The Posey Factor

[Celtics17]

Posey was huge in 08! It's funny how players like him are always discounted. That being said, this current squad brings an element the 08 didnt. First, Rondo is now a superstar and can on any given night be not only the best point but the best player on the floor, Kobe included. Also, Rasheed provides excellent low post D, a solid banger and the ability to stretch the floor by bringing opposing bigs out. Nate brings quickness that we didnt have and TA can be a pest to Kobe and Artest. I loved Posey's game and often played sports in a similar style but this years team is better then the 08 squad. C's in 6!

[RockinRyA]

posey was huge in 08 finals, but not in the whole playoffs. i can remember myself screaming at the tv for doc to put pierce back in for posey coz lebron was abusing him. with the lakers though he did a good job esp making lamar invisible permanently

[BudweiserCeltic]

posey was huge in 08 finals, but not in the whole playoffs. i can remember myself screaming at the tv for doc to put pierce back in for posey coz lebron was abusing him. with the lakers though he did a good job esp making lamar invisible permanently

That's my take on it. Also, Kobe had his way with him for the most part. In game 6 he did an excellent job on him, but our team defensive scheme was on the top of his game. As soon as Kobe tried to make a move 2 or 3 players were there to make him hesitate on penetration. But Posey did his job.

But other than those instances, Posey couldn't keep up with Kobe. It's why Pierce guarding Kobe down the stretch of some of these games were so important. If Posey were doing such a great job on Kobe I don't think we would ever have seen Pierce guarding Kobe, because there would have been really little need for it.

But Posey was great against the rest of the Lakers, particularly Odom and Vlad.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

Posey was a luxury to have in 2008, but he's not the same player anymore, at least from an offensive perspective. He's lost some of his speed and shot pretty terrible %'s this year - FG's= .365% and 3PT% = 35%.

Sure he may have played better dawning a Celtics jersey but I like the specialization of each guy now as opposed to the "glue guy" we had in Posey.

Tony, Baby, and Sheed and Nate all combine to have the skill-set of Posey, but obviously each of them is not as talented at both ends.

Tony gives us hustle, D, and some opportunistic offense
Baby gives us toughness, rebounding, and offense
Sheed gives us toughness, D, the 3-ball, and 6 fouls to use
Nate gives us some instant offense and pressures the ball on D up the court - oh and some much needed SWAGGER from the bench as well

When Posey got in foul trouble we had the luxury of having PJ come in, but now we have Sheldon which many feel is a huge drop-off/difference, but I think Sheldon can come in and play fundamental basketball and use his fouls wisely should he get called upon in the finals due to injury or foul trouble. Call me crazy but I believe Sheldon is servicable.

[rjsuperfly66]

Posey was tough on Kobe...hard fouls and subtle pushes
Powe got some critical flops and free throws
PJ Brown pushed Pau and Odom around like they were kids

I'm Glad all 3 of them are gone for this series.

Ummmm, let's not talk about flops, okay?
Or do I need to remind you:

Pau doesn't flop, he's just soft.

Powe, ironically a huge muscular dude, is a flopper.

You are making all 6-8, 240 of Leon Powe sound like freakin Goliath compared to the 7-0, 250 frame of Gasol.

[LB3533]

We will miss Posey's timely 3's, but what we will miss most is his "edge factor", his getting under opponents' skin.

Posey is an agitator, better at it then Baby or Allen.

But that was 2 years ago. I haven't watched a lot of Hornets games, but I gather Posey got his contract and the losing ways of the Hornets have taken a lot of steam out of an aging Posey.

I don't think he could help us as much as he did back in 2008.

[fairweatherfan]

Posey was tough on Kobe...hard fouls and subtle pushes
Powe got some critical flops and free throws
PJ Brown pushed Pau and Odom around like they were kids

I'm Glad all 3 of them are gone for this series.

Ummmm, let's not talk about flops, okay?
Or do I need to remind you:

Pau had an epic flop on Stoudemire in Game 6 with about a minute and a half left, Suns down 5 with the ball. 

And Fisher is one of the all-time greats at the last possession inbounds flop, to the point that when Korver actually held him late in Game 3 of the Utah series the refs didn't buy it.

[BballTim]

Posey was tough on Kobe...hard fouls and subtle pushes
Powe got some critical flops and free throws
PJ Brown pushed Pau and Odom around like they were kids

I'm Glad all 3 of them are gone for this series.

Ummmm, let's not talk about flops, okay?
Or do I need to remind you:

Pau doesn't flop, he's just soft.

Powe, ironically a huge muscular dude, is a flopper.

  Depends on your definition of a flopper. Powe exaggerates the effect of contact on him, as opposed to falling down when no real contact occurs. More "selling fouls" than flopping, and yes there is a difference.