The Celtics is still the Best in the East
by Wilbert on Jul 26, 2009 3:10 PM EDT
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PrintThe smoke that was the free agency is starting to set and so far Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are still the top three favorites in the East.
Orlando has been the busiest among the three acquiring key players : Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass. Forget about losing Hedo Turkuglo these new look team that they've assembled is I think much, much better. While their previous line up that went to the Finals relied heavily on three pointers these team is more flexible offense wise and tougher defensively.
Vince Carter alone drastically changes how the Magic offense runs and will give Dwight Howard more options to operate inside the way Carter can breakdown an opponent's defensive scheme with his one on one plays. The addition of the other three gives them a very solid depth in terms of size which will prove handy against Cleveland and Boston's big men.
Lebron James, on the other hand, is still the main reason why Cleveland is a contender. We all know what he can do plus he's desire to win and his competitiveness is extremely scary. Shaq is a nice complement to Z but at his age, I don't think he will be much of an impact compared to what Anthony Parker can bring to the table. Parker will be a solid contributor to their backcourt and can possibly bump Delonte West or Daniel Gibson off the team's rotation while Jamario Moon gives the Cavaliers another defender who's also a decent scorer.
For Boston, Rasheed is it's biggest (and so far only) prize catch this summer: a mobile big man who can defend, can score and brings a high level of intensity to a game. But much of the team's success will still rely on the health of the Big 3. Rasheed adds frontcourt depth but a fatal injury to any of the Big 3 especially in Ray Allen and Paul Pierce's position will be a huge setback which is why Marquis Daniels acquisition is well anticipated because it's brings depth in their G/F position.
The new season is still a few months away and already I am excited to see how these changes will turn out for these teams and for the league as well. But as things stand right now, I think Boston still has a slight edge over Orlando and Cleveland owing mainly to it's Hall of Fame veterans and playoff experienced young guns in Rondo, Perkins and BBD.
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I think the Celtics have a added pressure.
The Celtics have a win now attitude. Which they should. They go into the season the oldest out of all the contenders. Which is the best thing to me. The mix of youth,and veterans. If heathy no question the best in the East. Ray Allen is the oldest of the big 3,and I did not notice any huge decline in his play in 2009.He played much better in 2009 then he did in 2008. If we can rest him with Eddie playing more,and Daniels in the fold this coming season. He will be effective for sure.
The Magic are the team to beat in the East right now.I don’t think there better,but it depends on Vince Carter. He has been injury free for the past 6 seasons. He’s not even close to being able to carry a team on his back anymore. He’s 32,and that’s not even my concern. Ray Allen is 34,but then again Ray seems to take care of his body more. Vince has carried a team in his prime with the Raptors,and really after the 2001 playoffs not much greatness out of him. I think he’s in a place he can do good things. Will he score 20 points a game. I think that’s over for him. Vince Carter is the wild card for this team. How well he plays will determine how far they go.
Carter went for 21 a game last year
And he doesn’t take care of his body? He’s missed a total of 8 games the last three years.
People have been sleeping on Carter because he’s played on bad Nets teams recently. But go read what the Nets beat writers have to say about Carter — nothing but praise for his professionalism, effort, durability, and skill set.
He is a huge upgrade for the Magic. Ray Allen will have his hands full.
by CaliFlorida on Jul 27, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
VC has become an expensive perimeter player
I could not agree more! Vince Carter will always be a threat in some way…he is a born scorer. Having said that, his best days are behind him…he settles more now than he did in Toronto ( the later years) when he wouldn’t let himself out of the box for fear of getting hurt again. I respect VC but he doesn’t get to the rack like he used to and is turning into more of a perimiter player every year. He does not concern me like he used to. Also, Ive noticed more and more when he played against Boston this year his focus just isn’t there. He’s yucking it up with our players and the refs etc…just no fire. I think Turkalu(??) was the lynch pin for that team.
the celtics are so versatile!
there are so many lineups they can use. they can basically match up with anyone.
The Magic are so much more athletic than the creaky old Celtics
Carter, Howard, Pietrus, Brandon Bass and now Barnes can all get up and down the court better than any opposing player on the Celtics they will be matched up against. The Magic will kill the Celtics in transition just like last year.
by CaliFlorida on Jul 27, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
Rondo is the fastest on the court
Rondo will pick up the speed,and Garnett can run up the floor with Rondo.
Are you joking?
You need to pay attention to the games more. Nelson is stronger. Rondo is quicker,and becoming a triple double machine. He rebounds the ball better than any point guard right now. Only Jason Kidd gets more at the point guard spot. Your going to tell me that Nelson is faster than Monta Ellis to?
im not worried about dwight perk dominated him in the playoffs, and with Kg back rashard lewis isnt goin to put up the numbers like he did in the 2009 playoffs against the celtics, and if vince carter goes off for 40 points a game and beats us in the finals then good for him but im not worried about the magic one bit, cleveland, san antonio and lakers r the only true threats to the celtics.
Since last year the magic lost hedo, courtney lee and rafer alston, and gained vince bass and barnes, there is almsot no upgrade there. and the celtics without KG, Rasheed and marquis and with the likely hood baby will come back. and we still took them to 7 games last year. The way we dominated the magic in the regular season with our whole team intact, i think thats the way the celtics will watch up aginast them next year
Rashard can matchup at SF now
because the Magic have legit 4’s now in Bass and Anderson. Rashard is a handful at the 3, even for Pierce. And Perkins didn’t dominate Dwight — he merely defended him better one on one than anyone else in the playoffs. Dwight still hung a 22 and 17 game and a 23 and 22 game on your boy. Name a single game where Perkins stats were better than Dwights – to the point of being dominating?
Carter is an upgrade over Turkoglu— no question about it. He’s a better scorer, better shooter, less turnover prone, and averaged just as many assists on a bad Nets team as Turkoglu did for the Magic. Carter is a very difficult cover for a 34/35 yr. old Ray Allen, who didn’t have to worry much against the Magic on the defensive end last year.
We will see. But this year’s Magic’s team is way better than the team that beat the Celtics this year.
celtics 94 is close on the domination of howard califlorida
Perkins didn’t do it by the numbers,but he controlled the paint in all the wins. Just by being there,and Dwight didn’t get to carry them. Perkins gives him problems because Perkins is bigger down low. Howard is quicker,but the reason the Magic won the series was not due to Howard. It was the three point shooting that really was the thorn. The Magic made 56 3’s,and the Celtics made just 35 3’s in the series. Howard has high numbers like that due to the fact he played over 40 minutes a game in the series,and Perkins in the mid 30’s.
The comment on Carter I made earlier. Bottom line he’s the wild card.He needs to be a great role player for this to work for them. We don’t know what he brings to a team like the Magic.
The Magic have a better team than last year. The Celtics have a heathy Garnett,and a better team to then last year.
The idea of Perkins dominating Howard is absurd
You lose all credibility saying something like that.
Again, Perkins poses as tough a defensive matchup for Dwight Howard as anyone in the league (now that Yao is out). But make no mistake, when Dwight is on, he DOMINATES Perkins. And the stats support that.
VC averaged the same amount of assists as Hedo
and he did that on the woeful Nets team. Hedo did it on a team full of shooters. VC assists will go up at least 2 a game.. count on it
LOL!!
VC just wants to fit in on the magic! unlike on NJ he is they’re leader..the go to guy..
in magic its different.. Dwight is there leader
and you think VC can’t run offense? lol.. haha what a joke
VC just play picknroll with a Rookie! brook lopez and its effective like he did on jersey.
but now with Dwight?? that would be nice
either Magics/Celtics Vs. Lakers on final!
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