CB Draft Finals: (1) Mavericks vs. (1) Bulls

[ronaldo943]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t39IXUIzS60

LAKER INVASION

Al Horford, LaMarcus Alridge, Rudy Gay, Tony Allen, Kyle Lowry

Marshon Brooks, Nick Collison, Carlos Delfino, Devin Harris

Dionne Waitors, Dahntay Jones, Chris Wilcox, Al Farouq Aminu

OH HI HATERS,

After being prematurely being eliminated because of a strong mixture of incompetence and jealousy from the voters, THE GREATEST TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF THE CELTICSBLOG DRAFT, has decided to crash the party.

Now I know what you're thinking "I'm stupid and ugly. Also, why do the Lakers get to enter the Finals? Do they have mod approval?"

NO, YOU IDIOTS. WE DON'T. WE'RE JUST BETTER THAN BOTH TEAMS INVOLVED AND SHOULD'VE BEEN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO GUESS WHAT, NOW WE'RE INVOLVED. AND WE'RE GONG TO WIN. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT POST A MEME.

Here's a statistical breakdown:

The Mavericks are pathetic
The Bulls are pathetic
The Lakers are incredible

Disagree? Shut your mouth cuz you're ugly. You don't understand what a beautiful team looks like because you're far from it. Me and KC? The handsomest posters in the history of message boards.

3 years in a row, we've unanimously elected best posters on handsomebros.com/forums a website handsome bro's go to discuss what it's like to be so incredibly good looking.

So if you want to know what it's like to be ridiculouly good looking, vote Lakers. The greatest organization in the history of the NBA.

You know what today we are all Lakers!

[KCattheStripe]

Ronaldo is pretty smart for a 14 year old Brazillian soccer star from the mid-90s.

[StartOrien]

You know what today we are all Lakers!

JOIN THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, RONALDO!

[The Walker Wiggle]

LeBron James is awesome. He is. He's awesome.

But if I trot out Young/Pierce who does Lebron take? Pierce, right? So that makes Jeff 'No Heart' Green a 4 against Young. We all know how that goes; Jeff Green is a crappy 4.

What if I trot out Pierce/Bosh at the forwards? Who does LeBron take? Cuz the other guy is going to eat Jeff Green alive.

What about if I go small and trot out Wade/Pierce at the forwards? Sorry Jeff Green, ya just got roasted.

This is why I'm currently leaning Chicago - the Mavericks are going to have a tough time hiding Green from Pierce and Bosh and helping Kyrie at the same time. Lebron is the best defensive small forward in the league but at the 4 he's not a rim protector and as good as Varejao is defensively he's not a weak side shot blocker. Then Sefolosha can't afford to help off Wade. Chicago has one 20ppg scorer too many for the Mavs.

[ronaldo943]

Yea im 100% Chicago right now but i want to see what Roy will say before i submit my vote.

[StartOrien]

LeBron James is awesome. He is. He's awesome.

But if I trot out Young/Pierce who does Lebron take? Pierce, right? So that makes Jeff 'No Heart' Green a 4 against Young. We all know how that goes; Jeff Green is a crappy 4.

What if I trot out Pierce/Bosh at the forwards? Who does LeBron take? Cuz the other guy is going to eat Jeff Green alive.

What about if I go small and trot out Wade/Pierce at the forwards? Sorry Jeff Green, ya just got roasted.

This is why I'm currently leaning Chicago - the Mavericks are going to have a tough time hiding Green from Pierce and Bosh and helping Kyrie at the same time. Lebron is the best defensive small forward in the league but at the 4 he's not a rim protector and as good as Varejao is defensively he's not a weak side shot blocker. Then Sefolosha can't afford to help off Wade. Chicago has one 20ppg scorer too many for the Mavs.

Doesn't a bigger lineup completely erase that?

Andy V
Brand
James

[Kane3387]

I gotta wait for Roy. LeBron last year outplayed Boston almost by himself.

Bosh and Wade were there some, but they weren't 100%. Granted this Chicago team might be better. Depends how much you like Rondo.

James wouldn't be denied against KG, Rondo, Pierce, and Ray. Granted both were banged up but I think both of those guys last year equal a healthy Pierce this year. I like Rondo in last season's playoffs more then Wade. I will always take KG over Bosh.

The Holiday factor is a big one though. Great analysis from IP.

