2008-2009 Prime Rockets vs 2008-2009 Prime Celtics

I'll take the guys who know how to win as a team over the guys who have never won a thing

but of course, T-mac is the greatest player on planet what if.

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If everyone is in their primes and healthy, I have to go with the Rockets in a seven game series. Not trying to be a Houston Homer so I'll give some reasons:

1) The Rockets would have the best player on the court. A prime Tracy McGrady (Orlando and early Houston years) was arguably the most feared player in all of basketball. He was in his prime when the Celtics Big 3 were all in their primes and he was still better. He was a threat to get you 30-40 points on any given night with the addition of 7 rebs and 7 ast. No defense could stop him.

2) Big Men. No offense to Perkins, Davis, or Powe but I think it would be fair to say that Garnett would be the guy you would be most worried about. But, the Rockets with a prime Yao AND a prime Mutumbo would not even be fair. I don't think the Rockets ever got to see a prime Yao much as I think he was entering his prime the last real year he played for us, the '08-'09 season, but even then he was pretty much unstoppable with his hook shots, fade away baseline jumpers and to the fact that you couldn't foul him as he shot >85% from the stripe. I think Garnett, even though he was arguably the best defender in his prime, would still have his hands full trying to guard Yao. But, Mutumbo would be the game changer, I feel. The Rockets got Mutumbo way past his prime, but even then he showed his effectiveness in his time with us. Multiple 1st Team All Defense, 4x DPOtY winner, second all time in blocks, and two extra sharp elbow that weren't afraid to swing; Mutumbo was a force and could give Garnett fits defensively. Also cannot forget about the ChuckWagon and his famous battles with Garnett too lol

3) Rockets have more defensive stoppers. The Celtics played arguably the best team defenses in the history of the NBA, but it was largely anchored around the greatness of Kevin Garnett, with some help from Tony Allen and Perkins. But with the primes of Artest, Battier, and Mutumbo, you have to give the advantage to Houston here. Artest, DPotY winner, was a tenacious defender and Battier was solid and smart. They played complete opposite styles of defense but each was effective and together it was a nightmare. I remember one game they held Lebron James to under 20 points and without an assist, the first time in his career that happened to the King. Scoring for Ray and Pierce would be hard with Battier and Artest on them.

I do think the Celtics would take the series to the full seven games, but if I were to pick who would win, I have to go with Rockets. They just have way too many weapons, both offensively and defensively. I think the '08-'09 Rockets were even built in the hindsight of facing and beating the Celtics, as they were coming off their championship season.

 

Chinese Team with Marbury or Chinese Team with McGrady?

Chinese team with Marbury

 

No they had really good chemistry, but not as good as the Cs. Team defense wise the celtics also imo. Battier and Artest were great wing defenders but statistically the celtics held their opponents to an avg of one of the lowest points in history. Mcgrady was great, but in the type of system with Yao, an off the ball player that can catch and shoot would be much better.

 

We had Lowry!!

 

then you're dumb.

if you think pierce or ray allen were better basketball players than 2001 T-Mac.


If you think the Celtics team has a better fit which allows the players to play closer to their full potential then that's fair.

But no rational NBA fan would take Ray or Pierce in their prime over T-Mac.

 

In this fantasy scenario, using the prime version of the players, wouldn't chemistry be somewhat irrelevant? The prime versions of KG, Pierce, and Allen had zero chemistry with each other, because they never played together.

 

I'm sorry, I didn't say Paul Pierce. I said the TRUTH, which is something T-mac isn't know for.

 

pieces of the puzzle.

Allen: Great off the ball SG, one of the best shooters ever
Pierce: Good wing and semi good leader
KG: intensity and good post presence, amazing D


You have problems when you have wings that hold the ball too long like t-mac that require an entire posession to be dedicated to them. This only works with the best players like Kobe and Jordan that still manage to be extremely effective.

While I acknowledge the current lakers team is old, they still have the problems I would imagine you would have when putting a bunch of HOF and AS on a roster.

Nash
Kobe
Artest
Gasol
Howard

Nash is a shell of his former self, but playing with Kobe he isn't even able to shine.
Howard and Gasol don't seem to mesh as neither knows the role they need to play in too well.

2008 was something special where you had pieces that came together and fit really well. So I do think chemistry is still relevant.

 

I'll take the Rockets if you replace Tmac with Daffy Duck.

 

Francis started sucking after they removed Cuttino off his team and forced him to be a point guard instead of scorer.

but I guess this is Francis is in bizzaro world where he never nosedives as a player.

obviously if you have tmac winning anything of the first round that's pure fantasy, i'm talking beyond world of warcraft

 

PRIME Kevin Garnett, PRIME Paul Pierce, PRIME Ray Allen all on one team...
Celtics sweep the series.