The Bucks have just solidified their ECF slot, Celts should worry

[Brendan]

I see MIL being the classic the whole team < sum of individual players. Take the 2008 Celts, they had the starting 5. 6th man Posey. First big off the bench Brown. The top 7 was perfectly balanced and everyone knew their role. Then they had Powe or BBD depending on matchup for fourth big and House or Cassell at PG for backup. It was a very well integrated team.

BUT beyond that the minutes played were concentrated in the best players, mostly KG, Pierce, and Allen. But also Rondo, Perk and Posey. (The latter two contributing on D mostly.)

MIL has a solid ensemble cast - but those teams need to integrate really well and play good defense to win big. I don't see Gooden, Maggette, Salmons fitting that mold.

[openairmovie]

The Grizz are too big, fast, and athletic for the Bucks to handle.

Grizz are one solid PG (Greivis Vasquez) & one great perimeter Defender (Ronnie Brewer) from contending in the west. They have enough great scorer to be in every game, and enough size up front to give opposing teams fits. I hope Greivis Vasquez lives up to their expectations. I'm looking forward to watching him bring the passion to that franchise.

Do you mean contending for a playoff spot or a title?

Winning the west. They are part of three team that can upset the Lakers in the West. The teams are OKC, Blazers, and Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets can enter the discussion if they acquire Chris Bosh & Yao stays healthy throughout.

I have been saying that for a while that they are just a coach away.  OJ Mayo is a stud, Rudy gay is a tremendous player. Coming into last season I thought that Randolph would hold them back and obviously AI would which he did, but Randolph has saved his career and could  be back in the discussion as one of the top 15 big men again. He had a GREAt season last year. Conley Im not sure what to make of yet, I really thought he would be a star but hasn't developed that much. I think vasquez is the real deal though. I follow the Griz very close as they are my 2nd team, I really like the things they have been doing, as I also like what OKC has been doing. I cant agree with you more about OKC and Memphis having a realistic shot at upending LA. Not sure about Portland though.  I can say this though, at this point right now I dont see any way the Celtics could beat OKC  OR memphis in a 7 game series so be glad we are in the East

[Who]

The Grizz are too big, fast, and athletic for the Bucks to handle.

Grizz are one solid PG (Greivis Vasquez) & one great perimeter Defender (Ronnie Brewer) from contending in the west. They have enough great scorer to be in every game, and enough size up front to give opposing teams fits. I hope Greivis Vasquez lives up to their expectations. I'm looking forward to watching him bring the passion to that franchise.

Do you mean contending for a playoff spot or a title?

Winning the west. They are part of three team that can upset the Lakers in the West. The teams are OKC, Blazers, and Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets can enter the discussion if they acquire Chris Bosh & Yao stays healthy throughout.

Well if that point guard is Magic Johnson, maybe but otherwise, I think you are seriously over rating the below .500 Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are too poor defensively to be a high end team.

[Fafnir]

The Grizz are too big, fast, and athletic for the Bucks to handle.

Grizz are one solid PG (Greivis Vasquez) & one great perimeter Defender (Ronnie Brewer) from contending in the west. They have enough great scorer to be in every game, and enough size up front to give opposing teams fits. I hope Greivis Vasquez lives up to their expectations. I'm looking forward to watching him bring the passion to that franchise.

Do you mean contending for a playoff spot or a title?

Winning the west. They are part of three team that can upset the Lakers in the West. The teams are OKC, Blazers, and Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets can enter the discussion if they acquire Chris Bosh & Yao stays healthy throughout.

Well if that point guard is Magic Johnson, maybe but otherwise, I think you are seriously over rating the below .500 Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are too poor defensively to be a high end team.

You're tilling me Pau's fat brother and Zach Randolph don't defend well?

 

[Birdbrain]

They have a great coach and some nice pieces but, when was the last time Redd or Bogut made it through a season?  At full strength they are a 7th or 8th seed in new and improved EC.

Boston
Orlando
Cleveland
Miami
Chicago
Atlanta

[paintitgreen]

They have a great coach and some nice pieces but, when was the last time Redd or Bogut made it through a season?  At full strength they are a 7th or 8th seed in new and improved EC.

Boston
Orlando
Cleveland
Miami
Chicago
Atlanta

I don't think anybody's relying on Redd to do anything. There's extrapolation from the fact that the Bucks were one of the hottest teams in the NBA at the end of last season, and then took the Hawks to 7 games without Bogut, their best player. They added to that team Corey Maggette - who is a very good scorer on the wing - and Drew Gooden - a good rebounder - and Larry Sanders - an athletic shot blocker and rebounder with their 15th pick - in place of Jerry Stackhouse and maybe Luke Ridnour. By the way, why is it they can't resign Ridnour? They have his Bird rights. Is it just expected that they won't sign him because they have about $60 million in committed salary right now? Or is there some actual legal reason they can't resign him?

All told, especially if they keep Ridnour, that team is probably not top two in the East, but it's better than last year. Looking at the 6 teams "definitely" above Milwaukee, at the most, only two out of three between Chicago, Miami and Cleveland will be better than Milwaukee, and maybe only one of them. The Joe Johnson deal is not a done deal and even so, I think by the end of the season, Milwaukee was already better than Atlanta, and would have beaten the Hawks in the playoffs with relative ease if Bogut was there. Their other additions just strengthen that. So I think Milwaukee looks like a top 5 team in the East.

