View Full Version : NBA 2007 Offseason
Valmore
08-02-2007, 05:48 PM
Take this as you may, but the state of the Celtics for the last fifteen or so years made me a Washington Wizards fan.
I still don't think there's enough basketballs (and then you add a shooter like House?) to go around, there's a big donut (literally and figuratively) at center, and three players in their thirties who can't play 45 minutes every night. I'd like to see the Celtics make some noise, though.
Some days, I'm half-tempted to become a Philadelphia 76ers fan, what with how badly managed this team has been. Even now Ainge is making boneheaded moves, putting all of his eggs in the basket of three aging superstars. And adding Eddie "Brick ... Brick ... Brick" House? Yeah, that's what we need, House trying to fight Ray Allen for who can launch the most shots. Rajon Rondo can't shoot at all. Kendrick Perkins is as bad a stiff as Kwame Brown, but since he wasn't picked first he doesn't get crap for it. And Glen Davis will be awesome at blocking the buffet lane at Shoney's.
Meanwhile, in the NBA backwater known as the Milwaukee Bucks, first-round draft pick Yi Jianlian apparently has a problem with Milwaukee's Asian population. Both of them.
It's Milwaukee's own fault. They knew they weren't on China's list of teams they'd allow Yi Jianlian to play for. They could have easily passed on Yi and taken somebody else - the first round certainly wasn't devoid of talent to choose from. But they picked him and now stand to lose their first-round pick.
frankiedetroit
08-03-2007, 03:46 PM
I still don't think there's enough basketballs (and then you add a shooter like House?) to go around, there's a big donut (literally and figuratively) at center, and three players in their thirties who can't play 45 minutes every night. I'd like to see the Celtics make some noise, though.
I think it's a lot easier when you're a star to pass the ball if you're tossing it to another star. [I will refrain from any Kobe digs.] Garnett has always struck me as a Grant Hill type, someone forced to be the main guy but would rather be a sidekick. No knock on him, I'm just saying. He can be great without taking 20 shots a game, and if he's playing hard and—the big IF right here—the Celtics are winning more than they're losing, no one will blame him if he's scoring less. Allen and Pierce will also play hard and even better, smart.
Punchy
08-06-2007, 12:52 AM
I believe my prediction that the Celtics will win 20 more games next season than they did the past season shall hold.
Deathstroke
08-06-2007, 06:58 AM
I believe my prediction that the Celtics will win 20 more games next season than they did the past season shall hold.
Adding Garnett will certainly make your prediction more viable.
I was watching the Sports Reporters on ESPN yesterday morning and one of the panelists had the Celtics coming out of the East for the NBA Finals. I love my Celtics, but come on now, that's just stretching it. Especially without a damn point guard.
Super Samurai
08-06-2007, 09:12 AM
Well I mean if Lebron can do it without any real significant help, perhaps the combo of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce could do it as well.
Pinnacle
08-06-2007, 10:15 AM
I'm glad the Celtics made the trade because as long as there are no injuries they will be a contending playoff team for at least the next three seasons and this franchise really needs that.
Next year, I see them as contending with the Cavaliers for the third-best team in the conference. They should win the Atlantic Division. The Pistons and Bulls are still the class of the East, but the Celtics will be capable of pulling an upset much like the Cavaliers did this year.
frankiedetroit
08-06-2007, 10:34 AM
Well, it looks like Kobe does have a friend. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/08/06/oneal.trade/index.html
Not that Jermaine O'Neal thrills me all that much, but he's sort of better than what we currently have.
Buried Alien
08-06-2007, 10:57 AM
Well, it looks like Kobe does have a friend. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/08/06/oneal.trade/index.html
Not that Jermaine O'Neal thrills me all that much, but he's sort of better than what we currently have.
It's the very last hope of credibility the Lakers have.
Yes, it's come down to that.
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Well I mean if Lebron can do it without any real significant help, perhaps the combo of Garnett, Allen, and Pierce could do it as well.
The problem is LeBron can handle the ball better than Celt's big 3, as well as get any shot he wants. His support was horrible, but they did do 2 things fairly well, defend and rebound. Eric Snow is medicore at best, but he did help out a lot by being good with the ball.
