If the Lakers and Celtics face each other it could come down to how Rasheed Wallace plays. If he knocks down some 3s and rebounds and plays defense that would be huge for the Celtics.

Cowherd summed it up best the other morning regarding Sheed. Never has a player delivered more when people expect less; and he will deliver absolutely nothing when you rely upon him. In his prime, Sheed was as talented of an NBA talent as there was when he wanted to be.

If the Lakers can't contain or slow down Rondo in transition it won't matter who is guarding Ray Allen. I'd put Kobe or Artest on Rondo and Pierce and let Fisher chase Ray Allen all night. When it comes to the NBA Finals both teams are battered and bruised and I think even Kobe will tell you I can rest when the series is over. He also has a team capable of winning if he is not on his game as well.

 

No way is this Boston team better than the 08' team. That 08' team had their Big 3 at the end of their prime. Now they are old and injured while they are playing good as a team, Rondo is their best player and for as good as Rondo is he can't equal what the Big 3 brought to the table in 08' by himself. The fact that KG has 1 knee now makes the 08' team better than this one. Yeah, he is playing better but he still clearly can't dominate the glass like he used to because he simply cannot jump anymore. He is like Karl Malone shooting layups when in the paint when in 08' you got dunked on. Shoot, Rondo probably has more rebounds in the playoffs than KG.

Cowherd summed it up best the other morning regarding Sheed. Never has a player delivered more when people expect less; and he will deliver absolutely nothing when you rely upon him. In his prime, Sheed was as talented of an NBA talent as there was when he wanted to be.

 

:thumb:

 

He was extremely talented. But, more than that, his basketball IQ is high. He may have lapses where he gets the T's, but when he's just playing the game, there aren't that many guys, especially bigs, with a better feel for the game. In his prime, he was capable of scoring but that was never a big concern for him. I've always been a fan of Rasheed, even when he played at UNC.

 

I hope he struggles against LA though.

I just think that he's better served playing back off of Rondo than he is chasing Allen. Kobe has more help, but Gasol is the only other player on the team that can create their own shot enough to dominate a series IMO. I think Bynum and Odom will lose a lot of their production in the Finals, so the Lakers are going to need 26 to 30 a game from Kobe to win.

 

I think you're underestimating Bynum and Odom, especially Odom...or you're overestimating Boston's front line. Either way, I don't see Odom and Bynum being non-factors in the finals.

 

Simple question...right now, today, who would you pick if given the choice? The trio of Gasol, Bynum, and Odom or the quartet of Garnett, Wallace, Davis and Perkins?

I think you're underestimating Bynum and Odom, especially Odom...or you're overestimating Boston's front line. Either way, I don't see Odom and Bynum being non-factors in the finals.

 

Simple question...right now, today, who would you pick if given the choice? The trio of Gasol, Bynum, and Odom or the quartet of Garnett, Wallace, Davis and Perkins?

 

Hey man, it's cool you're a Lakers fan :thumb:.

 

I think we've seen what Odom can do against Boston. I don't think anyone on here is higher on Bynum than I am, but Boston can slow him down. Just because I think Boston will not allow LA to get easy points in the paint doesn't mean that I'm underestimating the Lakers front line. I think Pau Gasol is the best big in the game right now, but I think he would only do as good at PF against Boston.

 

I think that Boston can man up with LA's frontline, with little to no help. That negates so much of what LA is good at. Gasol is one of the best passing big men I've ever seen, but Boston doesn't allow alot of cuts to the basket that are often created by double teams, because they don't have to double down. Boston makes it extremely tough to swing the ball, and play great help-side defense. That is going to take away the next best part of LA's post game IMO, which is their weak-side production, such as rebounds for Gasol and especially Odom and dives to the rim by Bynum. What makes LA so tough in my mind is the huge advantage they have inside. They have better talent than the Celtics, but I do think that Boston can guard them very well.

 

Talent-wise Gasol, Odom, and Bynum are a better unit IMO, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll win the series. LA's big perfectly compliment Kobe, Fisher and Artest, and Boston's Bigs are perfect for Rondo, Pierce and Allen. Talent isn't everything.

Vince Carter is non-existent again. Contrary to what some say, I have to believe it's safe to say SVG is missing Hedo right about now.......

For the best team in the league, with no weaknesses the Magic got destroyed in this series. Who would have thought that wins over Atlanta and Charlotte meant nothing in the grand scheme of things in the NBA? And no way this Magic team was better than last years. What Turk and Alston lack in talent compared to Nelson and Carter they make up for in how well they fit into the Magic's system and overall court court savvy.

What was Brandon Bass doing on that dunk? You're team is getting humiliated man, and do that on a dunk??!!!! :lol:

Celtics!! One win away from being back to the finals!

 

:dancingpa

You know what, give me Rondo over any other PG in the league. I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt, because I didn't want UK bias to set in, but he does more than any other PG in the league IMO. Maybe some others put up better stats, but numbers can't really describe Rondo's worth.

The combination of Rondo, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett made me really like watching the Celtics two years ago...now I absolutely love it.

 

I won't claim the Celtics as my NBA team because I don't want to be a bandwagon fan. But, I'd love to see them win another ring.

 

Lakers vs. Celtics...bring it on.

Looks like both the Celtics and Lakers are going to have a week off before the finals if they keep up this pace.

You know what, give me Rondo over any other PG in the league. I didn't give him the benefit of the doubt, because I didn't want UK bias to set in, but he does more than any other PG in the league IMO. Maybe some others put up better stats, but numbers can't really describe Rondo's worth.

 

I agree.

If I am SVG, the starters don't get out of their warmups in game 4.

Hey man, it's cool you're a Lakers fan :thumb:.

 

I think we've seen what Odom can do against Boston. I don't think anyone on here is higher on Bynum than I am, but Boston can slow him down. Just because I think Boston will not allow LA to get easy points in the paint doesn't mean that I'm underestimating the Lakers front line. I think Pau Gasol is the best big in the game right now, but I think he would only do as good at PF against Boston.

 

I think that Boston can man up with LA's frontline, with little to no help. That negates so much of what LA is good at. Gasol is one of the best passing big men I've ever seen, but Boston doesn't allow alot of cuts to the basket that are often created by double teams, because they don't have to double down. Boston makes it extremely tough to swing the ball, and play great help-side defense. That is going to take away the next best part of LA's post game IMO, which is their weak-side production, such as rebounds for Gasol and especially Odom and dives to the rim by Bynum. What makes LA so tough in my mind is the huge advantage they have inside. They have better talent than the Celtics, but I do think that Boston can guard them very well.

 

Talent-wise Gasol, Odom, and Bynum are a better unit IMO, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they'll win the series. LA's big perfectly compliment Kobe, Fisher and Artest, and Boston's Bigs are perfect for Rondo, Pierce and Allen. Talent isn't everything.

 

No doubt LA's bigs have to play better than '08. But, Bynum was injured in '08. I think two years of having him in the lineup will help. And, I agree Boston presents more problems. I guess I'm just optimistic that the Lakers have toughened up a bit and will be motivated to redeem themselves. It should be a good series.

 

And, after last night, maybe you're right...maybe Boston is better this time around. :thumb: