Doc Rivers' response: “They honored our guys on the cover, but shouldn’t San Antonio be on the cover?” he said of the defending NBA champs. “We’re not San Antonio. We haven’t done anything yet.”
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
SI Front-Cover for 2007/08 Season Preview
Doc Rivers' response: “They honored our guys on the cover, but shouldn’t San Antonio be on the cover?” he said of the defending NBA champs. “We’re not San Antonio. We haven’t done anything yet.”
Friday, October 19, 2007
Celtics-Knicks Game Highlights
The new Celtics debut at the Garden.
It doesn't feel like a preseason warm-up, does it.
It doesn't feel like a preseason warm-up, does it.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Three-teams Race to the Conference Final
Around this time of the NBA calender, you read prediction about which team will win the conference anywhere you go. So let me immerse myself to this role play.
No, i am not going to hard sell you the Celtics except saying this, the chance of Boston to get there is better than 1 in 4. But there are few other teams which are rated higher than the Celtics by many experts. The Bulls, the Pistons, and may be the Cavaliers, from top of my head.
The Pistons are definitely a threat. With the core group of Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace, Mcdyess, they have the superior match-up against the Celtics' triple-threat, either in isolation or in transition. I'm looking forward to their first match-up in regular season.
Many have rated the Bulls the top team in the east, based on their toughness and deep run in last season playoff. Somehow i feel the Celtics will have a better chance if facing them, with Pierce and Garnett playing the low/high post game, verse the Bulls' perimeter game.
The Cavaliers are probably less a threat at this stage, as they're still trying to bring back the full team from last season. Let's give them a bit more time.
OK, the above is based on what we have already known.
What about the thing we don't know yet, such as .....
(it's in today's sport news) the possibility of Kobe Bryant be traded .....
My first reaction is, to subscribe every cable sports TV available and to start re-arranging my appointment schedule for the next few months.
Seriously, to make this trade possible, the other team must have enough assets to offer and deep pocket to take on Bryant's contract, and he will only be interested in playing for a title contender. So there are only handful of teams qualified, and i am assuming that Lakers will cross out those teams that are competing in the same conference.
So here are my two possible scenerios (the number in bracket is how many years remaining in contract):
<2> Trade Bryant to Chicago, for Tyrus Thomas (1 yr), Ben Gordon (1 yr), Chris Duhon (1 yr), Thabo Sefolosha (1 yr), Viktor Khryapa (1 yr) and may be another bench player. Bryant will team up with Hinrich, Deng, Wallace and Nocioni (or Joe Smith) as the starting five.
This will be the best possible offer available in market right now, in terms of value for return (even better if Chicago is willing to include Deng or Hinrich) and Bryant has already given his consesus to play for the Bulls. The problem with the Bulls is whether they will find good enough player to fill the void (much like what Boston have gone through).
The experts analyse that possible trade will not happen till the season ends. If, however, the above scenerio does materialise, it will still be a three-teams race to the conference final. But fighting for better seeding in playoff will likely be at top of the list for each team right from the start.
It is going to be a fantastic season to watch.
No, i am not going to hard sell you the Celtics except saying this, the chance of Boston to get there is better than 1 in 4. But there are few other teams which are rated higher than the Celtics by many experts. The Bulls, the Pistons, and may be the Cavaliers, from top of my head.
The Pistons are definitely a threat. With the core group of Billups, Hamilton, Prince and Wallace, Mcdyess, they have the superior match-up against the Celtics' triple-threat, either in isolation or in transition. I'm looking forward to their first match-up in regular season.
Many have rated the Bulls the top team in the east, based on their toughness and deep run in last season playoff. Somehow i feel the Celtics will have a better chance if facing them, with Pierce and Garnett playing the low/high post game, verse the Bulls' perimeter game.
The Cavaliers are probably less a threat at this stage, as they're still trying to bring back the full team from last season. Let's give them a bit more time.
OK, the above is based on what we have already known.
What about the thing we don't know yet, such as .....
(it's in today's sport news) the possibility of Kobe Bryant be traded .....
My first reaction is, to subscribe every cable sports TV available and to start re-arranging my appointment schedule for the next few months.
Seriously, to make this trade possible, the other team must have enough assets to offer and deep pocket to take on Bryant's contract, and he will only be interested in playing for a title contender. So there are only handful of teams qualified, and i am assuming that Lakers will cross out those teams that are competing in the same conference.
So here are my two possible scenerios (the number in bracket is how many years remaining in contract):
<1> Trade Bryant (3 yrs) to Detroit, for Richard Hamilton (3 yrs), Jason Maxiell (1 yr), Rodney Stuckey (2 yrs) or Ronald Murray (1 yr) plus other bench players. Bryant will team up with Billups, Prince, Wallace and to become the all defence-team of the league.
This is purely from my speculation. But the possible trade will meet both teams' need. Lakers will get Hamilton and Stuckey to somewhat fill-in the vaccum, in the catagory of total point per game and in defence, and to build for the future prospect of Stuckey and Bynum. In addition, Lakers will also add Maxiell to strength their rebound and interior defence catagory, Detroit, needless to say, will get another shot to the Final, with most of their core group intact. I am, however, assuming that Bryant doesn't mind to move from LA to Detroit (i could imagine it'll be a culture shock to him). A question remains is how Detroit's offer can beat the next team (below) for the trade.<2> Trade Bryant to Chicago, for Tyrus Thomas (1 yr), Ben Gordon (1 yr), Chris Duhon (1 yr), Thabo Sefolosha (1 yr), Viktor Khryapa (1 yr) and may be another bench player. Bryant will team up with Hinrich, Deng, Wallace and Nocioni (or Joe Smith) as the starting five.