It seems to be in order for the Celts to do well, they need to shoot at a very high percentage since they can't rebound (other than Garnett), nor can they defend (other than Garnett), and they probably won't get good PG play. They probably can't play an up-tempo style to generate easy shots due to age and PG play.
One thing that will help them a lot is lacking of defense in the East. Other than Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland, most others in the East are pretty horrible at D. Detroit might be pass its peak. Cleveland might be a one-hit wonder.
Brian Cronin
08-06-2007, 02:40 PM
Picking up Jermaine O'Neal would be nice for the Lakers, but really, O'Neal seems to often say stuff like, "I want to be traded to ____," which is pretty funny.
-Brian
Valmore
08-06-2007, 04:50 PM
Picking up Jermaine O'Neal would be nice for the Lakers, but really, O'Neal seems to often say stuff like, "I want to be traded to ____," which is pretty funny.
-Brian
I hear Manny Ramirez wants to be traded to the Lakers, too.
Brian Cronin
08-09-2007, 02:34 AM
Reggie possibly returning to play for the Celtics?!?!
How freakin' cool would THAT be?
-Brian
Aubergine~!
08-09-2007, 03:47 AM
Reggie possibly returning to play for the Celtics?!?!
How freakin' cool would THAT be?
-Brian
Reggie as in Reggie Miller?!?
That would make me a Celtic fan.
Deathstroke
08-09-2007, 05:19 AM
Reggie possibly returning to play for the Celtics?!?!
How freakin' cool would THAT be?
-Brian
Yeah, that would be four guys who want the ball in their hands to shoot it and no one qualified to pass it to them.
Yeah, that would be four guys who want the ball in their hands to shoot it and no one qualified to pass it to them.
I think Doc Rivers should comes out of retirement and play the point himself :D
In fact, it's time to get the band back together. Danny Ainge can un-retire and play SG again, and Bill Russell probably has a few more years left as C.
Valmore
08-09-2007, 05:38 AM
Reggie possibly returning to play for the Celtics?!?!
How freakin' cool would THAT be?
Can we paint his walking cane Celtics green?
I mean, c'mon. The man is only 3 years away from being snubbed by the Hall of Fame in favor of coaches from the Big Sky and Ivy League conferences, the greatest Peruvian basketball player ever, a WNBA player and a women's player from Ethiopia. How could he possibly pass that up to get knocked out of the first round?
Aubergine~!
08-09-2007, 06:22 AM
Yeah, that would be four guys who want the ball in their hands to shoot it and no one qualified to pass it to them.
Oh, it'd be a clusterf**k, but it'd be a fun clusterf**k.
Punchy
08-09-2007, 08:11 AM
I love Reggie so although part of me thinks its lame that he would play for a team other than the Pacers if he still had the ability/desire to play it would be cool to see him suit up again.
And Val, stop being so pessimistic. If the Cavs can make it to the finals with only one player, the Celtics certainly can do it with three.
Pinnacle
08-09-2007, 10:23 AM
As long as Reggie can check his ego at the door, I think he could really help this team. Talk about some instant offense off the bench.
And Scot Pollard signed with the Celtics. I know no big deal but it's another player with some experience to put around the big three.
Rondo will be able to guard the other team's small guards, and whose to say that the Celtics can't run some sort of triangle offense with the big three that will make a point guard on offense unneccessary. Although I realize Rondo can't shoot well enough to play in that kind of an offense, but you could put Tony Allen in and run it.
Valmore
08-09-2007, 02:02 PM
I love Reggie so although part of me thinks its lame that he would play for a team other than the Pacers if he still had the ability/desire to play it would be cool to see him suit up again.
And Val, stop being so pessimistic. If the Cavs can make it to the finals with only one player, the Celtics certainly can do it with three.
I have to be pessimistic - I'm a Boston fan. It's in the bylaws.
Deathstroke
08-09-2007, 07:41 PM
I have to be pessimistic - I'm a Boston fan. It's in the bylaws.
Nice response. True and to the point.
Anthony
08-10-2007, 07:15 AM
Penny's back with Shaq (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2967891)
And more retired stars are talking comeback.
I'm not liking this talk and really hope it doesn't become a trend.
Though I'll guess we'll get to see what Penny still has left in the tank, if anything.
So...Oden with the knees...any suicides yet?
So...Oden with the knees...any suicides yet?
No need.
