Chris Mannix says the Celtics no better than the 6th seed

[pearljammer10]

I go

1. Bulls
2. Heat
3. C's
4. Magic
5. Knicks
6. Hawks


I dont see the Magic knicks or Hawks beating the Celtics in the regular season.

[KGHurtYourFeelings]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

[Snakehead]

Who are the five ahead of Boston? According to Mannix.

Just my guess
Miami
Chicago
New York
Orlando?
Atlanta?

From the front page comments:

Miami, Chicago, New York, Indiana, Philadelphia.

He has also picked OKC to win it all this year.

Philadelphia?

Philly? Mannix is a joke, always has been.

I think this is all you need to say about this prediction.  Philly really?  In what world?


I assume Howard gets traded from Orlando to the Nets pretty soon as seems most plausable and my prediction for the seeding is as follows:

1) Miami
2) Chicago
3) Celtics
4) Knicks
5) Indiana
6) Atlanta
7) Nets (w Howard)
? (Not quite sure here)


Barring injury I don't know how you can be an informed basketball writer and commentator and say the Celtics will be lower than the 4 seed.

I think OKC is all you need to know for his title pick too.  Not that they aren't a good team and even a contendor, but to me that's been the hype pick the last couple years.  I think Memphis with Gay in the lineup has a much better chance to win than OKC does this year.

[Fafnir]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

Pryzbilla might not play again, he's recovering from a series of awful injuries and might retire.

He was rather ineffective in his last few years. I'm all for taking a chance with him, but he's not a proven veteran anymore.

[Snakehead]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

Pryzbilla might not play again, he's recovering from a series of awful injuries and might retire.

He was rather ineffective in his last few years. I'm all for taking a chance with him, but he's not a proven veteran anymore.

Agreed.  And although I can't speak to Steimsma's overall defense, I think his shot blocking will translate to the NBA.  If you get as many blocks as he did in the D-League (3.6 per game) I think it translates to allowing you to be a good shot blocker in the NBA (obviously not at the same rate, but nonetheless a shot blocker).  He won the DPOY for the D-League, so there is also potential for more on defense (though that is less certain).

I would like to have him on the bench.  Big body who can challenge some shots and grab boards is fine with me.  We have enough older players of questionable health, I like the young legs like we had with Semih.

[snively]

Only makes sense if he's assuming a major injury to one or more of Rondo and the Big 3.

I'm expecting a 3rd seed finish.

The Knicks have a lot of potential depending on how good Baron Davis can be for them.  With a rosy projection for him, I could see them beating us to the 3rd seed.  Very unlikely, IMHO.  Marbury, Arenas, Francis: once these explosive guards lose their fast ball it never seems to come back.

Orlando might surprise with a comeback year, but that seems pretty unlikely as well. 

[Moranis]

Who are the five ahead of Boston? According to Mannix.

Just my guess
Miami
Chicago
New York
Orlando?
Atlanta?

From the front page comments:

Miami, Chicago, New York, Indiana, Philadelphia.

He has also picked OKC to win it all this year.

Philadelphia?

Philly is a fairly young team that finished 41-41 last year.  If Turner, Speights, Young, Williams, Hawes, and Holiday keep improving and Brand and Iggy don't start falling off, Philly should be an improved team, while Boston should regress.  It actually isn't that far off. 

[snively]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

Pryzbilla might not play again, he's recovering from a series of awful injuries and might retire.

He was rather ineffective in his last few years. I'm all for taking a chance with him, but he's not a proven veteran anymore.

FWIW, he said he was completely healthy, just that he was enjoying a post-basketball life with his family.  Prior to that injury in 2009-2010, he was as good as he ever was.  If he's healthy, I'd consider him a proven veteran.

[RyNye]

Yeah, my predictions for this year are more or less how thinks shook out last year, but with the Magic taking a hit (even if Dwight isn't traded, which he will be, the team will be a wreck in terms of chemistry/emotion).

1) Miami
2) Bulls
3) Celtics
4) Knicks
5) Atlanta
6) Pacers
7) Orlando
76ers?

[Celtics18]

Just like any other "expert" Chris Mannix is entitled to his opinion.  It's nice for him that somebody pays him to give it.

[EJPLAYA]

I would say that somewhere between 4th and 6th seed is about right. We aren't the top of the East anymore and these other teams have improved quite a bit. We have marginally I think. The key though is that our success is really determined in the playoffs. This team is built to be tough in the playoffs and as long as we can get into the middle of the seeding and keep our vets healthy, then we can play with anyone. The additions of Bass and Wilcox will really help out with keeping KG and JO fresh. Jeff Green should have been able to keep Paul fresh, so hopefully Marquis will be able to fill that role. If PP is shot by the playoffs then we can't compete.

[ManUp]

I can't see them finishing any worse than 4th.

[dtrader]

Who are the five ahead of Boston? According to Mannix.

Just my guess
Miami
Chicago
New York
Orlando?
Atlanta?

From the front page comments:

Miami, Chicago, New York, Indiana, Philadelphia.

He has also picked OKC to win it all this year.

Philadelphia?

Philly? Mannix is a joke, always has been.

Philly was beasting at the end of last season.  If what they showed really was a result of he coaching change, and indicative of what they'll be throughout this season...its entirely possible they win more regular season games than us.  The pacers...I still dont think they win as many as us regardless

[Who]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

Pryzbilla might not play again, he's recovering from a series of awful injuries and might retire.

He was rather ineffective in his last few years. I'm all for taking a chance with him, but he's not a proven veteran anymore.

Agreed.  And although I can't speak to Steimsma's overall defense, I think his shot blocking will translate to the NBA.  If you get as many blocks as he did in the D-League (3.6 per game) I think it translates to allowing you to be a good shot blocker in the NBA (obviously not at the same rate, but nonetheless a shot blocker).  He won the DPOY for the D-League, so there is also potential for more on defense (though that is less certain).

I would like to have him on the bench.  Big body who can challenge some shots and grab boards is fine with me.  We have enough older players of questionable health, I like the young legs like we had with Semih.

Didn't Chris Johnson with the DPoY in the D-League too? He was a lousy defensive player.

Not sure how much NBA level credibility that award has.

[Snakehead]

Would rather have Stiemsma than Pryzbilla. Pryzbilla had limited mobility, Stiemsma can bother a lot of shots and is a big target under the basket.

I can't understand preferring Steimsma over Pryzbilla.  And Steimsma isn't exactly a Gazelle either.  Pryzbilla is a proven vet and an extremely effective big.  Steimsma has done nothing but play solid D in the D League

Pryzbilla might not play again, he's recovering from a series of awful injuries and might retire.

He was rather ineffective in his last few years. I'm all for taking a chance with him, but he's not a proven veteran anymore.

Agreed.  And although I can't speak to Steimsma's overall defense, I think his shot blocking will translate to the NBA.  If you get as many blocks as he did in the D-League (3.6 per game) I think it translates to allowing you to be a good shot blocker in the NBA (obviously not at the same rate, but nonetheless a shot blocker).  He won the DPOY for the D-League, so there is also potential for more on defense (though that is less certain).

I would like to have him on the bench.  Big body who can challenge some shots and grab boards is fine with me.  We have enough older players of questionable health, I like the young legs like we had with Semih.

Didn't Chris Johnson with the DPoY in the D-League too? He was a lousy defensive player.

Not sure how much NBA level credibility that award has.

And that is exactly why I said that it is not certain he will be a good defensive player overall in that post you just quoted.

The shot blocking numbers do translate I believe (again to a lesser degree).

I like the energy, shot blocking, big body from that last spot on the bench.