James greatness in the finals makes this tough though. That guy put up 30 and 10 like every game of the playoffs. Even with Holiday on him I feel like Kyrie can still produce at the inconsistent rate Wade did last year.

I also think Roy should consider putting James on Wade and Thabo on Pierce. If Chicago beats you with Thad Young then so be it. I think at this point James really makes life difficult for Wade without hampering his offense a great deal. I also believe Thabo can guard Pierce in an effective manner with his length, athleticism, and defensive commitment.

Still a toss up for me. Need to see how both sides continue to debate this out.

[Roy H.]

The IP Factor at its best, Jrue Holiday shot amazing from downtown .778 now i wont say Jrue is the better player but when they play head to head he is that being said i think im leaning towards the Bulls

If you think Jrue Holiday is going to continue to shoot 78% from 3PT, please, vote Chicago.  Well, at least until I point out some equal statistical aberration.

[Who]

I think Chicago has the advantage with star talent. For Dallas to win, I think it has to be through balance and depth.

Wade, Pierce, Bosh and Jrue > LeBron, Kyrie and Varejao

[Donoghus]

I think Chicago has the advantage with star talent. For Dallas to win, I think it has to be through balance and depth.

Wade, Pierce, Bosh and Jrue > LeBron, Kyrie and Varejao

Leaning that same way.

[Roy H.]

So, we've finally got three minutes to respond.

The fact of the matter is, this is probably over.  Giving IP the unrebutted chance to put on his smoke and mirrors display pretty much destroyed whatever chance we had.

That said, a few things to say about IP's presentation:

* Two games isn't a "sample size", especially when Kyrie Irving played 19 minutes in one of those games as Cleveland very blatantly tanked down the stretch.

Let's look at the two players' bodies of work:

Kyrie Irving:  18.5 points, 5.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 46.9% FG%, 39.9% 3PT%, .517 eFG%, .566 TS%

Jrue Holiday: 13.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 43.2% FG%, 38.0% 3PT%, .471 eFG%, .496 TS%

Only in the CelticsBlog draft would it be argued that Holiday is better than Irving.  He's inferior across the board, in every single category.  Heck, a .496 TS% is borderline terrible, and yet people are lapping up the spew that IP is throwing out there. 

IP says that Holiday is young and improving.  That's blatantly false. Holiday's production decreased last year in terms of points, assists, rebounds, FG%, FT%, eFG%, and TS%.   That's not the sign of an improving player.

Kyrie Irving was the most clutch 4th quarter player in the NBA last year.  He had the best season by a rookie PG since Chris Paul, and the most efficient season by a scoring guard since Michael Jordan.  He is significantly better than Jrue Holiday.  What do you trust more, a 50 - 60 game sample size, or two games where Irving didn't get minutes?

Oh, and let's not credit Holiday's defense too much.  He's got the second best defensive SF in the league playing beside him, taking the tough assignments.  He's got a top-five defensive big man behind him in Elton Brand.  It's Philly's team defense that deserves credit, not the vastly overrated Jrue Holiday.

[Roy H.]

I think Chicago has the advantage with star talent. For Dallas to win, I think it has to be through balance and depth.

Wade, Pierce, Bosh and Jrue > LeBron, Kyrie and Varejao

Jrue Holiday is not a star.  Elton Brand and Jeff Green are both more valuable pieces than he is.

[Rondo2287]

I think Chicago has the advantage with star talent. For Dallas to win, I think it has to be through balance and depth.

Wade, Pierce, Bosh and Jrue > LeBron, Kyrie and Varejao

Jrue Holiday is not a star.  Elton Brand and Jeff Green are both more valuable pieces than he is.

I don't think I could disagree with that more.  Nobody knows what you will be getting out of green next year.  And i just think Holliday is better than brand at this point

[StartOrien]

I think Chicago has the advantage with star talent. For Dallas to win, I think it has to be through balance and depth.

Wade, Pierce, Bosh and Jrue > LeBron, Kyrie and Varejao

Jrue Holiday is not a star.  Elton Brand and Jeff Green are both more valuable pieces than he is.

I don't think I could disagree with that more.  Nobody knows what you will be getting out of green next year.  And i just think Holliday is better than brand at this point

I'm guessing that's some frustration from Roy. Irving is probably already leagues ahead of Holiday, and if he's not now, I'd put a handsome amount down saying he will be by the end of the season.

[Rondo2287]

I wouldnt contest that point, I think Kyrie will bring alot more to the table next year than jrue.