He's only 19, he has plenty of time to heal, and have a career. If anyone tries to compare him to Bowie, they are morons.
Valmore
09-14-2007, 05:26 AM
No need.
He's only 19, he has plenty of time to heal, and have a career. If anyone tries to compare him to Bowie, they are morons.
Yeah, Sam Bowie came into the league with bad knees. And wasn't half as good as Greg Oden, though Bowie did have a modicrum of success in th NBA.
literally exaggerated
09-14-2007, 08:06 AM
Amare used his recovery time to hone his jumpshot and ended up even better. Oden's gonna have a decently long period of being healthy enough to practice but not enough to actually play in games (and the team's gonna suck, so you know they aren't gonna rush him back for a playoff run or anything).
Best case scenario for Portland:
Brandon Roy and Aldridge play well together and get some experience, Jack, Outlaw and Pryzbilla play like mediocre-at best starters but at least get the minutes to maybe give them some trade value. Oden busts his ass in recovery and hones his 18 ft. jumpshot, free throws and hooks. The team is terrible however, and end up with a top 3 lotto pick. They draft OJ Mayo or Derrick Rose, then package Jack and Outlaw for a decent 3 (Childress maybe). Next season, Oden comes back the same player but more skilled and polished, Aldridge and Roy are both fringe all-star types, and they've added a franchise pg and a 3 who isn't a liability.
Rob Allen
09-14-2007, 12:22 PM
I think the Blazers will do well this year - well enough to surprise people. The entire team's in town already, and have been practicing like mad. I expect to see the headline "Greg Who?" in the first month or two.
moebius
09-14-2007, 01:28 PM
The upside of all this Greg Oden talk is that the Trail Blazers could play their cards right and end up with next year's #1 pick as well. That would give them a recent ROY and the last two #1 picks in their starting 5.
Ryan K
09-14-2007, 01:35 PM
Look at the Spurs. They drafted David Robinson but had to wait 2 years for him to play because of Navy committments. They drafted Willie Anderson the next year, and Sean Elliott the following. So Robinson and Elliott started the same year and led the team to the best single season turnaround in league history at the time.
It is kind of weird that Oden will be a rookie next year instead. Durant will be one year ahead of him.
moebius
09-14-2007, 02:06 PM
Look at the Spurs. They drafted David Robinson but had to wait 2 years for him to play because of Navy committments. They drafted Willie Anderson the next year, and Sean Elliott the following. So Robinson and Elliott started the same year and led the team to the best single season turnaround in league history at the time.
It is kind of weird that Oden will be a rookie next year instead. Durant will be one year ahead of him.
Not to mention a little known forward-center named Tim Duncan.
Anthony
09-14-2007, 02:34 PM
Yeah, I'm definitely getting a Spurs vibe (star player gets injured, team doesn't do well and they get another great pick to go with him the next year) from the current Blazer organization.
This may turn into a blessing in disguise.
Valmore
09-14-2007, 03:24 PM
The upside of all this Greg Oden talk is that the Trail Blazers could play their cards right and end up with next year's #1 pick as well. That would give them a recent ROY and the last two #1 picks in their starting 5.
I think Portland's too talented, even without Oden, to have much of a shot at the #1 pick next year, since they'll probably make the playoffs as a low seed.
Pinnacle
09-14-2007, 08:27 PM
Yeah, Sam Bowie came into the league with bad knees. And wasn't half as good as Greg Oden, though Bowie did have a modicrum of success in th NBA.
Yes, Sam Bowie came into the NBA with bad knees, but before he had them he was probably better than Oden. No one had really seen a 7-foot forward before. When Kentucky signed him there was every bit of the hype that surrounds Oden now. He was Kevin Garnett only fifteen years earlier, and he had already developed a forward's game in high school while it took Garnett a few years in the NBA. What has Oden done? Committed a few every couple of plays in the Final Four while he could have been called for one every play if the refs hadn't give him superstar treatment. Everytime I watched Ohio State play last year he seemed a liability as they were a better team when he wasn't in the game as they could run more. I think Michael Conley will probably be one of the best point guards of his generation. Oden may have a good NBA career due to the league's style of play being a benefit to big men, but I still don't see why Portland took him over Durant.
