Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas @ Jul 10 2007, 08:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Big Baby won't be able to contribute they way you expect him to. As you said Rajon Rondo is a young playmaker, he'll still contribute but remember that he's young. As far as I'm concerned Olowokandi and Ratliff and their playoff experience is useless. Sebastian Telfair, if he's still on the Celtics by the time the year begins, won't get playing time. Gomes is a nice hustle player with an offensive game but requires someone to creat oppurtunities for him. Also, why are you talking about Gerald Wallace?By the way, Washington when healthy led the East. They got 7th seed despite a season stacked with injuries. They could very well win the division this season.The same exact story goes for Orlando, they led the East until 2007 when injuries struck them. However, they still pulled out the 8th seed.</div>rondo is young, but he's very mature and smart with the ball. I don't have the exact numbers, but I can guarantee he had a high assist/turnover ratio last year. and let's not forget that danny ainge is most likely not dealing so far. he was quoted saying something like "our roster is obviously not finished", or something along those lines. I have a feeling he will move Theo Ratliff's contract, and we know how much value a large expiring contract can be. The celtics could grab a pretty solid Center.and about gerald wallace, I'm assuming he was talking about brandon wallace. but brandon wallace to me is a non-issue, he won't play hardly any next year if at all. EDIT: oops nvm, he meant gerald green.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (808Hornetsfan @ Jul 10 2007, 09:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I meant Gerald Green. Rondo does not need to play 35+ minutes a game, Tony Allen missed a lot of time and can share the point with Rondo where he averages 11/3 a game. Telfair is just in a difficult stage right now, but if he improves he can contribute a lot. Your also forgetting the Celtics were hit with injuries last season as well. In fact, they were probably tied with the Hornets for the most injuries last season. They never had a shot from the beginning. I think of all the bad teams that finished with less than 35 wins, Boston is the best one and will make a dramatic improvement in a conference that has no proven teams other than CHI, CLE, DET and MIA.</div>Tony allen at the point guard is a bad idea. he is by no means a ballhandler. I would just rather have bassy running the point. he's not a bad player, just needs to work on finishing in the lane. he did pretty well in pick-and-roll situations in the time I saw him last year. plus, there is talk of the celtics just signing a veteran guard. Derek Fisher, Brevin Knight, and Steve Blake are all options in my eyes.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 10 2007, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>With arguably the best PG in the league and one of the best swingmen in the league, most of the young players don't need to do much outside of fill their role. Marcus Williams is a fine scoring PG, Nachbar was AWESOME the 2nd half of the year (around 12-13PPG, 4-5RPG, over 40% from 3), Boone started to show some promise at end of season (doubling PPG and RPG after all star break), Eddie House is awesome for 3pt shooting and instant scoring off the bench, and Wright isn't bad. And if Mikki Moore signs, then its that much better.But as I said, with Kidd, Carter, RJ and Krstic, all capable of putting up at least 15-20PPG, they really don't need a ton of production anywhere else. 2 years ago they won 49 games....without any bench whatsoever. Now they have a nice bench, Krstic is starting to really develop nicely, and Kidd and Carter are both top 10-15 player in the league. This team will win over 50 games IMO.</div>Those are just two players and the bench players you listed are nothing special. cmon eddie house? They werent a 50 win team last year and had the same roster, whats another year of rust going to do to push them over the limit, oh and the east has added randolph,allen,rashard,and Jrich. Particularly the atlantica division has improved.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (time takes time @ Jul 10 2007, 09:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>rondo is young, but he's very mature and smart with the ball. I don't have the exact numbers, but I can guarantee he had a high assist/turnover ratio last year.</div>I don't care to get involved with this arguement, but the actual number is 3.8APG to 1.8 TO's.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jul 10 2007, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Those are just two players and the bench players you listed are nothing special. cmon eddie house? They werent a 50 win team last year and had the same roster, whats another year of rust going to do to push them over the limit, oh and the east has added randolph,allen,rashard,and Jrich. Particularly the atlantica division has improved.