Rose
Korver
Redick
Noah
Boozer
Honestly, with all the trouble they've given us over the years, this roster looks to be an absolute force. I mean, wow. They're basically a younger, faster version of the Celtics with better shooting and rebounding. Redick and Korver are absolutely going to light it up for 3 point land. Pierce and Ray have no hope of keeping up. Down low, Noah is going to give KG all kinds of headaches and even if Perk can't neutralize Boozer, he brings no offensive game of his own. And Rondo/Rose is pretty much a wash.
In essence, they outmatch us from virtually every position and I don't see any way we get past them with all the weapons they bring to the table. In fact, I like this team as a sleeper team to take out both us, The Super Heat and The Magic. Hell, they may even give the Lakers a run for their money (though I think the size of Gasol/Bynum will ultimately be the tipping point for the Lakers). I mean, really, how can we hope to beat this team? Even if our defense can slow them down, their rebounding, speed and 3 point power is going to do us in.
The best we can hope for is that this team does well enough in the regular season to wind up on the other side of the bracket. If them and the Heat can beat each other up enough before the have to face us, maybe we stand an outside chance of beating whichever team makes it out of that blood bath. The East is shaping up to be an absolute gunfight and the Celtics are bringing a walker.
Well, GH - I'll take our Starting Five over that one (CHI) any day. Sure, Chicago has vastly improved, but I don't see them beating us in a series.
Perk (or J.O) will neutralize Noah..Noah is certainly an up-and-coming Big - somewhat similar to Perk, but - he isn't Perk (or as gifted offensively) as JO. I think we have a slight advantage here.
KG VS Boozer? Well, Boozer has had a LOT of trouble in the past with long PF's, and they don't come much longer (Or Better Defensively) than our KG. Gasol gave Boozer much frustration in the playoffs the last two yrs, due to his height alone. I would watch Gasol (or Bynum) just simply hold their arms and hands straight (textbook Defense) up whenever Boozer got the ball down low, and this alone was enought to create enough havoc for Boozer to miss.
Offensively? KG will have no trouble getting his shot off VS Boozer, who's 6'9". Plus, the thing that makes me happy is that we will have the 09-10 playoff version KG (Version 2.1
) from here on out vice the version who sadly limped through the regular season due to his rehabbing knee.
KG said all along last year that his knee was fine, and he showed it to me at least during the playoffs.
As for SF? You mean Korver? Korver? Look he's a great shooter, no doubt, but unless CHI has Deng who can slow Pierce down somewhat, I look for Pierce to have the same kind of playoff series against CHI as he had against ORL last yr - when he basically torched Matt Barnes.
Backcourt? Sure - Rose is a top 6 or 7 PG, but our Rondo is a Top 3. And Rondo is now 2+yrs advanced from Rose having that stellar playoff series against him, in 08-09. While Rose will definitely cause us fits, he certainly won't have the same effect again like he had then. He will have a more mobile KG, Perk, and O'Neal waiting for him in the paint this time to counter him from just waltzing into it like he did in 08-09. Plus, we will have TA or Nate to slow him down. If TA could give Kobe and Wade fits last playoffs, then Rose is certainly not above those two.
Redddick? He is a crafty defender and scorer, but it will be interesting to see him put up the same numbers as a starter. I was rooting for him to come to Boston as a backup to Ray. Now, as a starter in CHI VS us? I'll take our Backcourt of Ray and Rondo (and TA and Nate) any day.
Plus, our overall Bench strength of Davis, TA, Nate, (Hopefully Scal), Shelden and eventually Jermaine O'Neal once Perk comes back will certainly spell our starters - and I think they will be better than whatever CHI can put out there.
Plus, Danny isn't finished getting us more players, I think. IMO, we need one more Offensive Wing, who doesn't mind playing defense - who can spell Pierce.
Dorrell Wright, anyone? I've always been intrigued by him.
TP for the discussion, GH. That's my take. IF we met CHI in the playoffs in 10-11, we will beat them in 6 rather tough games. But it will be Six. And by then, we will have Perk back.
Edit - I forgot all about Harangody, Bradley and Marquis Daniels. My Bad.
We may very well have the team we need to do compete next yr already.
Topic: Forget the Super Heat, The Cs won't even make it past the Bulls (Read 11922 times)