i dont think u guys can hang with boston they have 6 legit big men (assuming wallace doesn't retire) down low. Bosh is going to get his ass whooped. They can keep coming at u and pounding the ball down low. I have never seen a team with this many good big men.

Also playing against a regular team, 2 great perimeter defensive players will help out a lot down low but when playing against allen and pierce it won't help out as much

1. The 2 time defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers
2. Boston
3. Miami
4. OKC
5. Chicago

2quik4u;444251 wrote:i dont think u guys can hang with boston they have 6 legit big men (assuming wallace doesn't retire) down low. Bosh is going to get his ass whooped. They can keep coming at u and pounding the ball down low. I have never seen a team with this many good big men.

Also playing against a regular team, 2 great perimeter defensive players will help out a lot down low but when playing against allen and pierce it won't help out as much

Yeah but its not like Big Baby and Perkins are gonna win a series by dominating the post, I highly highly doubt that.

Hb31187;444295 wrote:Yeah but its not like Big Baby and Perkins are gonna win a series by dominating the post, I highly highly doubt that.

Give Big Baby some credit. He has really come along the last couple seasons. He is very valuable to Celtics.

mallymal614;444395 wrote:Give Big Baby some credit. He has really come along the last couple seasons. He is very valuable to Celtics.

But he's a defensive liability. I love how people use an argument about how someone is good offensively, yet ignore the other end of the floor. Big Baby is a horrible defender and is undersized. He brings energy and can score, but gives up just as much on the other end. And who is he going to guard? Bosh? Lebron?

Lakers
Celtics

I cant see the Heat hangin with the Celtics down low. Heat have the superior perimeter guys but playoff basketball is won in the paint. This is where the C's have a big advantage.

I wonder how a lot of these predictions will stack up against last years? Can't be any worse.

Gotta give 2quik some dap though

Boston? That's a head stratcher for me. I'm failing to see how Boston is so much better down low than Miami, if at all. There are only so many minutes to go around. Perk won't be healthy until late in the season probably. Shaq is just a chemistry issue-- what happes if Wallace comes back and Perk is healthy and JO is fine, where does that leave Shaq? Causing chemistry issues, that's where. JO is the same dude that got punked in the playoffs last year. Sorry, but nobody down low at the C position has what it takes to pound on the Heat. KG and Big Baby are good, that's very true. However, I'd take Miami's 1-2 PF punch over them. I guess I'm also shocked by how Bosh is a nobody now. He's not Dwight Howard on defense so he's a nobody. Ha, he's arguably one of the top 15 players in the league and top 2 PF IMO. Don't forget, somebody will have to guard him as well. He averaged 25.3pts and 11.6rbs against Boston last year. I know that it was regular season ball and not playoff ball, but that tells me that there isn't exactly a Dwight Howard on Boston either. But hey, time will tell.

KR1245;444454 wrote: I cant see the Heat hangin with the Celtics down low. Heat have the superior perimeter guys but playoff basketball is won in the paint. This is where the C's have a big advantage.

I just don't understand this at all. Garnett and Perkins are the bigs for Boston. Bosh is by far better than Garnett. Perkins doesn't score, at all. Who is he going to abuse? People just don't seem to understand how weak the center position is in the NBA. Shaq will not be a difference maker in a series at this point in his career. Big Baby can score, but can't guard anyone. I just don't understand your statement at all.

jpake1;444540 wrote: he's arguably one of the top 15 players in the league and top 2 PF IMO. Don't forget, somebody will have to guard him as well. He averaged 25.3pts and 11.6rbs against Boston last year. I know that it was regular season ball and not playoff ball, but that tells me that there isn't exactly a Dwight Howard on Boston either. But hey, time will tell.

Not really sure why everyone keeps forgetting this. Bosh is a top 2 PF in the NBA, and personally I would have him ranked #1 with Stoudemire #2 and Gasol #3. But those three are the top 3 and then there is a dropoff. Garnett cannot guard Bosh anymore and they certainly are not going to put Big Baby on him. People just seem to forget that basketball is played on two ends of the court.

KR1245;444454 wrote: I cant see the Heat hangin with the Celtics down low. Heat have the superior perimeter guys but playoff basketball is won in the paint.

hahaha, Shaq and Jermain freaking O'Neal are their post guys. Perk will be back late, but there is no guarantee he'll be 2010 playoff Perk. Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal have both been washed up for some time. (I know they have KG, I am mainly talking centers. and I know Bosh will not be playing center per se, but that is only in name. Bosh will be their center. Especially if they want a PG, Mike Miller, Wade, and James on the court at the same time)

Say what you will about the Heat matching up with the Celtics, just don't act like the turd sandwich combo of Shaq and J.O'Neal will be better than Bosh + anybody with a pulse.

thedynasty1998;444571 wrote: Not really sure why everyone keeps forgetting this. Bosh is a top 2 PF in the NBA, and personally I would have him ranked #1 with Stoudemire #2 and Gasol #3.