</div>How many teams have more than 3-4 truly worthwhile bench players? Very, very few. Nachbar is awesome off the bench, Williams is a good bench player, and House is the perfect bench player for a team like this (as he showed during this season and with the Suns). The guy scored 8-10PPG and is instant offense...averaging around 2 3pt shots a game at over 40% shooting. If Mikki Moore comes back, then he is another very good bench player. The Nets have a very nice bench.RJ was hurt for 30 games (20/7 guy) and krstic out for around 60 games (averaging 17/6 before injury). Without any real big man in the playoffs, they beat the Raptors pretty convincingly and if they didn't blow game 4 vs the Cavs, they would have brough tthe eventual ECF to 7 games and possibly won.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 10 2007, 10:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How many teams have more than 3-4 truly worthwhile bench players? Very, very few. Nachbar is awesome off the bench, Williams is a good bench player, and House is the perfect bench player for a team like this (as he showed during this season and with the Suns). If Mikki Moore comes back, then he is another very good bench player. The Nets have a very nice bench.RJ was hurt for 30 games (20/7 guy) and krstic out for around 60 games (averaging 17/6 before injury). Without any real big man in the playoffs, they beat the Raptors pretty convincingly and if they didn't blow game 4 vs the Cavs, they would have brough tthe eventual ECF to 7 games and possibly won.</div>Their so called worth-while bench players are nothing more then average to sub-par role players. Nachbar isnt a bad role player, and marcus williams is young and raw, but eddie house is no better then pike or any other bland 3 point shooter and neither nachbar and williams are going to bring more to the table then most nba teams cant handle. Their bench isnt terrible by any means but neither is it going to push them from out of nowhere to 50 win season. they had the same exact bench last season.RJ is hurt every season it seems like and what makes you think he or VC wont be hurt next year at some point? The nets had a very easy playoff path playing a team that was all-regular season and then playing a slightly above average cavs team(who had control of the entire series btw)The nets are not as good as you make them sound. They havent done anything to make me believe they'll be any better then last year and its not like they're swarming with young talent like teams including the hawks,bobcats,celtics,magic,and raptors who are all going to be in competition for the playoffs also. And you know Miami,Detroit,Cleveland, and Chicago is going to be in there so what room is there for the nets to get 50 wins in the east this year? Last year the east was terrible and its improved quite a bit, so if they couldnt get 50 wins last year whats miraculously changed this entire team around?
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (808Hornetsfan @ Jul 10 2007, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I meant Gerald Green. Rondo does not need to play 35+ minutes a game, Tony Allen missed a lot of time and can share the point with Rondo where he averages 11/3 a game. Telfair is just in a difficult stage right now, but if he improves he can contribute a lot. Your also forgetting the Celtics were hit with injuries last season as well. In fact, they were probably tied with the Hornets for the most injuries last season. They never had a shot from the beginning. I think of all the bad teams that finished with less than 35 wins, Boston is the best one and will make a dramatic improvement in a conference that has no proven teams other than CHI, CLE, DET and MIA.</div>Tony Allen can not and will not play the point. You may see Ray Allen bring the ball up for 5 minutes a night, or so. Rondo will be playing close to 30 minutes per game this year, and I do expect this team to bring in a backup point guard by the end of camp.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread I predict Wade injures his shoulder again.. just a feeling. 76ers make the playoffs as the 8th seed, beating out the Magic. I mean, look at their roster:They have their playmaking PG in Miller.Their #1 option in Iguodala.Their long-range shooter in Korver. Their defensive big man in Dalembert. After that, they have some nice rookies who could potentially make a decent impact: Derrick Byars, Thaddeus Young, and Jason Smith.They probably won't do much in the playoffs, probably nothing at all. They might go through the same playoff experience Orlando went through this past year. But it'll be a learning experience for them, and the Sixers played suprising well without AI on their team (and nearly even made the playoffs).
