Atlantic Division Best: Celtics or Knicks?

Where is the vote for the Sixers?

If Baron Davis is able to get over his injuries and contribute,
then the Knicks will be a force in the East come the playoffs.

Looking forward to the Christmas day game for now.

I don’t think Chandler fits a typical D’Antoni system, nor does Melo for that matter, and I don’t see the complimentary defensive pieces that are needed to alter this team’s defense on a grand scale. I also think, despite the Knicks’ potency on offense, they lack a system that optimizes the team’s overall offense. Really just a lot of iso and post up ball, although I read today they were studing Oregan’s offensive system.
I’d take the Celtics in 6 or 7 games.

I like what I saw from Rondo, especially in the last preseason game. He looked for and hit some open jumpers. Any of the Knicks guards can’t handle him. The Knicks, while full of offense, are mostly a 1-on-1 type team with a lot of iso for Amare and Melo. I personally think the Celtics will surprise some teams with our new additions. And I am soooo happy that our # 9 is still in green!

Chandler has thrived with PGs like Paul and Kidd. A shoot first…pass to the snitchster second, pass to Stoudemire third, and shoot fourth isn’t going to sit well with Chandler.

I doubt Chandler will defend as hard or as well covering for Davis, the snitchster, and Stoudemire while getting no touches.

Way too many egos and way too little defense.

.500 team.

boston is the best in the east go boston go you are #1

Unfortunately this first game sets up well in NY’s favor:

a) It is opening night.
b) It is in their garden.
c) Massive media hype over the Chandler addition and supposed ‘changing of the guard’ will have them brimming with confidence.
d) No Paul Pierce.

All these things kinda lead me to expect that the Knicks will be hyper-pumped and come out like a storm surge. They will play over their heads and if the C’s don’t stay poised they could fall behind quickly and even get blown out.

Paul Pierce is the perfect assassin for killing the enthusiasm of MSG crowds and it looks like we won’t have him. He also is our best match up against ’Melo.

I love Marquis and he is a very good perimeter defender, but he’s not big. I predict that NY will try to post up Melo on him all day. As much as I think Marquis is a better overall player, it may make sense for Doc to put Sasha out there a lot to try to just pound on ‘Melo. He’s bigger than Quis and may help slow Melo down. If Sasha fouls out, it’s not the end of the world. We can look elsewhere for our scoring. After all, Rondo and Ray should own their match ups by a significant margin. And with KG and JO both looking healthy at this point, it should be pointed out that both have historically played well against both Chandler and Amare. This will, of course, be the first time they’ve all played together in the same game. But that might be an advantage for KG & JO who have now played a lot more games together as teammates.

At any rate, there is a fair chance we lose this one game. But I don’t think it will mean anything in the long run. If healthy, I think this Celtics team is significantly better overall than the Knicks.

When healthy, JO & KG are a hell of a defensive big man tandem and our guards collectively are just lights out better in every way. I’ll give NY the edge in point production out of the 4 & the 3. But that’s about it.

The Celtics are the better team because they’ve been around longer and posses qualities that the Knicks are trying to build for this year and years to come. In 2008 and 2011, the Celtics had the best starting line-up in the NBA, but they had to prove it with play. Any team can look good on paper, but u have to showcase your work.

We get caught up in today’s media with sensationalizing certain teams and athletes. Too many blogs and sites give voice to people who don’t know much. The Celtics are proven and that Knicks have to prove.

Pundits and “experts” around the web seem torn on the old school vs. new kids on the block, so it should make for an entertaining first game of the season as well as something of a race throughout the year.

The Knicks are new on the block and the Celtics are old school. And in today’s media old school sometimes get’s pushed out of the conversation, so we as Celtics fans have to expect that. Even if the Knicks win the first game of the season it doesn’t say much about them or Boston.

Last season the Celtics beat Miami 3x, but Miami defeated the C’s in playoffs. Now granted the Celtic went into that series with out a healthy Shaq, no bench chemistry, no Perkins, Erden, Daniels and one-arm Rondo. At this stage w/ the C’s they’ll probably slide into the east as #3 or #4 because they’ll rest through the regular season.

Media predictions are meaningless. I don’t buying into ESPN, Yahoo, Sports Illustrated and etc. The game is played on the court not on paper. Any team can look good on paper, but you have to play an entire season first.

How about the Playoffs?

The Knicks were no match for the Celtics in last year’s playoffs, so I’m not inclined to give them much more credit with Chandler swapped out for Chauncey Billups. Again, Tyson certainly helps, but you can’t just plug in one defensive center and expect the defense to come for everyone else. It takes a system, it takes commitment up and down the roster, it takes personnel willing to defend, and it takes coaching. The Knicks have none of that and the Celtics have it in spades.

The Knicks will probably have a descent regular season though I’m not crazy about their bench as constructed, but the Playoffs Celtics are one of the better if not the best playoff team when healthy and at full strength.

Regardless none this talk of who’s gonna win or win the NBA title means nothing until June. The two teams that are standing will have the last say. For now ignore the sports pundits on ESPN, SI, Yahoo because they get paid to make premature predictions.

Later, folks.