Real Deal

A lot of people will ask that. If they win a title this season, I wonder if they will be asking why we let go of Ariza and brought in Ron Artest. Last year, in the NBA Finals, Gasol was defending Howard most of the time. In fact, Drew did nothing but suck the entire series. GM1 vs. Orlando: 22 minutes, 9 PTS, 3-8 FG (38%), 9 REB, 1 BLK, 4 FLS GM2 vs. Orlando: 16 minutes, 5 PTS, 2-5 FG (40%), 1 REB, 2 BLK, 5 FLS GM3 vs. Orlando: 23 minutes, 4 PTS, 2-6 FG (33%), 4 REB, 0 BLK, 2 FLS GM4 vs. Orlando: 16 minutes, 6 PTS, 2-3 FG (67%), 2 REB, 0 BLK, 5 FLS GM5 vs. Orlando: 17 minutes, 6 PTS, 3-11 FG (27%), 5 REB, 0 BLK, 5 FLS We got to the Finals in 2008 without him logging a single minute in the playoffs. We won a title in 2009 with Bynum barely playing, and playing badly when he did. We definitely don't need Drew. The myth about having some big guy in the middle doesn't make much sense. Drew has always been late rotating over to contest shots, his one-on-one defense is average at best, and with him in and out of the lineup, we don't need it anymore. I could care less if he had given us 30 PPG and 15 RPG when Gasol was out...the point was, Gasol was out. When Pau is in the five, Bynum's attitude changes, and so does his game.

C - Gasol PF - Bosh SF - Artest SG - Kobe PG - Fisher Bench - Odom, Brown, doesn't matter Can you imagine all of the isolations we could run? Who do you double? Plus, both Bosh and Gasol can hit their shots, so it opens the post up to Kobe and Ron. YES. I need this to happen. This would be amazing for us.

I'm starting to hear a lot more about this, and in a recent chat, Chad Ford discussed it as well.

I think I made that crystal clear, actually.

Could be a great opportunity for Howard to learn some post moves this summer.

By the way... Paul Pierce took 25 shots last night. He hasn't taken that many since January 12th, 2009 (a year and a half ago). In the regular season this year, he attempted 19 shots or less...never more. Might have been a reason why he was so tired and unable to close out the game. Boston would probably play Ollie more than they do Nate Robinson.

It's not that they lost, it's how they lost. Boston doesn't have a legit point guard once Rondo is on the bench, and Ray Allen can't run an offense. That's the good thing about the triangle: it doesn't necessarily need a traditional point to run it, just someone to make the post entry pass. Looking at their other three losses in the playoffs (two against CLE, one against CHI), Rajon was forced into a lot of shots, twice the most on the team, once into 10 shots and 14 free throws. Rondo is the engine. Kobe will be defending him. Bryant's defense will be a much tougher challenge than that of Nelson's, or Mo Williams...by far. I know everyone wants the Lakers to lose. Good. I'm just asking for everyone to actually look at the match-ups and who we have defending the best players on their team. If you guys can't do that, there's no point in discussing it any further.

Last night, two very important things happened to Rajon Rondo. 1) He was forced to defend a very aggressive Jameer Nelson, which put him into foul trouble. 2) He was defended very well, and it held him to poor shooting (3-10, to be exact), and single digits in both points and assists. The result of this? Paul Pierce was basically the Celtics' point-forward, having to create shots for himself and others because Rondo was backing off just to stay on the court, and Boston ended up losing. Why is this significant for us? Because, unlike 2008, Rajon Rondo is now the engine. Here are a few things we should realize about our team: Kobe will defend Rondo, just as he did Westbrook. Rondo will have space to shoot, and because he is a very intelligent basketball player, he won't take that long jumper most of the time. Therefore, there's a good chance Rondo will struggle offensively. We also know that Derek Fisher can put opposing guards into foul trouble. While he's not going to drop 20 anytime soon, taking Rondo into the post, and sneaking into the paint to draw charges, will just be another issue Rajon will have to work around. Assuming it all works out as planned, and Pierce becomes "the engine" in Boston's offense, we have one of the best perimeter defenders in Ron Artest. We saw what he did with Kevin Durant, who is easily a better offensive threat than Pierce. With Rondo struggling, and Ron watching Pierce, Garnett is next in line to facilitate out of the post, and THAT'S where we'll need to close out on threes. Fortunately, we are one of the best teams in the NBA at defending the three. If we run into Boston in the Finals (assuming we beat Phoenix, and the Celtics don't perform the biggest choke in league history), we might have them by the throat. Boston will need to beat us by hitting their threes (Ray Allen and Rasheed Wallace) and Rondo hitting jumpers. That gives us a huge, huge advantage. Cleveland and Orlando would have been more trouble, in my opinion, despite both being dropped by Boston. I think getting our revenge against the Celtics is going to prove to be the best situation we could ever ask for, because on paper, it's looking like all of the blocks are falling into place, in our favor.

