When will ESPN stop with their LeBron/Cavs blinded love?

[Edgar]

ahh and shaq is done....


most people here will get this one.

He could be totally washed up for all I care. He would still be more productive than Pavlovic and the corpse of Ben Wallace.

then you will be in trouble
I was obviousluy joking about diesel
I like the guy
But Cavs need him
Z isnt getting any better

[Chris]

ahh and shaq is done....


most people here will get this one.

He could be totally washed up for all I care. He would still be more productive than Pavlovic and the corpse of Ben Wallace.

Now this can't be debated.  But I think the question is whether Shaq is good enough to get them past the Magic or the C's.  I think with both teams improvements, that is still up in the air.

[Check_My_Stats]

But next time the Cavs play in Boston, they should just leave Delonte. You guys can have him back.

I know it's a waste of time actually pointing something out to you, but as far as i can recall delonte was the only one of the cavs' that didn't completely choke in that orlando series in which they were one lebron miracle shot away from getting swept...

At least boston made a series out of it (with scal and mikki moore as the backup bigs...)

Delonte was the biggest reason they lose. Go back to game 4 when Cleveland had a two point least in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. West turned the ball over and Orlano got possesion. Lewis proceeded to his another clutch 3 to give them the lead and win in OT. West blew it.

[the_Bird]

I just don't see...  if we work under the premise that KG's healthy and that 'Sheed is motivated, who's going to defend those guys on Cleveland?  Who's going to defend BBD on the perimiter?  It's not going to be Shaq.  It's not going to be Big Z.  It's going to have to be Sideshow, which brings me great joy as a Celtic fan.  

The worries I might have about having to defend Shaq are nothing comparied to the giddiness I feel when thinking about him having to defend us.  

What's Shaq going to do against Rondo when he drives, other than foul him?

If the C's are vulnerable, I still think it's against the more-athletic teams, but I don't see that with Cleveland.  If Cleveland beats us - and they very well could - it'll have everything to do with LeBron and nothing to do with Shaq.

[indeedproceed]

even if Cleveland doesn't make it out of the East, we'll never know. Lebron will throw a hissy fit and command his Nike minions to come into our houses and use men in black mind wipers to erase our memories and steal all our DVR's. There will be no evidence left of the 4-0 beatdown the Celtics level on the Cavaliers.

Then, when the luckiest amongst us meet Lebron in the streets, and we put our irrational fandom aside and offer to shake the hand of a fine if a bit immature basketball player, LeBron will flatly decline. He'll make up some excuse about how he's on the way to a nike/allstate/frank's rib shack/Best Buy Brand Green Beans commercial, but we'll know. It'll be a lie. Cuz he doesn't shake hands.

Seriously though, how is anyone gonna rank a team above the magic? Until the games start, they have top billing. they earned that much.  

[Chris]

But next time the Cavs play in Boston, they should just leave Delonte. You guys can have him back.

I know it's a waste of time actually pointing something out to you, but as far as i can recall delonte was the only one of the cavs' that didn't completely choke in that orlando series in which they were one lebron miracle shot away from getting swept...

At least boston made a series out of it (with scal and mikki moore as the backup bigs...)

Delonte was the biggest reason they lose. Go back to game 4 when Cleveland had a two point least in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. West turned the ball over and Orlano got possesion. Lewis proceeded to his another clutch 3 to give them the lead and win in OT. West blew it.

Well, I think the biggest reason they lost was that they had no one who could slow down Howard 1 on 1.  If you watched the C's - Magic series, you probably saw that if a team could keep him in check 1 on 1, then it completely stifled their offense.  

If the Cavs had someone who they could put on Howard and not need to double, and keep him to say, 25 points, they would have absolutely waltzed to the finals last year.  That is why the Shaq pickup is so important.  Of course I personally think having Shaq out there clogging up the paint actually hurts the Cavs matchup a bit against the C's, since the way to beat the C's defense is through penetration, and swinging the ball to big men for mid range jumpshots.

[Check_My_Stats]

ahh and shaq is done....


most people here will get this one.

He could be totally washed up for all I care. He would still be more productive than Pavlovic and the corpse of Ben Wallace.

Now this can't be debated.  But I think the question is whether Shaq is good enough to get them past the Magic or the C's.  I think with both teams improvements, that is still up in the air.