This will be the best possible offer available in market right now, in terms of value for return (even better if Chicago is willing to include Deng or Hinrich) and Bryant has already given his consesus to play for the Bulls. The problem with the Bulls is whether they will find good enough player to fill the void (much like what Boston have gone through).
The experts analyse that possible trade will not happen till the season ends. If, however, the above scenerio does materialise, it will still be a three-teams race to the conference final. But fighting for better seeding in playoff will likely be at top of the list for each team right from the start.
It is going to be a fantastic season to watch.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Comparing Celtics new roster with 2002-03 champion Spurs
The more i compare both teams, the more similarity i see in them. Make me wondering whether Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers are thinking along the same path.
The 2002-03 champion of the Spurs is very different from the team that has won the title a few years earlier. Building a team around the twin-tower of Duncan and Robinson, second-year French star Tony Parker (drafted in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft) is the starting point guard. The squad also features a variety of newly acquired three-point shooters, including veterans, Danny Ferry, Steve Kerr and Steve Smith , swingman and defence specialist Stephen Jackson and Bruce Bowen, and a rookie Manu Ginobili (1999 second-round draft choice playing in his first NBA season). The current roster of Celtics features the trio of Peace, Garnett and Ray Allen, with Rondo and Perkins likely be included to the starting five.
When i compares the two rosters, i see similarity in both building a winning team of similar game (the inside-outside threats) with players of similar skills. Spurs have Duncan and aged Robinson inside complementing each other's play, surrounded by mixed of shooters newly joined the team that year. Celtics have Pierce and Garnett working on the low/high posts and complementing one another. Interestingly either one can also switch and engineer offence from perimeter (or penetration). Of course Ray Allen is their other alternative from perimeter. You may argue that there is a gap in terms of the quality of shooters, in favour to Spurs. I agree. So is Danny and Doc, and that's why they're trying to land another shooter like Reggie Miller.
Another similarity is the starting point guards of both teams, both in their second NBA season with certain limitation, Parker's penetration and sometimes inaccurate jump-shot, and Rondo's shooting skill. Among their other difference, i think the most important one is prior playoff experience, which matters during playoff time.
Both teams have chemistry uncertainty to deal with. Spurs have nine new players then and likewise for Celtics. On hindsight we know how well it works out for Spurs. i sense the same outcome will happen for Celtics, with the leadership of Garnett and Peace and their complementing personality (more detail can be found through google search). i also like Ray Allen and Perkins with their team-first attitude. Overall i like the roster that Danny has put together.
Completing my comparison, the defence standpoint also draws some similarity. Spurs' defence covers almost everywhere from perimeter to the paint. The only weak area may be Parker's defence skill and is often explored by the opposing team with bigger guard. On contrary Rondo's defence skill is supposed to be his strength. Celtics' roster also have filled with players with pretty good defence skill. With Garnett and Perkins filling the paint and backing up by Pollard and Powe, Peace is now focusing his training in perimeter defence and Posey will be joining him to strengthen this catagory. My BIG question mark, however, is how well they gels together in team defence, especially in transition and against point-guard with great passing skill.
If they can deliver soon enough, say within first two to three months into the season, i like Celtics' chance to reach the Conference Final.
The 2002-03 champion of the Spurs is very different from the team that has won the title a few years earlier. Building a team around the twin-tower of Duncan and Robinson, second-year French star Tony Parker (drafted in the first round of the 2001 NBA Draft) is the starting point guard. The squad also features a variety of newly acquired three-point shooters, including veterans, Danny Ferry, Steve Kerr and Steve Smith , swingman and defence specialist Stephen Jackson and Bruce Bowen, and a rookie Manu Ginobili (1999 second-round draft choice playing in his first NBA season). The current roster of Celtics features the trio of Peace, Garnett and Ray Allen, with Rondo and Perkins likely be included to the starting five.
When i compares the two rosters, i see similarity in both building a winning team of similar game (the inside-outside threats) with players of similar skills. Spurs have Duncan and aged Robinson inside complementing each other's play, surrounded by mixed of shooters newly joined the team that year. Celtics have Pierce and Garnett working on the low/high posts and complementing one another. Interestingly either one can also switch and engineer offence from perimeter (or penetration). Of course Ray Allen is their other alternative from perimeter. You may argue that there is a gap in terms of the quality of shooters, in favour to Spurs. I agree. So is Danny and Doc, and that's why they're trying to land another shooter like Reggie Miller.
Another similarity is the starting point guards of both teams, both in their second NBA season with certain limitation, Parker's penetration and sometimes inaccurate jump-shot, and Rondo's shooting skill. Among their other difference, i think the most important one is prior playoff experience, which matters during playoff time.
Both teams have chemistry uncertainty to deal with. Spurs have nine new players then and likewise for Celtics. On hindsight we know how well it works out for Spurs. i sense the same outcome will happen for Celtics, with the leadership of Garnett and Peace and their complementing personality (more detail can be found through google search). i also like Ray Allen and Perkins with their team-first attitude. Overall i like the roster that Danny has put together.
Completing my comparison, the defence standpoint also draws some similarity. Spurs' defence covers almost everywhere from perimeter to the paint. The only weak area may be Parker's defence skill and is often explored by the opposing team with bigger guard. On contrary Rondo's defence skill is supposed to be his strength. Celtics' roster also have filled with players with pretty good defence skill. With Garnett and Perkins filling the paint and backing up by Pollard and Powe, Peace is now focusing his training in perimeter defence and Posey will be joining him to strengthen this catagory. My BIG question mark, however, is how well they gels together in team defence, especially in transition and against point-guard with great passing skill.
If they can deliver soon enough, say within first two to three months into the season, i like Celtics' chance to reach the Conference Final.
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