"...And here's the even bigger question: If you're one of the best 10 guards of all-time, and you were just humiliated for an entire season in L.A., and your teammates were pulling your coach into a bathroom telling him to start someone else, and Jamie Foxx was cracking "The Glove, that sumbitch had a hole in it this year, didn't it?" jokes toward you at the ESPYs, and the Lakers were saying, "We don't need you," and everyone now thinks you're D-U-N done ... wouldn't you be killing yourself this summer for one last run? Wouldn't you be trying to make a splash on the Vengeance Scale? In fact, that's what GP has been doing, working out in Vegas like a madman, obsessed with getting in the best shape of his life. And guess who one of his neighbors is? That's right, Mr. Paul Pierce. Apparently they've been doing everything short of re-enacting the Rocky-Apollo beach sprints from "Rocky III." If you think GP doesn't have a chip on his shoulder for next season, you're insane. So the question remains ... does he have one-quarter of a gas tank left, or is the yellow light flashing? I guess we'll find out." Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/040806
Thanks for sharing this Pup Melo! :thumbsup: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">wouldn't you be killing yourself this summer for one last run? Wouldn't you be trying to make a splash on the Vengeance Scale?</div> Damn straight I would and I'm pretty sure GP is too. As I've mentioned in other threads, I think GP's got closer to a half tank left and he's looking to make a statement this year.
^ No problem this article has been published days ago... thought you guys already had it... surprised you guys didn't so i posted it... yeah, although he sucked with us Lakers last year, I do hope he can be the old GP again, scoring, passing, defending, being nasty again and making noise with the Celts... if he really flourishes again, the Celts could be one of the top teams in the East... but guess the Lakers shouldn't worry cuz we ain't gonna make the Finals and meet you Celts there
I usually post anything good I see from Bill, the Herald or the Globe (prefer the Globe) but I've been slack for the last week or so. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> but guess the Lakers shouldn't worry cuz we ain't gonna make the Finals and meet you Celts there</div> Wouldn't let it bother you too much, because we likely won't be there either. It's a nice thought though, but I just don't see our additions quite getting us there just yet. Would be glad to be wrong though.
There have been players who have played to 40, so at 35 (i think?) GP still has a lot left, and as the article said, these players are focused on winning and proving everyone wrong. Payton and Pierce know what has to get done, and they're going to do it.
I usually don't agree with the Sports Guy on a lot of Celtics things, but I he's pretty good at decribing my Red Sox and Patriots emotions, like after game 7 ALCS when he called his dad to make sure he was still alive. But I really think he brings up some good points here, especially on Payton's desire to prove he's not finished.
I posted this thing on the day of the trade, more specifically "The Celtics made the trade for three reasons" part.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I posted this thing on the day of the trade, more specifically "The Celtics made the trade for three reasons" part.</div>Don't think it went unnoticed... I heard of the article from you first, and after I read it, it made me tolerate the trade. Actually, it almost turned my viewpoint 180 degrees. Simmons makes so many great points that I had never thought of. Well, if I took the rumor seriously when Hagrid first brought it up, I might have put more thought into it.
If GP has so much left in the tank why couldn't he get Milwaukee into the playoffs? And why did he look like absolute shit with the Lakers? A bad offense is one thing, fine, I'll give you that, but if anybody was actually watching the playoffs he made Tony Parker and Chauncey Billups look like Hall of Famers. Parker didn't get under control until Phil went to Kobe and D-Fish on him and, as we know, Chauncey never did.
Those are fair points Birdman. I don't think that anyone of Payton's caliber goes to ish in one year. There had to be more going on than him just losing his game, IMO. That's my reason for hope that he's not finished.
*ahem* Milwaukee made the playoffs when GP was on the team. They lost to the Nets in a 7 game series, I believe. He looked like shit with the Lakers? 15 ppg in an offense that was based around Kobe and Shaq? As for making guys look like hall of famers...GP had NO HELP on pick and rolls, that's why he looked bad in the playoffs! If he went around the pick, they had an open J. If he went through it, they got an open lane to the hoop. Did you watch the games?
You're absolutely right. Milwaukee did make the playoffs that season, I'm an idiot. FOr some reason I remember them completely imploding and falling out but that was the year before, with Big Dog, Ray and Sam. Please accept my sincerest apology.
Gary Payton's scoring average and assist average are more...14 and 4.5...than Bostons past point guards. Now this is GP at his worst, sure he's a little slower on defense, but his career average is something like 18, and assist gotta be over 6 or maybe 7. Another scoring option behind Paul, another guy to set up Davis or Blount, and another guy who has something to prove. Maybe we will suprise a lot of people Im talkin