I may be wrong but couldnt we say that the Celtics are now the favorite to win the Atlantic. The Sixers dont know what they're doing, AI may be traded,Big Dog is an old dog, Raptors have the talent but cant put anything together, so they will probably fade as well, the Nets just lost KMart and Kidd is angry at the organization, the Knicks seem like the only competition but I think the Celtics can overpower them. Anyone Agree?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">I may be wrong but couldnt we say that the Celtics are now the favorite to win the Atlantic. The Sixers dont know what they're doing, AI may be traded,Big Dog is an old dog, Raptors have the talent but cant put anything together, so they will probably fade as well, the Nets just lost KMart and Kidd is angry at the organization, the Knicks seem like the only competition but I think the Celtics can overpower them. Anyone Agree? </div> <font face="Arial">The raptors part is relevant to the past 2 season, not this upcoming one. We have a new coach, GM, and new key players. We filled the roles that were needed, PG and C, with Alston and Araujo. With our new run and gun mentatlity with Mitchell and Alston a.k.a. Skip running the point, with Bosh and VC I think we have a better chance at winning the division than the Celtics. Although the offseason is not done, here is a comparsion. <u>Starters</u> PG: Alston/Atkins SG: Rose/Welsch or Davis SF: Carter/Pierce PF: Bosh/Lafrentz C: Araujo/Blount Bold = Advantage Top Bench Players Raptors: Donyell Marshall, Alvin Williams, Morris Peterson (if raps match), Lamond Murray Celtics: Al Jefferson, Marucs Banks, Ricky Davis/Jiri Welsch The Raps have the advantage for the starters. They win or tie in every category except for the Center, where Blount has the clear cut advantage over Araujo, since he's a rookie and Blount has just come off a monster season...though it was his contract year. Carter and Pierce are tied in my opinion. They're both great offensive players, and passers. Pierce has the advantage at rebounding by about 1 board or so. Their team and one on one defense aren't spectacular, and it would be dumb to give one player with an advantage because of one board or assist. For the bench, you couldn't go wrong either way. The team benches aren't set yet so I just listed the key 3, 4 players. If Ricky Davis was coming off the bench, I could see them with an advantage, but I don't think he will with Doc Rivers as the coach. Marshall IMO, is the best of the players their, coming off a breakout year with the raps, averaging 16.5 and 11. I doubt that Jefferson could post those numbers starting this year, but he should be a presence off the bench. The advantage for the top bench players goes to the raps because they have experienced players who have all been double digit scorers and starters. As of now I see the Raps with the advantage in favorites to win the division, however we have not seen the new coaches work with these players yet, so it might be a little to early predict.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">I may be wrong but couldnt we say that the Celtics are now the favorite to win the Atlantic. The Sixers dont know what they're doing, AI may be traded,Big Dog is an old dog, Raptors have the talent but cant put anything together, so they will probably fade as well, the Nets just lost KMart and Kidd is angry at the organization, the Knicks seem like the only competition but I think the Celtics can overpower them. Anyone Agree? </div> Sixers will not trade Allen or Glenn. We will run out Glenn's cap, and Allen signed a contract for six more years, and is doing fine with the Sixers.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">PG: Alston/Atkins</div> According to who, the NBA stat-mavens? Alston barely had better stats than Atkins last season and Rafer played over 7 1/2 mins more per game. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">SF: Carter/Pierce</div> Push? Not anymore. That may be nice in theory, with a heathy VC, but not anymore. Not to mention the fact that if you put any stock in the rumors circulating about VC and the Raps, VC will be gone before the season even starts. There are teams that are likely to finish ahead of the C's, but the Raps aren't one of them. The C's had one of thier most abismal seasons in memory last year and still ended up with a better record than the Raps.
<font face="Arial"><div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post"> According to who, the NBA stat-mavens? Alston barely had better stats than Atkins last season and Rafer played over 7 1/2 mins more per game.</div> Alston wasn't a scorer in Miami. He was a playmaker, and big reason why they made the playoffs. He helped Odom, Wade and Jones get their 17 PPG. He also was big and big situations. In arguably the best regular season game of the season, he came up with big shots and the game winner to defeat Dallas. In comparasion, Alston is the better point, because he's a better playmaker, and hes a better scorer, and makes everyone around him better. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Push? Not anymore. That may be nice in theory, with a heathy VC, but not anymore. Not to mention the fact that if you put any stock in the rumors circulating about VC and the Raps, VC will be gone before the season even starts.. </div> I didnt quite get those first few statements. Vince missed only 9 games last year, 3 only due to an itterating real injury. The other injury occured when Bruce Bowen placed his foot on the landing are of VC, and he landed his ankle on it. So in theory, Vince was healthy for the most part of last year. They were on pace for the playoffs right until Rose broke his hand. Then everything fell apart.Carter won't be gone...Babcock made it clear that he won't trade Carter, and the only way he would trade Carter is if he got a star in return, but thats not happening. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There are teams that are likely to finish ahead of the C's, but the Raps aren't one of them. The C's had one of thier most abismal seasons in memory last year and still ended up with a better record than the Raps.</div> Raps IMO, will finish ahead of the Celtics. Both teams had abismal seasons last year but in their own way. Rose broke his hand, and it was already broken before the season started. Bosh was hurt, and the only reason Bosh played was because the Raps were banged up. Vince only missed 3 games due to real injury, the other 6 was caused by Bowen, so it's still considered and injury, but its not one thats going to occur again like his Knee injury. When Vince and Rose came back, everything was out of reach, I'm sure things would of been the same or worse if the Celts lost Pierce and Ricky Davis.</font>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Alston wasn't a scorer in Miami.</div> And Atkins was in Boston? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Vince missed only 9 games last year</div> Yes, a relatively healthy season by VC standards and yet Pierce still had better numbers. We'll agree to disagree on this one.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">And Atkins was in Boston? </div> Well about Atkins, Alstons play making ability, was a much bigger factor in Miami than Atkins play making ability in Boston. But oh well, we have our opinions. Hopefully I can get a title like yours if I keep these valid arguements up
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">I may be wrong but couldnt we say that the Celtics are now the favorite to win the Atlantic. The Sixers dont know what they're doing, AI may be traded,Big Dog is an old dog, Raptors have the talent but cant put anything together, so they will probably fade as well, the Nets just lost KMart and Kidd is angry at the organization, the Knicks seem like the only competition but I think the Celtics can overpower them. Anyone Agree? </div> be original http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21581
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting deception:</div><div class="quote_post">be original http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21581</div> where the hell do you get off telling me to be original. i have never been to the raptors forum nor have any reason to. just because we have similar threads doesnt mean i copied you, and this is the celtics forum, we're not going to go to the raptors place to talk about the atlantic.