The Magic have to use a conventional lineup now. The main reason they beat us was the mismatches and not having a post presence. And as for Boston, the Cavs just matchup well with them. And now they have a post presence. Something they haven't had since Boozer.

[4THQTR]

But next time the Cavs play in Boston, they should just leave Delonte. You guys can have him back.

I know it's a waste of time actually pointing something out to you, but as far as i can recall delonte was the only one of the cavs' that didn't completely choke in that orlando series in which they were one lebron miracle shot away from getting swept...

At least boston made a series out of it (with scal and mikki moore as the backup bigs...)

Delonte was the biggest reason they lose. Go back to game 4 when Cleveland had a two point least in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. West turned the ball over and Orlano got possesion. Lewis proceeded to his another clutch 3 to give them the lead and win in OT. West blew it.

Guess they should have just given the ball to the best-ever and watched him not-shaking hands and showing his new definition of being a good sport afterwards...

On a more serious note, yeah that was an awful possession by west but apart from that i think he looked like the cavs 2nd best player behind lebron.

[the_Bird]

... the Cavs have a post presense, but we have one of the best post defenders in Perk (and plenty of depth this year).  Stalemate there.

[Check_My_Stats]

I just don't see...  if we work under the premise that KG's healthy and that 'Sheed is motivated, who's going to defend those guys on Cleveland?  Who's going to defend BBD on the perimiter?  It's not going to be Shaq.  It's not going to be Big Z.  It's going to have to be Sideshow, which brings me great joy as a Celtic fan.  

The worries I might have about having to defend Shaq are nothing comparied to the giddiness I feel when thinking about him having to defend us.  

What's Shaq going to do against Rondo when he drives, other than foul him?

If the C's are vulnerable, I still think it's against the more-athletic teams, but I don't see that with Cleveland.  If Cleveland beats us - and they very well could - it'll have everything to do with LeBron and nothing to do with Shaq.

Cavs haven't had a problem guarding Sheed in the past. What changed? And Baby doesn't hit that jumper unless he totally open. You gotta respect his jumpshot but its more of him spotting up, not creating himself.

[greenwise]

When?

When he is somehow tested positive for steroids

[Check_My_Stats]

But next time the Cavs play in Boston, they should just leave Delonte. You guys can have him back.

I know it's a waste of time actually pointing something out to you, but as far as i can recall delonte was the only one of the cavs' that didn't completely choke in that orlando series in which they were one lebron miracle shot away from getting swept...

At least boston made a series out of it (with scal and mikki moore as the backup bigs...)

Delonte was the biggest reason they lose. Go back to game 4 when Cleveland had a two point least in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. West turned the ball over and Orlano got possesion. Lewis proceeded to his another clutch 3 to give them the lead and win in OT. West blew it.

Well, I think the biggest reason they lost was that they had no one who could slow down Howard 1 on 1.  If you watched the C's - Magic series, you probably saw that if a team could keep him in check 1 on 1, then it completely stifled their offense.  

If the Cavs had someone who they could put on Howard and not need to double, and keep him to say, 25 points, they would have absolutely waltzed to the finals last year.  That is why the Shaq pickup is so important.  Of course I personally think having Shaq out there clogging up the paint actually hurts the Cavs matchup a bit against the C's, since the way to beat the C's defense is through penetration, and swinging the ball to big men for mid range jumpshots.

Shaq isn't known as a DPOY obviosuly, but he will sure as Hell make Howard work harder than Z. And about the clogging the paint theory, maybe. But Lebron played in starting lineups with Wallace and Varejao. So will see.

[Chris]

But next time the Cavs play in Boston, they should just leave Delonte. You guys can have him back.

I know it's a waste of time actually pointing something out to you, but as far as i can recall delonte was the only one of the cavs' that didn't completely choke in that orlando series in which they were one lebron miracle shot away from getting swept...

At least boston made a series out of it (with scal and mikki moore as the backup bigs...)

Delonte was the biggest reason they lose. Go back to game 4 when Cleveland had a two point least in the last 30 seconds of the 4th quarter. West turned the ball over and Orlano got possesion. Lewis proceeded to his another clutch 3 to give them the lead and win in OT. West blew it.

Well, I think the biggest reason they lost was that they had no one who could slow down Howard 1 on 1.  If you watched the C's - Magic series, you probably saw that if a team could keep him in check 1 on 1, then it completely stifled their offense.  

