BTW, drza I wasn't trying to pull out any "optimists" versus "realists" crap again.
I said I'm all for being positive, but like to stay grounded. Your OP really gave off a vibe that you think we have improved as a team greatly because Shaq and KG were going to be returning on a regular basis to the players they once were. The perception that OP gave me is that this team, in your opinion, has improved significantly.
I disagree with that. I said that I thought they were as good now as they were in June. Well, that's good enough to be 4 points short of being a World Champion. I don't think that's being negative. I just think that's about where they are.
The team added two centers that are better offensively but poorer defensively than the players they are replacing(and BTW one of the reasons they put up better offensive numbers on their teams is because they were given the ball a lot more than the centers in the Celtic offense were). They lost their defensive oriented wing and haven't replaced him. They replaced Scal with Harangody and the rookie Gaffney with the rookie Bradley. Perk is now basically taking Shelden's role.
That doesn't appear to me to be much more than a sideways move in total. Which, given the fact that they lost their centers to injury and retirement is an amazing feat. Truly amazing in my book!!!! Great job Danny Ainge!!!!
I don't think I'm being overly "negative" or pulling out the "realist" card. That's my view of things.
Nick, I definitely respect your (or anyone's, for that matter) opinion. In fact, that may even be part of what touched my nerves a bit...a poster that I respect responded to my post, not with "I see what you mean, but I disagree for xxx reasons..." but instead with a bullet point lists of opinions that run counter, but stated as though they were fact. And not just stated, but with the touch of condescension that permeated a lot of exchanges last year (i.e. you've got to stay grounded...your stance is too much positivity...etc.). Anyway, I wasn't trying to jump down your throat about it either...more just trying to emphasize that I'm not just being a blind optimist here, that there are very legitimate basketall reasons to think our team has improved solidly since last year.
And I still believe we did. Not because I think KG and Shaq are going to suddenly become what they were 5 years ago. But because of who they are now...they're older versions of what they were, but their skill-sets are still similar. And neither has ever played with another player capable of meshing so well with the other. KG's weaknesses are compensated by Shaq's strengths, and vice versa. And those strengths/weaknesses blend perfectly, IMO, with what this team needs.
As I pointed out before, one big area where we seem to disagree is that I don't see Perk/Sheed to Shaq/Jermaine as a lateral move at all. Shaq and Jermaine, I believe, are still better players that can do more to help this team than Perk and Sheed could last year. I think Perk's impact is very replaceable, and we've added 2 players that each would have a bigger impact on this team. And one of those two has the skillset and capacity, even now, to raise the ceiling on what this team can do. Which, as you've surmised, was the point of this thread. But where we seem to disagree is upon whether my stance is too much positivity, or merely just illuminating some points of view that aren't the common belief right now.
I don't mind if we disagree on that, as long as we do it cordially and with respect. Because in a couple of months we'll start getting the evidence that shows that I'm right and you're wrong, so I'll get to feel vindicated then.
Topic: Shaq and Garnett...I'll be the one to say it (Read 24492 times)