They forget because he did not agree to a sign and trade with the Cavs. Go look at the old posts pre-"The Decision" and you get their real opinions. (There was a lot of slobbering). Post-"The Decision" he became a guy who doesn't play defense and won't be a difference maker

jordo212000;444574 wrote:hahaha, Shaq and Jermain freaking O'Neal are their post guys. Perk will be back late, but there is no guarantee he'll be 2010 playoff Perk. Shaq and Jermaine O'Neal have both been washed up for some time. (I know they have KG, I am mainly talking centers. and I know Bosh will not be playing center per se, but that is only in name. Bosh will be their center. Especially if they want a PG, Mike Miller, Wade, and James on the court at the same time)

Say what you will about the Heat matching up with the Celtics, just don't act like the turd sandwich combo of Shaq and J.O'Neal will be better than Bosh + anybody with a pulse.

Who exactly do the Heat have down low? You people keep bringing up what the Celtics have. Lets look at the Heat.

Z
Udonis Haslem
Magloire (sp?)
couple rookies
Bosh

I'll take Bostons bigs anyday of the week over that.

I know Shaq isnt the same guy he once was but either are guys like Z, Magloire etc...

If Boston can create chemistry with Rasheed Wallace, Nate Robinson, Stephon Marbury then l'm sure bringing in Shaq, JO and Von Wafer with Doc's system and the leadership already on that team Chemistry issues will not be a problem in that locker room.

1. Lakers
2. Celtics
3. Heat
4. Magic
5. Thunder
6. Denver
7. Dallas
8. Chicago
9. Utah
10. Portland

Pau Gasol is the best PF in the league.

KR1245;444590 wrote:Who exactly do the Heat have down low? You people keep bringing up what the Celtics have. Lets look at the Heat.

Z
Udonis Haslem
Magloire (sp?)
couple rookies
Bosh

I'll take Bostons bigs anyday of the week over that.

Name me 2 good centers in the NBA. That's right, you can't. Howard is the only true center in the NBA today, and he's more of a defensive presence. It's not like the Heat are any different than any other team who lacks a good center. It's just not a position of need as much in today's NBA.

And the Heat are going to make teams match up to them first. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of minutes played with Bosh at center and Lebron at the PF. Talk about match up problems.

Let's remember, games are won by the team who scores the most points.

thedynasty1998;444963 wrote:Name me 2 good centers in the NBA. That's right, you can't. Howard is the only true center in the NBA today, and he's more of a defensive presence. It's not like the Heat are any different than any other team who lacks a good center. It's just not a position of need as much in today's NBA.

And the Heat are going to make teams match up to them first. I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of minutes played with Bosh at center and Lebron at the PF. Talk about match up problems.

Let's remember, games are won by the team who scores the most points.

Yao and Lopez. Two good centers.

Anyways, I think the Celtics have too much size and strength inside for the Heat. Playoff basketball is won in the paint. Perkins might not be an offensive threat but hes a big body. I think he gets overlooked. If this guy can keep Dwight Howard out of the paint he can do the same to Z, Haslem, etc. Shaq might be old, fat and slow but he is still bigger and stronger than anybody the Heat have on their frontline.

Z:Love the guy but he cant do much anymore
Magloire:averaged 2 and 3 last year
Bosh is their only threat in the paint
Haslem is decent

I take Shaq, J Oneal, Big Baby and KG over that frontline anyday of the week. Throw in Perk when he returns as well

Okay, you take the Celtics. That's fine. But what makes you think that combination of bigs is ever going to make a difference in a series against Miami, who has 2 of the top 3 guards in the whole league? Maybe Boston's bigs are slightly better. But Miami's guards are significantly better.

thedynasty1998;445277 wrote:Okay, you take the Celtics. That's fine. But what makes you think that combination of bigs is ever going to make a difference in a series against Miami, who has 2 of the top 3 guards in the whole league? Maybe Boston's bigs are slightly better. But Miami's guards are significantly better.

I still take Rondo and Allen over any guard on that roster outside of Dwayne Wade.

lol miami has nothing down low except for bosh and haslem, they are going to get owned down low against boston and the lakers

2quik4u;445286 wrote:lol miami has nothing down low except for bosh and haslem, they are going to get owned down low against boston and the lakers

Again, what does "owned" mean? Lakers outscore them by 10-15-30?

If Sheed does decide to come back with Shaq, JO, Baby, Perk, KG & Sheed that is 36 team fouls that can be used in a game. I don't think we'd have to worry about someone fouling out of a game vs. Miami. We'll always have someone to get the rebound and outlet it to Rondo for the fast break. Maybe Shaq gives a good hard foul to LeBron on opening night to set the tone. I bet all Cavs fans would love that lol.

Hb31187;443313 wrote:The Rockets though? What are you puffin on haha?

Rockets aren't too bad with or without Yao. Just don't have a good feeling about Denver this year. I'd take the bet to add to my puffin.

As a Laker fan I want to see the Celtics in the 2011 Finals so They can have thier rubber match game and have the 2-1 advantage. Then in 2012 I want to see the Miami Heat in the Finals.
That gives the Big 3 Heat stars 1 year to gel and they won't have any excuses when the lakers beat them in 2012.

KR1245;445280 wrote:I still take Rondo and Allen over any guard on that roster outside of Dwayne Wade.

The only thing is that there are more positions than guards on an NBA roster. The Heat has this guy named Lebron James and he plays forward, he is pretty good. Mike Miller and Ray Allen are a wash at this point in Allen's career. Lebron is better than Man-Boobs Pierce, Bosh has two knees and Garnett has one, and the last two relevant players are Wade and Rondo. Give me D-Wade.

The Heat should be far better than the Celtics this year. Keyword should.