If the Cavs had someone who they could put on Howard and not need to double, and keep him to say, 25 points, they would have absolutely waltzed to the finals last year.  That is why the Shaq pickup is so important.  Of course I personally think having Shaq out there clogging up the paint actually hurts the Cavs matchup a bit against the C's, since the way to beat the C's defense is through penetration, and swinging the ball to big men for mid range jumpshots.

Shaq isn't known as a DPOY obviosuly, but he will sure as Hell make Howard work harder than Z. And about the clogging the paint theory, maybe. But Lebron played in starting lineups with Wallace and Varejao. So will see.

Right, Shaq will be huge against Orlando.  I think they cost themselves a championship last year by not pulling the trigger before the trade deadline.  Now they did it, but the competition has all gotten much better.

[nickagneta]

Perkins can't even stay out of foul trouble guarding Big Z. He will have 3 fouls easily before halftime trying to guard Shaq or playing help defense

Check these stats:

Over his career Perk has held Shaq to 17.8 PPG, 8.7 PPG, 1.8 BPG, 11.5 FGAPG. Shaq's career stas are 24.7 PPG, 11.2 RPG, 2.35 BPG, 16.8 FGAPG.

Also, Perk only averages 3.3 personal fouls per game against Shaq.

Since the current Celtics team has been put together here are the Shaq vs Perk head to head numbers:

5 Games:

Perk  8.2 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.0 BPG, 5.0 FGAPG, 26.2 MPG
Shaq 13.4 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 1.4 BPG, 8.4 FGAPG, 26.6 MPG

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=onealsh01&p2=perkike01
_______________________________________________________
In the Perk vs Big Z numbers Perk averages 2.9 personal fouls per game against Ilgauskas.

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=ilgauzy01&p2=perkike01

playing help defense on Lebron when he blows by Pierce.

You have got to be kidding me. Is there anyone in the league that gives Lebron more trouble than Pierce. For practically every point assist and rebound that LeBron gets on Pierce, Pierce gets the same on Lebron. Check out these stats:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=jamesle01&p2=piercpa01
Lebron vs Pierce
29.6 vs 23.9 PPG
6.4 vs 4.7 APG
6.3 vs 5.9 RPG

I just have no idea what you are talking about in your Lebron blowing by Pierce comment. Especially last year when there were 2 or 3 very famous video clips going around of Pierce faking LeBron out of his jock strap, one being on opening night that i remember quite well.

[Drucci]

- Shaq had his best season in about 5 years last year, and the Cavs don't need 20 and 10 every night from him. 
- Cavs had a better record and made it further than we did last year.
- No one's seen KG play since he got hurt (except the aborted comeback) and regardless of why, Sheed unarguably had a lousy season.
- Our guys play better when they feel disrespected.
- Preseason rankings mean even less than preseason games.


I'm fine with this.

- Shaq had his best season and stayed in great shape last year, yeah. I have no doubts about his capacties and what he can bring to the Cavs, I'm just saying that the health question about KG or Sheed are just as important as the ones about Shaq's health. I'm always repeating it but the Suns' medical staff is the best of the league, keeping guys like Nash and Shaq in shape while they are used to have recurrent health problems. Not to mention Grant Hill who played 82 games for the first time in his career in Phoenix last season.

I'm betting that Shaq won't play the full season and won't be in great shape come playoffs times. I may be wrong but you have to consider Shaq's age and health issues, especially if you consider KG's and Sheed's. After all, Shaq is older than them and has had more injuries in his career.

- The Cavs had a better record last year, and what? The Celtics had a better record than them last year, and it didn't give them more chances of being the best team in the East the past season ; this argument has no sense, the success of the past season can't predict the success of the following one. The Cavs can get injured too.

- I understand the point about not seeing KG play since his surgery and Sheed's disastrous season. But you can question the team chemistry issues in Cleveland with the arrival of Shaq, we don't even know if he will fit well in the team since we never saw him play with the Cavs.

I agree that our team plays better when it's considered the underdog and I don't give any credit to ESPN's predictions (they are almost always wrong). But what bugs me is that they keep talking about LeBron and the Cavs as the greatest team in the East, if not the league, thus showing how biased they are, which is quite disturbing for a powerful media like ESPN.

I agree with IP when he says that the Magic should be at the top of the standings predictions since they are the current Eastern Conference ChampionS.