A lot of people forget that Sam Bowie was a good player. Obviously, his injury cut his career short. Let's not forget the other side of why Sam Bowie gets a bad rap. Michael Jordan. Jordan is among the best of all time, if not the best, so everything else is gonna look worse by comparsion.
Buried Alien
09-15-2007, 03:12 AM
A lot of people forget that Sam Bowie was a good player.
In the mid-1990s, the Lakers had Bowie during his last few seasons in the league. Without him, the Lakers would not have gotten as far as they did during those seasons. His defense was especially valuable.
Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)
Valmore
09-15-2007, 04:00 AM
Yes, Sam Bowie came into the NBA with bad knees, but before he had them he was probably better than Oden. No one had really seen a 7-foot forward before. When Kentucky signed him there was every bit of the hype that surrounds Oden now. He was Kevin Garnett only fifteen years earlier, and he had already developed a forward's game in high school while it took Garnett a few years in the NBA. What has Oden done? Committed a few every couple of plays in the Final Four while he could have been called for one every play if the refs hadn't give him superstar treatment. Everytime I watched Ohio State play last year he seemed a liability as they were a better team when he wasn't in the game as they could run more. I think Michael Conley will probably be one of the best point guards of his generation. Oden may have a good NBA career due to the league's style of play being a benefit to big men, but I still don't see why Portland took him over Durant.
Sam Bowie wasn't even the best big man in that draft - that was Hakeem Olajuwon. I mean, come on. Kevin Garnett? I'm certain Bowie was great at dominating the relatively weak area of Lebanon, Pennsylvania (just outside of York) much like Lamar Greer did great in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. He lost three years at Kentucky after his best season (his sophomore year). That should have been a huge flag to teams in the draft in the first place.
Mike Conley? He'll be buried in Memphis passing the ball to another all-time draft bust - Darko Milicic.
Pinnacle
09-15-2007, 10:22 PM
Sam Bowie wasn't even the best big man in that draft - that was Hakeem Olajuwon. I mean, come on. Kevin Garnett? I'm certain Bowie was great at dominating the relatively weak area of Lebanon, Pennsylvania (just outside of York) much like Lamar Greer did great in Cape May Court House, New Jersey. He lost three years at Kentucky after his best season (his sophomore year). That should have been a huge flag to teams in the draft in the first place.
Mike Conley? He'll be buried in Memphis passing the ball to another all-time draft bust - Darko Milicic.
I wasn't saying that Bowie was better than Olajuwon just that he was much better than half as good as Oden. What makes Oden so great? Bowie's career at the same stage was better than Oden. Sure, Oden has been given Russell comparisons, but Bowie was given Chamberlain comparisons. It also says something that some people thought that Bowie was the better prospect between him and Ralph Sampson in the same high school class.
And I agree that Portland should have seen the red flags waving after his injury, but what I was comparing was Bowie at the same time in his career (which was prior to him getting hurt) to Oden. You could certainly argue that Oden was better but not twice as good. I personally think that Bowie without the injury could have been as good as Garnett. He would have been such a matchup problem.
Valmore
09-15-2007, 11:18 PM
Bowie certainly had potential, but Kevin Garnett is a bit of a stretch. He was probably closer to Kevin McHale but a little taller. And that's not a bad thing. Bowie actually had some successful years in the NBA, when he wasn't injured.
I understand where Portland was coming from, they were drafting according to need, and they needed a big man presence and Bowie was the best available at their slot. Who was to know Michael Jordan would go on to become a basketball god? But just those years lost... that should have scared them off.
What makes Oden get the hype is his size. It's becoming even more rare to get true NBA-sized centers these days. If Roy Hibbert had come out, he'd have been a high pick, too. But centers are becoming more rare by the year, and Oden appears to have the talent to go with it. But a second major injury in as many years is going to raise some eyebrows.
Deathstroke
09-16-2007, 09:26 AM
I know most every sports fan will be focused on the football games today.
However, during a commercial break or halftime, why not go over to ESPN2 and check out a little bit of the WNBA beginning at 4:30pm EST.
It's the deciding Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the defending champion Detroit Shock and the Western Conference champion Phoenix Mercury.
All signs point to a fantastic matchup for the championship!
If you want to get a quick recap of the first four games, you can check out my sports blog link in my signature for my analysis on each game.
Hope you'll take the time and check out a little women's pro hoops!
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