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 10 2007, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't care to get involved with this arguement, but the actual number is 3.8APG to 1.8 TO's.</div>oh, well it must've been higher at the beginning of the year.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Zards @ Jul 10 2007, 09:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I predict Wade injures his shoulder again.. just a feeling. 76ers make the playoffs as the 8th seed, beating out the Magic. I mean, look at their roster:They have their playmaking PG in Miller.Their #1 option in Iguodala.Their long-range shooter in Korver. Their defensive big man in Dalembert. After that, they have some nice rookies who could potentially make a decent impact: Derrick Byars, Thaddeus Young, and Jason Smith.They probably won't do much in the playoffs, probably nothing at all. They might go through the same playoff experience Orlando went through this past year. But it'll be a learning experience for them, and the Sixers played suprising well without AI on their team (and nearly even made the playoffs).</div>stop right there. #1 option in iguodala. that will NOT get you to the playoffs. He's developed into a pretty dang good overall player, but let's face it, this guy can't lead a team to the playoffs. Korver is a good shooter, but can't do anything else. Dalembert is just an idiot. probably gets more goaltends a game than he does blocks. They didn't get anything really special in the draft. This team is near the bottom of the league, not the playoff charts.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jul 10 2007, 09:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Their so called worth-while bench players are nothing more then average to sub-par role players. Nachbar isnt a bad role player, and marcus williams is young and raw, but eddie house is no better then pike or any other bland 3 point shooter and neither nachbar and williams are going to bring more to the table then most nba teams cant handle. Their bench isnt terrible by any means but neither is it going to push them from out of nowhere to 50 win season. they had the same exact bench last season.</div>With 2 top 15 player in Kidd/VC, and 2 17-20PPG scorer in Krstic and RJ, they don't need high profile bench players. Nachbar is a great bench player, giving nice 3pt shooting and as he showed in the playoffs, great slashing ability. Marcus Williams is raw, but still effective. House is an awesome shooter, shooting well over 40% from 3 which is VERY rare. Especially considering he makes about 2 a game. Ask any NJ or Phoenix fan here and they will tell you he is a perfect bench player.Out of nowhere? Without RJ in 04-05 they went from about 10-15 games below .500 to making the playoffs with a .500 record, in 05-06 with no bench they won 49 games, and last year when RJ finally came back they went on a nice streak heading into the playoffs, where they beat a Raptors team who everyone was talking about being a possible Eastern Conference champion, and were 2 VC free throws away from likely pushing the Cavs to 7 games. And those 2 series were without any big man. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>RJ is hurt every season it seems like and what makes you think he or VC wont be hurt next year at some point? The nets had a very easy playoff path playing a team that was all-regular season and then playing a slightly above average cavs team(who had control of the entire series btw)</div>RJ had a freak injury in 04-05, in 05-06 was perfectly healthy, and this past year he got surgery to fix a reocurring problem. VC has missed a total of about 4 games since joining the Nets, even playing all 82 last year.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>The nets are not as good as you make them sound. They havent done anything to make me believe they'll be any better then last year and its not like they're swarming with young talent like teams including the hawks,bobcats,celtics,magic,and raptors who are all going to be in competition for the playoffs also. And you know Miami,Detroit,Cleveland, and Chicago is going to be in there so what room is there for the nets to get 50 wins in the east this year? Last year the east was terrible and its improved quite a bit, so if they couldnt get 50 wins last year whats miraculously changed this entire team around?</div>What will miracuolously turn this team around? How about a 20PPG scorer in RJ, who owned the Raptors with 22PPG and the shot that won the series? How about a 17PPG big man (something the Nets had none of all last season)? Combined, they missed about 90 games. That is A LOT of offense gone. Aside from those 2 coming back, the bench last year took time to develop since the young age. Mikki Moore didn't get any chance to shine until January, but he proved extremely valuable in 2nd half of season. Nachbar didn't do anything until around January, where he proved to be a very nice and efficient scorer. Josh Boone doubled his points and rebounds after all star break. Marcus Williams is a nice backup to Kidd/Carter, and he will only improve as well. Eddie House put up 9PPG, including 2 3's a game on 43% shooting from long range.The Nets, with no bench 2 years back (basically Cliff Robinson and Antoine Wright), won 49 games. The bench has gotten MUCH better, Krstic has developed, etc... This team will win 50 games.