2009 NBA Playoffs

[Quillz]

I'm looking forward to this one. Anyone else think the Magic are going to catch the Lakers napping? The Lakers are reminding me way too much of those last few Pistons teams that liked to flip the switch.

I was afraid of this, but I don't think so anymore. They did really well against Denver, especially the last two games. In Game 6, it seems that everyone contributed, even the bench. No players missed their free throws and they ended up beating Denver on the road by nearly 30 points.

I really think they can win the Finals this year if they play like they did in the WCF. That is, everyone shows up for every game, instead of every other game like the Lakers did against Houston.

[TFoA]

#1: I was watching Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals...and I am thoroughly convinced that that is how playoff basketball should be. It was rough, it was chippy, and yet it was still up-and-down. Why? Because the refs weren't trying to go out there and police the game to a halt, or slow it down to a halt by calling touch fouls. They let them play, they let the players police themselves, and it led to an extremely well-played game that was fun to watch. It was also fun to note out how much stuff would've been called for a foul. There were a few clean blocks on a layup that would've been called for a foul in today's NBA. ML Carr would've been given a T for taunting after he made the game-winning layup at the end of the game. And hell, both teams would've been ejected after a bench clearing altercation between Rambis and Parrish, I believe. Basically, the NBA needs to go back to that, because that was awesome.

#2:

thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word

Wow, how much does Shaq hate SVG & Dwight Howard if he's actually pulling for a man to whom he asked to "tell me how my ass taste?"

[Gary]

According to KTAR here in Phoenix a HUGE Trade is about to go down. Rondo and Allen to Phoenix for Barbosa, Amare and the 13th pick in the draft

[rams80]

According to KTAR here in Phoenix a HUGE Trade is about to go down. Rondo and Allen to Phoenix for Barbosa, Amare and the 13th pick in the draft

I see old, stupid McHale is back and running things if this is the case.

[TFoA]

According to KTAR here in Phoenix a HUGE Trade is about to go down. Rondo and Allen to Phoenix for Barbosa, Amare and the 13th pick in the draft

This helps Boston's front court. KG & Amare are going to be SCARY in the post. This also helps Phoenix since those are two guys that may fit in well with Phoenix's "Shoot first, ask questions later" offense.

However, Rondo & Allen (when he wasn't playing :censored:ty) were the 2 main guys keeping the Celtics in games while KG was gone. It could've been argued that the Celtics MVP for most of this season was either KG or Rondo. That's it. Let's see if this actually happens.

(Now let's see what gingerbreadmann thinks about this, since he's #1 Celtics Guy on the CCSLC. )

[Drew22]

Boston would be stupid to do that.

[gingerbreadmann]

What do I think? I think this KTAR is KTARded. IOW, Not Gonna Happen. Danny loves Rajon, and even though when I first read that I got a semi-erection at the thought of Amare and KG, I quickly realized that this would just be impossible. I'm sorry, but Stephon Marbury playing Point? Fine as a backup I guess, but nooooo thank you. Plus, we gain salary.

The thing is, I really love Barbosa and Amare. But I don't think I could part with Rondo for this deal, and Danny wouldn't, either.

(BUT if Pierce and Allen had no emotional meaning to me and I were being completely objective, don't tell anyone I said this, but I would do the deal in a near-heartbeat. Okay maybe a few heartbeats. But I still think I would. )

[Gary]

What do I think? I think this KTAR is KTARded. IOW, Not Gonna Happen. Danny loves Rajon, and even though when I first read that I got a semi-erection at the thought of Amare and KG, I quickly realized that this would just be impossible. I'm sorry, but Stephon Marbury playing Point? Fine as a backup I guess, but nooooo thank you. Plus, we gain salary.

The thing is, I really love Barbosa and Amare. But I don't think I could part with Rondo for this deal, and Danny wouldn't, either.

(BUT if Pierce and Allen had no emotional meaning to me and I were being completely objective, don't tell anyone I said this, but I would do the deal in a near-heartbeat. Okay maybe a few heartbeats. But I still think I would. )

The Sources are always right when it comes to John Gambodoro, and I usually get his text messages telling how things will go down. Might be a done deal by the end of this week

[gingerbreadmann]

No way, Gary. Why would the Celtics seriously consider this? Who plays point guard? No one else has reported this, it just is not going to happen. (and a good thing, too. Boston would erupt, and they would have complete reason to.)

[The_Admiral]

They can make trades right now?

[Gary]

No way, Gary. Why would the Celtics seriously consider this? Who plays point guard? No one else has reported this, it just is not going to happen. (and a good thing, too. Boston would erupt, and they would have complete reason to.)

