2013 CB Draft: Western Semi Finals: Oklahoma City(2) vs Dallas(3)

[Roy H.]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

[indeedproceed]

It's shocking to me, I guess, that people argue that 18 games isn't a sufficient sample size.  But, D12 has one other undeserved CelticsBlog championship ( ), so it doesn't surprise me that people are deferring to star power.

Said Roy Hobbs two years too late. Or is it 3?

No, I told you all how wrong you were at the time, as well. 

I don't think my young Aussie friend has a chance in this matchup.  That's unfortunate, because I think he's got a better team but is getting railroaded by star power.  But, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I was right, if nothing else.

At least you guys have taken the time to read the thread.  You'll make the wrong decision, but at least you'll have been presented the information.  (I feel the same way about the last election, too.  .  And I'm still right.)

You know that Boston team is going to look like a winner come next spring. You just know it. Unless Irving or Gasol suffer major injuries; you know you'll be hearing about that.

Boston is looking good for the 2016 championship, assuming they move Gasol for somebody who can help in a few years.

I agree with that, but I also think Boston was looking good for an improbable conference Finals run this year too.

You just watch, I'll be right.

[StartOrien]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

Toronto's an underrated city with a pretty great night life. I can't blame Derek for his actions in the regular season.

If this was game 62, and the Kanye/Kendrik Lamar concert was in town the night before, yes, Dallas might be able to 'defend' Derek Rose and Dwight Howard.

[Roy H.]

It's shocking to me, I guess, that people argue that 18 games isn't a sufficient sample size.  But, D12 has one other undeserved CelticsBlog championship ( ), so it doesn't surprise me that people are deferring to star power.

Said Roy Hobbs two years too late. Or is it 3?

No, I told you all how wrong you were at the time, as well. 

I don't think my young Aussie friend has a chance in this matchup.  That's unfortunate, because I think he's got a better team but is getting railroaded by star power.  But, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I was right, if nothing else.

At least you guys have taken the time to read the thread.  You'll make the wrong decision, but at least you'll have been presented the information.  (I feel the same way about the last election, too.  .  And I'm still right.)

You know that Boston team is going to look like a winner come next spring. You just know it. Unless Irving or Gasol suffer major injuries; you know you'll be hearing about that.

Boston is looking good for the 2016 championship, assuming they move Gasol for somebody who can help in a few years.

I agree with that, but I also think Boston was looking good for an improbable conference Finals run this year too.

You just watch, I'll be right.

Not until Hayward plays defense above a Kevin Martin / Ray Allen level. 

[indeedproceed]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

I cannot believe Calderons teams are 6-2 against Rose. So begging the question, you believe Calderon's raptors could take Rose's bulls in a playoff series?

[indeedproceed]

It's shocking to me, I guess, that people argue that 18 games isn't a sufficient sample size.  But, D12 has one other undeserved CelticsBlog championship ( ), so it doesn't surprise me that people are deferring to star power.

Said Roy Hobbs two years too late. Or is it 3?

No, I told you all how wrong you were at the time, as well. 

I don't think my young Aussie friend has a chance in this matchup.  That's unfortunate, because I think he's got a better team but is getting railroaded by star power.  But, I'll have the satisfaction of knowing that I was right, if nothing else.

At least you guys have taken the time to read the thread.  You'll make the wrong decision, but at least you'll have been presented the information.  (I feel the same way about the last election, too.  .  And I'm still right.)

You know that Boston team is going to look like a winner come next spring. You just know it. Unless Irving or Gasol suffer major injuries; you know you'll be hearing about that.

Boston is looking good for the 2016 championship, assuming they move Gasol for somebody who can help in a few years.

I agree with that, but I also think Boston was looking good for an improbable conference Finals run this year too.

You just watch, I'll be right.

Not until Hayward plays defense above a Kevin Martin / Ray Allen level. 

One of these years Im gonna save up and pay your hourly, and have you defend one of my teams full time for once. Im gonna draft my insightful but unpopular picks, and you're gonna sell it.