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (time takes time @ Jul 10 2007, 11:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>stop right there. #1 option in iguodala. that will NOT get you to the playoffs. He's developed into a pretty dang good overall player, but let's face it, this guy can't lead a team to the playoffs. Korver is a good shooter, but can't do anything else. Dalembert is just an idiot. probably gets more goaltends a game than he does blocks. They didn't get anything really special in the draft. This team is near the bottom of the league, not the playoff charts.</div>Philly played .500 ball after the All-Star break, and they just added more talent through the draft. I think they have a good shot at making the playoffs, although I do not agree with Zards when he says they will top out Orlando.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread Here is a fine bold prediction:The Phoenix Suns slide by at least 10-15 games, don't get home court advantage, and are one and done in the first round of the playoffs. Afterwards, Mike D. finds himself looking for a job.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread Acie will get above 6 apg. I think 15/6 is more reasonable than 11/4. He's not a black hole, for god's sake.I don't think Boston getting into the playoffs is crazy at all. They'd have to stay healthy of course, but they are really better than Orlando at almost every position (and on the ones they aren't, it's closer than you might think). Their bench is young, but decent. The Nets are kinda flaky to me. They've had their ups and downs and somehow made it to the playoffs the last few years, but I dunno.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 10 2007, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>With 2 top 15 player in Kidd/VC, and 2 17-20PPG scorer in Krstic and RJ, they don't need high profile bench players. Nachbar is a great bench player, giving nice 3pt shooting and as he showed in the playoffs, great slashing ability. Marcus Williams is raw, but still effective. House is an awesome shooter, shooting well over 40% from 3 which is VERY rare. Especially considering he makes about 2 a game. Ask any NJ or Phoenix fan here and they will tell you he is a perfect bench player.Out of nowhere? Without RJ in 04-05 they went from about 10-15 games below .500 to making the playoffs with a .500 record, in 05-06 with no bench they won 49 games, and last year when RJ finally came back they went on a nice streak heading into the playoffs, where they beat a Raptors team who everyone was talking about being a possible Eastern Conference champion, and were 2 VC free throws away from likely pushing the Cavs to 7 games. And those 2 series were without any big man. RJ had a freak injury in 04-05, in 05-06 was perfectly healthy, and this past year he got surgery to fix a reocurring problem. VC has missed a total of about 4 games since joining the Nets, even playing all 82 last year.What will miracuolously turn this team around? How about a 20PPG scorer in RJ, who owned the Raptors with 22PPG and the shot that won the series? How about a 17PPG big man (something the Nets had none of all last season)? Combined, they missed about 90 games. That is A LOT of offense gone. Aside from those 2 coming back, the bench last year took time to develop since the young age. Mikki Moore didn't get any chance to shine until January, but he proved extremely valuable in 2nd half of season. Nachbar didn't do anything until around January, where he proved to be a very nice and efficient scorer. Josh Boone doubled his points and rebounds after all star break. Marcus Williams is a nice backup to Kidd/Carter, and he will only improve as well. Eddie House put up 9PPG, including 2 3's a game on 43% shooting from long range.The Nets, with no bench 2 years back (basically Cliff Robinson and Antoine Wright), won 49 games. The bench has gotten MUCH better, Krstic has developed, etc... This team will win 50 games.</div>I've said all I have to say on this. just remember what you said come next year. I heard this exact same arguement last year, and the year before. forgive me if it doesn't persuade me. The nets are run almost entirely through their backcourt and RJ has had several big seasons yet they still havent made that leap. Krstic has also played solid the past few seasons yet still no 50 win season. The east is stronger then it was last year and much stronger then it was when the nets won 49 games. Your bragging about them beating a team thats never been to the playoffs before this year and it showed. Also the nets werent just 2 free throws away from beating the cavs. The nets were lucky to even get 2 games on the cavs(btw it takes 4 games to win a series) I could understand you saying it was close if the series didnt start with the cavs going up 2-0. At no point did the nets string 2 wins together against the cavs. they were clearly outmatched.