what wonders he can do with 3 all-star scorers to pass to. But the Celtics signing him is unlikely IMO. I can see him signing a backup role with a powerhouse team in the west (sort of like Vaughn signing with the Spurs last offseason). With their current lineup, I don't see Boston winning a title. They have big holes all over their lineup (that's what happens when you trade 5 for 1) and don't have enough money to sign 2-3 decent players. Their biggest fault is that they have no backup point guard for Rondo and obviously such a young guy can't play over 30, max 35 mpg and man such an important position alone. Scalabrine and Glen Davis are miminaly effectual at best, Powe and Perkins are ok but neither is staring material. Tony Allen (if he can get past his mental and off-court troubles and his huge surgery) is a good backup at the 2/3 and plays very good defense on the wing, but if he doesn't play well the Celtics' only other backup at 2/3 is 19 year old 2nd rounder Gabe Pruitt, who probably won't be signed this season anyway. Imagine if Pierce, Allen or Garnett get injured? Even if it's only for 10 games each, the Celtics have nobody who can carry the load off the bench. No backup center (or if KG plays center and Powe starts, a logjam of 3rd string PF's on the bench), no backup point guard, one backup for both guard positions (Tony Allen) and some decent-at-best players (Wallace, Veal and Davis) who play the basically the same positions. I'm not so high on the Celtics right now, but who knows, if KG, Allen and Pierce all stay healthy, Tony Allen plays like he did before he got injured and the Celtics manage to sign at least 2 more decent backups (NBA material), the Celtics may win 55 games this season. If not, maybe they'll surprise everyone and win only 45. Who knows? As for the Nets, I'm satisfied with the current lineup and I think we still have a shot to win the division if we win 50+ games, which isn't so far fetched with a healthy Krstic (I think everyone is underestimating his affect on the team) and the addition of Magloire, plus probably one more benchie of Eddie House material. I wouldn't complain if the Nets traded for O'Neal, but only after the season starts and the current lineup proves to be underwhelming or if management are SURE that a trade like that would improve the team to ECF material. Taking a gamble in the offseason could work (the team wins 55 games, contends for the ECF and O'Neal averages 20 and 10) and could backfire (The team hovers just above .500, O'Neal dissapoints, Krstic averages 18/8 in Indiana and Williams looks like the next coming of Kidd again instead of the next Steve Francis). The division is obviously much tougher now than in the last couple of seasons, but it's still winnable. Toronto have pretty much stood pat in terms of talent, Boston has become a contender, New York seem dangerous but will probably underwhelm again and Philly are the worst team in the leauge. Meanwhile, the Nets are stuck in the middle and can finish anywhere from 1st place in the division and a 3rd seed, to 2nd/3rd place and another 6th/7th/8th seed to 4th place and a place in the lottery. Anything could happen and the season looks pretty unpredictable right now.
Great Move by the Celtics! True, they gave up a lot of youth. But with Garnett, they are instantly contenders and have a legitimate shot at a title. The Garnett deal almost over shadowed Thorns acquisition of Magloire. What's the next big plan Thorn?!!!
Lately, I've been thinking. What if we acquire Jermaine O'Neal, but still miss out on the Finals. Just think about it, what would we have to do to reach the higher plateau? We get the big man we have desperately been seeking, but still fail to achieve our goal. Talk about disappointing. And let's say Boston turns out to be the powerhouse that most of us expect, will Jermaine be able to match with Garnett? Would Kidd and Carter, be able to contain Allen and Pierce.
<div class="quote_poster">Kidd Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">And let's say Boston turns out to be the powerhouse that most of us expect, will Jermaine be able to match with Garnett? Would Kidd and Carter, be able to contain Allen and Pierce.</div> Exactly what I was thinking. Kidd could take Pierce. Carter could take Allen. Jermaine can not take KG. Plus we will be losing Nenad, Marcus Williams, and RJ. Is it all worth Jermaine?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Exactly what I was thinking. Kidd could take Pierce. Carter could take Allen. Jermaine can not take KG.</div> Kidd is the Nets best perimeter defender, and that's saying a lot, considering his age. He'll likely guard Pierce, but it's definitely going to be a challenge for him. It's not like he'll be able to shut him down, especially if it's in a 7-game series. Carter's defense isn't so amazing, and that's exactly the reason why Kidd ends up having to guard Kobe, Pierce, Wade etc, at the end of the game. And when Carter play some good defense, his shooting is off. He's really one-sided.
<div class="quote_poster">Kidd Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kidd is the Nets best perimeter defender, and that's saying a lot, considering his age. He'll likely guard Pierce, but it's definitely going to be a challenge for him. It's not like he'll be able to shut him down, especially if it's in a 7-game series. Carter's defense isn't so amazing, and that's exactly the reason why Kidd ends up having to guard Kobe, Pierce, Wade etc, at the end of the game. And when Carter play some good defense, his shooting is off. He's really one-sided.</div> Kidd could guard Pierce, but your right, probably not in a 7 game series with their age differences. As for Vince, he is an underrated defender. He isn't great, but he could slow a guy down at times. Ray Allen isn't too much of a slasher anyways, so I think they could match up pretty evenly.
I'm hoping my perspective of Vince Carter changes, but as of right now, I don't trust him with multiple tasks. It's hard for me to expect him to play great defense, while lighting it up, on offense. It just seems really "out there" for me. I pray every game that he has a great shooting night, despite the large amount of jumpers he takes. Praying that he plays good defense, is just too much.