Aiden, trust me on good sources, it'll happen, they've been in talks for a couple weeks now. It'll be done by Friday-Saturday at best

[Starchild]

I have no idea why either team would pull the trigger on that kind of trade. I SUPPOSE Phoenix would have a reason to, considering Amare wants out, but why on earth would Boston? They've had the big 3 together for two seasons, one of which culminated in a title and had KG been back in the lineup, at the very least would've wound up in the ECF again.

For Phoenix, I don't get it. Ok, you get Rondo and Ray Allen. Allen basically assumes Joe Johnson's old role and would get plenty of touches from Nash on the break. Rondo makes no sense to me. You're going to bring one of the top 5 PGs in the league off the bench playing behind Nash? You can't start him at the 2 and move Allen to the 3 - that's mismatch heaven. On top of all that, Phoenix loses Amare - one of the scariest players in a run-and-gun type offense because of his ability to run as a big man, as well as post and even hit an open jumper. Shaq has no role in the 7-second-or-less system that Gentry is bringing back. I have to assume they can get a better proposal for a guy like Amare.

For Boston, it makes even less sense. Losing Allen/Rondo means you lose two starters and get back a starting forward/center and a nice 6th man. You lose your defensive mantra in favor of a guy like Amare who theoretically could become a great defender but hasn't, and a guy like Barbosa who will never be able to get the kind of stops Rondo was capable of. Your team chemistry plummets without Allen and Rondo (though, in their defense, KG/Doc/Pierce are capable of building it back up with anyone... just look at Marbury). On top of it all, isn't KG and Amare a bit redundant? They're both 6'11" forwards who can score and rebound, only one defends, the other can run and neither is really all that powerful (in the sense that Kendrick Perkins is a bigger dude than KG/Shaq bigger than Amare). And what do you do about defending other teams big men? Kendrick Perkins has become quite the defensive center the last two years. With him on the bench, who gets put on someone like Yao or Dwight? If KG is the man as the better defender, he's likely to foul out of numerous games. If it's Amare, dude is going to allow plenty of baskets KG or Perkins would have altered.

I suppose the draft pick is the wild card here, but really, what kind of player will be available with Phoenix's pick? I can't imagine the 14th pick will produce any kind of talent to balance out losing the best shooter in the game and a top 5 PG not even in his prime, both with championship experience.

[The_Admiral]

Hey, what's that song that plays at the end of halftime at Lakers games? Kinda brassy?

[TFoA]

Orlando ain't making their shots, and Kobe Bryant looks like he's gonna [rams80] be in seed mode [/rams80] for this series. Trouble for the Magic if Kobe's gonna own like this for the entire series. He looks like he's on some next level tonight.

AND he's spreading the wealth. The entire team is hitting on all cylinders.

[Still MIGHTY]

KOBE freaking BRYANT

Is it even possible to stop something so unstoppable?

[TFoA]

KOBE freaking BRYANT

Is is even possible to stop something so unstoppable?

I see what you did there.

[FiddySicks]

Uggh. Tony Kornheiser was right.

[Drew22]

#2:

thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word

Wow, how much does Shaq hate SVG & Dwight Howard if he's actually pulling for a man to whom he asked to "tell me how my ass taste?"

Apparently a lot.

http://twitpic.com/6naml This is what van gundy and dwight howards baby would look like

[FiddySicks]

#2:

thats right i am saying it today and today only, i want kobe bryant to get number 4, spread da word

Wow, how much does Shaq hate SVG & Dwight Howard if he's actually pulling for a man to whom he asked to "tell me how my ass taste?"

Apparently a lot.

http://twitpic.com/6naml This is what van gundy and dwight howards baby would look like

I think it should be an NBA rule that as soon as Shaq's team is eliminated from the playoffs, he must take a vow of silence untill tipoff the next season. Does anyone else get absolutely sick of Shaq this time of year?

[speedy]

No way, Gary. Why would the Celtics seriously consider this? Who plays point guard? No one else has reported this, it just is not going to happen. (and a good thing, too. Boston would erupt, and they would have complete reason to.)

No chance in hell does Rondo get traded. Rondo right now has a chance to be the best PG in the NBA. This trade makes absolutely no sense for either team. Where does Perk go? Who's playing PG? What happens to Nash? This trade only happens if A.) there's a deal in place to move Nash B.) KG's career is over, and it's not even close. I'm completely flabbergasted that this rumor is gaining steam, pardon me while my head explodes.