ya by the way the raptors have the same team as last year, and if they cant get a playoff spot with rose, carter, and marshall in the east last year, dont expect anything out of them this year either.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">ya by the way the raptors have the same team as last year, and if they cant get a playoff spot with rose, carter, and marshall in the east last year, dont expect anything out of them this year either.</div> Are you that ignorant? Last year Rose wasn't healthy because he broke his hand in training camp and it came up again in February. Once Bowen injured Carter then our hopes were over. Plus we addressed our 3 needs. Our PG role has been filled by Alston. Our C role has been filled by Rafael, and our Bench is still improving because Free agency isnt over yet, but we got one of the top 6th men in the league now in Donyell Marshall and we have Alvin Williams, Lamond Murray (whos going to get PT under Sam) and possibly Mo'. So to say that our roster is the same is completely done. You just can't expect a team to perform the same because they have same roster(which is not the same case as the raps). The raps got a new coach, which is a big factor. Their starting 5 is stable this year. Their is being solidified, and I expect them to contend for the divisiont title.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">I may be wrong but couldnt we say that the Celtics are now the favorite to win the Atlantic. The Sixers dont know what they're doing, AI may be traded,Big Dog is an old dog, Raptors have the talent but cant put anything together, so they will probably fade as well, the Nets just lost KMart and Kidd is angry at the organization, the Knicks seem like the only competition but I think the Celtics can overpower them. Anyone Agree? </div> Yeah ok, you gotta be outta your mind. AI is staying put and the 76ers will definitely have a better record than the Celts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Wink23:</div><div class="quote_post">where the hell do you get off telling me to be original. i have never been to the raptors forum nor have any reason to. just because we have similar threads doesnt mean i copied you, and this is the celtics forum, we're not going to go to the raptors place to talk about the atlantic.</div> refer to the raptors forum where in my lost response i contrast the raptors with the celtics. and dude be original.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting pgrudo00:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah ok, you gotta be outta your mind. AI is staying put and the 76ers will definitely have a better record than the Celts.</div> what do the sixers have, AI, Big Dog, ... what else, the sixers did better with the rookies starting then ai and glenn. the celtics have a lot more in place right now
Ok you have fun trying to watch Delonte West run the NBA PG position. Believe me I've watched him all 3 years at SJU and it will not happen.
Pfffft the Celtics better than the Sixers? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. AI is not the only thing the Sixers got. AI, Willie Green, John Salmons, Sam Dalembert, Andre Iguodala, Kenny Thomas, a true point guard in Eric Snow. Thats a much beter nucleous than the Celtics. Its funny how ignorant you are wink when all you talk is bull. P.S The raptors are better than the celtics too.
i dont know why your talking about west because hes not starting or probably gonna play that much. celtics got pg-atkins, banks sg-welsh, davis sf-pierce, jones pf- raef, jefferson c-blount, perkins we have a 7 ft. center, and while he is not amazing, he is still pretty valuable in the eastern conference. i dont understand why everyone is putting ai on a pedestal, and i dont know why you think the sixers will win the atlantic. besides ande, they didnt add anyone...ITS THE SAME TEAM as for the raptors, they didnt change that much either. i thought they wouldve run away with it after the chicago trade, but they never did. even with rose, carter, marshall, they were last in offense. i think the celtics will finally use a fast-break offense, and their frontcourt rotation is farely deep and young. i think that gives them the upperhand in the division. but realisticly, they have virtually no shot at the finals
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">even with rose, carter, marshall, they were last in offense</div> It was hard to generate offense because their coach was a defense first coach. They scored 95+ points in their first 5 games after the trade or so and then it started to decrease because the team had a new system that O'neil had to come up with. It didnt help when Rose and Alvin got hurt either. They'll be a run and gun team this season with Sam.