[KCattheStripe]

The Grizz are too big, fast, and athletic for the Bucks to handle.

Grizz are one solid PG (Greivis Vasquez) & one great perimeter Defender (Ronnie Brewer) from contending in the west. They have enough great scorer to be in every game, and enough size up front to give opposing teams fits. I hope Greivis Vasquez lives up to their expectations. I'm looking forward to watching him bring the passion to that franchise.

Do you mean contending for a playoff spot or a title?

Winning the west. They are part of three team that can upset the Lakers in the West. The teams are OKC, Blazers, and Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets can enter the discussion if they acquire Chris Bosh & Yao stays healthy throughout.

Well if that point guard is Magic Johnson, maybe but otherwise, I think you are seriously over rating the below .500 Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are too poor defensively to be a high end team.

You're tilling me Pau's fat brother and Zach Randolph don't defend well?

 

A) Have you seen Marc recently? The dude has slimmed way down and is just as strong.
B) I don't think they have the pieces to contend for a title, I do think they have the pieces to give the Lakers fits and upset them in a 7 game series. I think 52 wins and a playoff birth is a good bet for the Grizzlies.

[Who]

The Grizz are too big, fast, and athletic for the Bucks to handle.

Grizz are one solid PG (Greivis Vasquez) & one great perimeter Defender (Ronnie Brewer) from contending in the west. They have enough great scorer to be in every game, and enough size up front to give opposing teams fits. I hope Greivis Vasquez lives up to their expectations. I'm looking forward to watching him bring the passion to that franchise.

Do you mean contending for a playoff spot or a title?

Winning the west. They are part of three team that can upset the Lakers in the West. The teams are OKC, Blazers, and Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets can enter the discussion if they acquire Chris Bosh & Yao stays healthy throughout.

Well if that point guard is Magic Johnson, maybe but otherwise, I think you are seriously over rating the below .500 Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies are too poor defensively to be a high end team.

You're tilling me Pau's fat brother and Zach Randolph don't defend well?

 

A) Have you seen Marc recently? The dude has slimmed way down and is just as strong.
B) I don't think they have the pieces to contend for a title, I do think they have the pieces to give the Lakers fits and upset them in a 7 game series. I think 52 wins and a playoff birth is a good bet for the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

[Surferdad]

Imagine how disappointed David Stern would be with a Memphis-Milwaukee Finals matchup. 

[KCattheStripe]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

[openairmovie]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

You hit the nail on the head

Im willing to gamble all my TP's that Memphis and OKC will both be in playoffs and one  will make it to WCF

[Who]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

What do you think of Marc Gasol's defense and good do you think he can become defensively? Can become the anchor to an above average defensive team at some point?

[KCattheStripe]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

What do you think of Marc Gasol's defense and good do you think he can become defensively? Can become the anchor to an above average defensive team at some point?

I think he's an above average defender now but he hasn't learned how to make up for the defensive lapses of ZBo yet. He's not a shot swatter, but a good contester/ strong interior forces. He's gotten much better i P&R situations, using his length and foot speed to close of guards. I think he absolutely could anchor a defense.

[Who]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

What do you think of Marc Gasol's defense and good do you think he can become defensively? Can become the anchor to an above average defensive team at some point?

I think he's an above average defender now but he hasn't learned how to make up for the defensive lapses of ZBo yet. He's not a shot swatter, but a good contester/ strong interior forces. He's gotten much better i P&R situations, using his length and foot speed to close of guards. I think he absolutely could anchor a defense.

I thought the Grizzlies played at a level worthy of 45-48 wins last season. That they were good to very good offensively + excellent on the glass + but poor defensively.

Some small improvements here and there and I agree the Grizzlies have a good shot at 50-54 wins. Especially if Gasol continues to improve defensively and helps them out there.

I am a bit concerned about whether or not Zach Randolph can keep up his level of play though. Always wary of older veterans suddenly having a career season out of the blue. If he falls back down to earth, the Grizzlies don't have a shot at the playoffs.

[KCattheStripe]

The Grizzlies won 40 games last season. Where do you see the extra 12 wins coming?

Which players or areas of the team do you think will improve to generate those 12 wins?

Players: Marc Gasol, Rudy, OJ,  Sam Young, Demare Carroll

Areas: Defense and chemistry.

What do you think of Marc Gasol's defense and good do you think he can become defensively? Can become the anchor to an above average defensive team at some point?

I think he's an above average defender now but he hasn't learned how to make up for the defensive lapses of ZBo yet. He's not a shot swatter, but a good contester/ strong interior forces. He's gotten much better i P&R situations, using his length and foot speed to close of guards. I think he absolutely could anchor a defense.

I thought the Grizzlies played at a level worthy of 45-48 wins last season. That they were good to very good offensively + excellent on the glass + but poor defensively.

Some small improvements here and there and I agree the Grizzlies have a good shot at 50-54 wins. Especially if Gasol continues to improve defensively and helps them out there.

I am a bit concerned about whether or not Zach Randolph can keep up his level of play though. Always wary of older veterans suddenly having a career season out of the blue. If he falls back down to earth, the Grizzlies don't have a shot at the playoffs.

The concern with ZBo isn't whether or not he's going to put up 20/10 again, he's hovered and passed that the last 5 years,but whether or not he's really this good a teammate and this positive a force in the lockeroom. What this team needs to mature, as they're all young and still developing, but that can't happen if ZBo stages a nutty next year.