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PrimeTime @ Jul 10 2007, 10:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I've said all I have to say on this. just remember what you said come next year. I heard this exact same arguement last year, and the year before. forgive me if it doesn't persuade me. The nets are run almost entirely through their backcourt and RJ has had several big seasons yet they still havent made that leap. Krstic has also played solid the past few seasons yet still no 50 win season. The east is stronger then it was last year and much stronger then it was when the nets won 49 games. Your bragging about them beating a team thats never been to the playoffs before this year and it showed. Also the nets werent just 2 free throws away from beating the cavs. The nets were lucky to even get 2 games on the cavs(btw it takes 4 games to win a series) I could understand you saying it was close if the series didnt start with the cavs going up 2-0. At no point did the nets string 2 wins together against the cavs. they were clearly outmatched.</div>Once again, 90 games missed by a combined 37PPG/13RPG. That is HUGE production gone. Their current core has been together for only 3 years....2 of those RJ was hurt most of the season, and the other one the Nets had no bench (and in playoffs lost their bench player due to testing positive for weed). With RJ getting his reoccuring problem fixed, and with Krsitc back from tearing ACL, it is fair to assume thisI never said they were 2 free throws from beating the Cavs, I said from going to a game 7 (remember all the VC clanked FT's in game 4). And no Cavs didn't have complete control the whole series...they had double digit leads in 3 of the 4 games they lost. Game 1 and 2 you can deal with, but game 4 they had a double digit lead in 4th that they blew largely because VC clanked FT's and huge scoring drought as they had no big man to take some stress off of perimeter players (Krstic would have made a difference). The series should have gone 7.Bottom line is one all star caliber swingman and one of the East's best offensive big men will make a HUGE difference. And remember, last year the bench took a few months to develop. Now that guys like Nachbar, Williams and Moore know their role, they will be even more effective and comfy.I'm done with this, but I'll make you a bet. If Nets don't win 50 games, I'll change my username to your choice for 1 month. If Nets do win 50 games, I get to choose your username.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jul 10 2007, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm done with this, but I'll make you a bet. If Nets don't win 50 games, I'll change my username to your choice for 1 month. If Nets do win 50 games, I get to choose your username.</div>Do it PrimeTime!! :winkglasses:
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread Everybody is looking at the Celtics and thinking "They won 24 games last year, I don't know if Ray Allen is going to all of the sudden turn them into a playoff team." Well, that's the wrong way to look at it. Why? Because had Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, and Tony Allen not missed half the season (along with other players missing significant time, almost every player on the roster except Green/Rondo/Telfair), we would have won more than 24 games. The only reason our win total was that low was because of the HUGE injury problems, which IMO, were more significant than any other team's. I still believe that if we were healthy all year, we would have been a playoff team, or at least pretty close to it. Certainly not 24 wins and the 2nd worst record.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (808Hornetsfan @ Jul 10 2007, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Do it PrimeTime!! :winkglasses:</div>it's done. I internet shake you nitro.
Re: '07-08 Bold Predictions Thread <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Jul 10 2007, 08:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Everybody is looking at the Celtics and thinking "They won 24 games last year, I don't know if Ray Allen is going to all of the sudden turn them into a playoff team." Well, that's the wrong way to look at it. Why? Because had Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, and Tony Allen not missed half the season (along with other players missing significant time, almost every player on the roster except Green/Rondo/Telfair), we would have won more than 24 games. The only reason our win total was that low was because of the HUGE injury problems, which IMO, were more significant than any other team's. I still believe that if we were healthy all year, we would have been a playoff team, or at least pretty close to it. Certainly not 24 wins and the 2nd worst record.</div>That's what I pointed out. In fact, never in any of my posts did I say Ray Allen was the main reason they'll win 45+, I said it's because their lineup is much improved with a lot of key players returning and Paul Pierce can now take them to the next level.