[StartOrien]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

I cannot believe Calderons teams are 6-2 against Rose. So begging the question, you believe Calderon's raptors could take Rose's bulls in a playoff series?

Is Drake at the games?

[Roy H.]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

I cannot believe Calderons teams are 6-2 against Rose. So begging the question, you believe Calderon's raptors could take Rose's bulls in a playoff series?

I'm skeptical, but I can't say for certain without analyzing what Toronto did well in those games.

It does show that Rose teams can be stopped even by teams with weaker point guards and centers.  Now, imagine Josh Smith, Luol Deng, and Eric Gordon executing a scheme aimed at stopping Rose.

[StartOrien]

Also, Eric Gordon gets hurt, right? Thats what he does?

[StartOrien]

It's not his post defense against Howard that is a concern, it's him having to come out of his comfort zone which OKC is going to make him do everytime Nash is in the game.

That's a valid point. Nash is pretty much conceding Rose wherever he wants to go, so Al, Deng, and Smith will constantly be in a state of help defense.

How have teams that have beaten Chicago deal with this when their point was so woefully equipped?

Jose Calderon is a pretty terrible defender, right?  And Andrea Bargnani isn't exactly an intimidating low-post defender, correct?

Despite this, Calderon is 6-2 against Rose.

You do this by limiting Rose with good help defenders, like Amir Johnson, and exploiting other mismatches.

Also, didn't fitz say that he'll hide Nash on Iman Shumpert or Chase Budinger, using Gordon / Deng to pick up Rose?

I cannot believe Calderons teams are 6-2 against Rose. So begging the question, you believe Calderon's raptors could take Rose's bulls in a playoff series?

I'm skeptical, but I can't say for certain without analyzing what Toronto did well in those games.

It does show that Rose teams can be stopped even by teams with weaker point guards and centers.  Now, imagine Josh Smith, Luol Deng, and Eric Gordon executing a scheme aimed at stopping Rose.

Hahaha, c'mon man! You have to review the tapes to figure out if the Toronto Raptors could beat a Chicago Bulls team with a healthy Derek Rose?!

[StartOrien]

The above could read a little rude, I don't mean for it to be.

[Roy H.]

Also, Eric Gordon gets hurt, right? Thats what he does?

He was healthier at the end of last year than Rose, though.

Rose hasn't been healthy in a season and a half.  He was having injury issues even before tearing his ACL. 

I've assumed that he will be reasonably healthy in all of my voting, but for those who do factor in injuries, Rose probably will be somewhat limited.

[StartOrien]

Also, Eric Gordon gets hurt, right? Thats what he does?

He was healthier at the end of last year than Rose, though.

Rose hasn't been healthy in a season and a half.  He was having injury issues even before tearing his ACL. 

I've assumed that he will be reasonably healthy in all of my voting, but for those who do factor in injuries, Rose probably will be somewhat limited.

Kind of get the feeling you're countering just to counter, and I'm not going to continue to fall for it. Rose has been medically cleared to play for months, Eric Gordon's entire career has been plagued by injury.

DEREK ROSE AND DWIGHT HOWARD ARE RUNNING PICK AND ROLL AGAINST STEVE NASH AND AL JEFFERSON AND THEY'RE GOING TO SCORE A BILLION POINTS THAT WAY.

[Roy H.]

By the way, has anybody noted that Derrick Rose shot 43% from the floor last year, and 31% from 3PT?

His eFG% of .473 was the lowest of his career, and frankly, isn't very impressive.  That's before he lost a year due to a severe ACL injury.

[indeedproceed]

Also, Eric Gordon gets hurt, right? Thats what he does?

He was healthier at the end of last year than Rose, though.

Rose hasn't been healthy in a season and a half.  He was having injury issues even before tearing his ACL. 

I've assumed that he will be reasonably healthy in all of my voting, but for those who do factor in injuries, Rose probably will be somewhat limited.

I think Eric Gordon is going to play well next year. He's got to, if he wants a future in the league as a 7 figure player.