Ray Allen, and Tony Allen, are nowhere near the level Tayshaun Prince was back on defense. Not even close. Perkins is definitely no Ben Wallace, either. Those two kept Bryant out of the paint. And no, the 2004 Lakers were not forced into shots on a regular basis, had they found it tough getting the ball into O'Neal. Just against Detroit, and that's mainly because outside of Kobe and Shaq, they had no production. Malone was injured and playing terribly, and Gary Payton was complete and utter garbage for us. If Kobe is doubled, and we can't get the ball into Gasol (which won't happen, but we'll pretend it will), Odom and Bynum will crush Boston, or Artest will have a field day with wide-open shots, or Fisher will get his wide-open looks. We're not talking about the 2004 Lakers. That's not necessarily true. The Magic are a prime example of that. Did you see the game last night? Boston was protecting the paint as good as they could, but it was Jameer who was slashing to the rim and getting fouled, or dumping the ball off down low to Howard for a bucket. The Celtics allowed Orlando to launch a few threes (28, to be exact), and it ended up biting them in the neck at the end of the game. You actually think the Celtics want Orlando to shoot threes? They were 4th in the league, almost 38% shooting, which is what won them so many games in the regular season (and they shot almost 36% last night). ---------- Ultimate factor in last night's win, though? Making Rondo work defensively, and defending him very well. As I've been saying the entire time, Kobe will be assigned Rondo. That's a problem for Boston now...maybe not in 2008, because Rajon was not the force he is today, but the 2010 Celtics have determined that Rondo is now their engine. Lakers fans will also tell you that, while he's not a great offensive threat, Derek Fisher can put any guard in the league in foul trouble, just as Nelson did to Rajon last night. With Pierce having to play more of a point-forward position last night, and needing a massive game just to keep up with Orlando...we have an answer for him as well, named Ron Artest, who almost dominated Kevin Durant in the first round. I am looking forward to it.

Nelson was aggressive, put him into foul trouble, and defended him very well. In doing so, Boston struggled shooting the ball (42% as a team), Rondo didn't reach double-digits in points OR assists, and Pierce was forced into making plays for everyone else, which also drained his energy late in the game.

Drew may not be playing much. He's just too damn slow out there. Even if he wanted to, Bynum can't run with the Suns. Artest and Odom can't screw up. If they start shooting poorly again, they need to back off and pass the ball more.

He's killing you AND the Magic, dude.

This game wasn't THAT hard to predict. I heard before my post that Jameer Nelson was going to be more aggressive, and that flipped the switch, instantly. Boston is arguably the best half-court defensive team in the NBA. Jameer's aggressiveness prevented a stagnate offense that dropped the ball into Dwight every single possession, with everyone else just standing there. Instead, Nelson took it to the rim every now and then, and found Howard and shooters. That's the way the point guard position is supposed to be played...searching for plays. By the way, Vince Carter SUCKS.

It's all good. Given the circumstances, you both can send me one. Just try and make it within three days, please.

You didn't specify a year in the title, so... Raiders: because Al Davis is history (thinking somewhere near 2020)

Bynum is a risk, but maybe a good one. On one side of the fence, he's got the potential to be a 20/12 player, maybe even better. His post moves and footwork are really, really good, and despite the lack of defense (which seems to be more about his lack of focus due to less shot attempts), he's a big body that can intimidate slashing guards. Only downside to it all are those knees. If they can't hold up through 30 minutes or less per game, third or fourth scoring option...how will they hold up as a primary scorer, over 30 minutes? Drew has had two major knee surgeries as a professional, and I believe he had one before he was drafted. After the season is up, he will go under the knife again. Big, big risk...but definitely a high reward if he stays healthy after this surgery.

Are we saying farewell to the Magic tonight? I have a feeling they will pull together and win one. Could definitely be wrong, though.

TIME: 8:30 PM EST TV: ESPN

TIME: 9:00 PM EST TV: TNT

Haha.

Gotta say Rose for now, but we all know how that goes. Give us all one season of Wall first (still not enough, but you get the idea). And by the way, I wouldn't call Rose a good defensive player. He's an athlete and it helps, but his timing is still off a bit and he gets lost out there easily.

Can't say he'll be an NBA center (well, a successful one). He's 6-10 and almost 300 pounds, but the problem is, taller centers will expose him. He has a little athleticism, not much explosion though...and that will be a problem when he starts playing big minutes on a professional stage, especially if he's showing he's not dedicated to working out. So here's what Cousins needs to do: work out, a lot. Drop the weight a bit. Become a power forward. That way, he gains explosiveness, it's easier for him to manhandle the average power forward (because Cousins is super strong), and playing 30+ minutes a game won't wear him down halfway through the season. In 3-5 years, Cousins will either be a thicker and stronger Al Jefferson, or the NBA's version of JaMarcus Russell. It all depends on how hard he works to drop that weight. Top five for the ROY? I would say so. There's no way in hell I would ever, ever consider him the next Shaq, though.

So wait...the Bobcats, Heat and Hawks are all talented and tough teams, but the Thunder and Jazz are no big deal, despite winning 50 and 53 games in the tougher Western Conference, where they have to play eight 50+ win playoff teams four times a year? That's pretty weird. Your analysis is a little off, by the way. You mention the sweeps and how significant they are, but Boston didn't sweep the Heat OR the Cavaliers...and it was only one year ago that the Cavaliers dropped the Pistons and the Hawks in eight games (two sweeps) before getting jabbed to death by a team that matched up perfectly with them. Ironically, that same team that beat "the best team in the East" (you know, the one that swept the first two rounds) ended up losing to the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals. Just something to think about, of course.

I never said a team would look at him as cap relief. I think some of you misunderstood what I was saying. Basically, the reason NOBODY would want to trade for Arenas is because they wouldn't want the contract. Cap relief in 2014? Haha, no team would care right now. But I never said anyone claimed that a team would care for that cap relief.

Merged the two. One topic will keep any big debates in one central location.