<div align="center"> @ October 13, 2006 - 7:30 pm ET</div> Projected Starters C: vs. PF: vs. SF: vs. SG: vs. PG: vs. <u>Keys to the game</u> - Run. Just keep the up-tempo game going and take advantage of our guard play. - Don't fall for Big Z's up-fakes. If you do, like Perk did on Tuesday, he's very effective. - Get the big guys involved. In Toronto, it was all small ball and we didn't use the size/skill of Al Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins to our advantage against their soft frontline (with the exception of Bosh). X Factor Can Rajon Rondo keep up his extrodinary play? I hope so, because the Cleveland PG's can't keep up with him, or Telfair for that matter. In the first two preseason games, Rondo has put up averages of 20 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 3.5 steals per game to go along with extrodinary hustle, good defense, and clutch play. If he can have another strong game and keep this team running, we should have this one in the bag considering James/Hughes/Z will be playing limited minutes. <u>Key Matchup</u> I will be doing this in the regular season, but it's preseason. There is no key matchup, seeing how it's mostly bench play. Other Notes - Wally Szczerbiak didn't play Wednesday night in Toronto, I would assume he will still be resting. - Theo Ratliff also didn't play Wednesdat in Toronto, so I would assume he won't be playing either. - Delonte West is expected to at least be with the team. Who knows if he will play. - Expect 1, 2, maybe even 3 cuts before the game. The frontrunner to get the final roster spot right now is O, leaving Akin, Jones, and Pittsnogle as the guys most likely to be cut. CelticBalla's Prediction It really doesn't matter if we win, but I say we will take it again. We are just simply a much deeper team than Cleveland, we have a much more talented and athletic bench, and I don't see their bench keeping up with the running game again.
Man, Rondo is balling it up so far. He really has been shooting very well, considering that has been his weakness throughout his career. He's a true leader, I wouldn't be surrised to see him start at the one with bassy at the 2.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Oct 12 2006, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Man, Rondo is balling it up so far. He really has been shooting very well, considering that has been his weakness throughout his career. He's a true leader, I wouldn't be surrised to see him start at the one with bassy at the 2.</div> No way you can start Rondo and Bassy. That would be the smallest backcourt ever. Quick, yes, but Bassy would get absolutely manhandled by most SG's, especially Larry Hughes. Plus they are both playmakers. You need one with the 2nd unit as well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Oct 12 2006, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>umm.. it's preseason. just a suggestion. and telfair is only what, 2 inches shorter than TA? max?</div> 4 inches. Allen is 6'4'', and they are being generous by listing Bassy as 6'0''. Plus he's not very strong, he would get pushed around like Shaq posting up my 3 year old sister.
Bassy is strong, but he's not like PHYSICALLY strong. He just drives to the hoop so hard people can't stay on him..
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trifekta @ Oct 12 2006, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bassy is strong, but he's not like PHYSICALLY strong. He just drives to the hoop so hard people can't stay on him..</div> That's not called strength. That's called speed and heart. Bassy would get pushed around and swallowed up by the average starting 2-guard. I mean, he can blow past almost anybody off the dribble, but that has nothing to do with strength. I will admit, he has put in the work in the weight room and he looks a lot bigger than what he did the last time he put on a Blazers uniform. But he isn't a great defender as it is, ok but not "good" when he's guarding 1's, let alone 6'5''-6'7'', 220 lbs. SG's.
and if bassy was at the two, it'd be an average line-up at worst. remember, we played Gerald at eh f'n 5 yesterday. It wouldn't be THAT much of a mismatch. and if it were that big a deal, Rondo could guard the 2. He may be small too, but he's very quick and scrappy, he could harrass most 2-guards.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Oct 12 2006, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>and if bassy was at the two, it'd be an average line-up at worst. remember, we played Gerald at eh f'n 5 yesterday. It wouldn't be THAT much of a mismatch. and if it were that big a deal, Rondo could guard the 2. He may be small too, but he's very quick and scrappy, he could harrass most 2-guards.</div> Don't even think about bringing yesterays end-of-game lineups into this. For god's sake we used Rondo, Bassy, Ray, and Allen all in at once! That had nothing to do with player positions at all, Doc just put in guys to give them preseason minutes. Plus, not to mention Toronto had Calderon, Jones, and the weakest frontline in. Rondo could guard some 2-guards. That's a different story than Telfair. Bassy is small, not very strong, and he's not a great defender. Rondo is 1-2 inches taller, VERY long, stronger, and a good defender.
my point was that we wouldn't suffer greatly from one position on the court being smaller, considering we still only lost in OT with all 5 guys too small.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nba dogmatist @ Oct 12 2006, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>my point was that we wouldn't suffer greatly from one position on the court being smaller, considering we still only lost in OT with all 5 guys too small.</div> Yeah, against the Raptors' bench and soft big men. Put Telfair at SG when we play a solid teams' starters and he would be murdered. Don't look at last night as evidence that we could be ok with 4 combo guards and Scal.
I wasn't saying that. I was saying that sometimes a team can be a little undersized and still do okay. just because telfair is a little smaller doesn't mean he'd get murdered.
Bassy would have his advantages and disadvantages. Hed be able to go around most 2 guards but they would be able to post him up at the very same time. It for sure wont happen during the regular season. I do however see it as a possibility for Delonte to start at the 2 spot if he is healthy.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Oct 13 2006, 12:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Bassy would have his advantages and disadvantages. Hed be able to go around most 2 guards but they would be able to post him up at the very same time. It for sure wont happen during the regular season. I do however see it as a possibility for Delonte to start at the 2 spot if he is healthy.</div>I don't think there should be an argument, West is the 3rd most solid player on this team behind Pierce and Wally. We should start him at the 2. It's either him or Tony Allen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Trifekta @ Oct 13 2006, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't think there should be an argument, West is the 3rd most solid player on this team behind Pierce and Wally. We should start him at the 2. It's either him or Tony Allen.</div> Perfect. Like you just said, Delonte is probably the 3rd most solid player behind Pierce... and who? Say it again? Oh Yeah... WALLY SZCZERBIAK (who is our 2nd best player). Why start the 3rd best player over the 2nd best, especially when the 2nd best (Wally) has been an All-Star and the 3rd best (Delonte) is 6'2'' and not as strong. Wally Szczerbiak WILL start on this team, end of discussion. Delonte, Tony Allen, Gerald - they are not starting over Wally. Give it up. Wally will not come off the bench. He complements Pierce so well. If anything, Tony Allen has the better shot at starting over Wally, but it's still not happening.
jesus christ, nba tv is f*cking worthless. it's straight up bullsh**. they showed preseason games last year, but the only one this year (detroit/miami). F*ck me.
I watched bits and pieces, as I was out with some people tonight. The end of the game was pretty ugly, but they played fairly well in the beginning. Past that I can't say much more, as I was unable to watch.
