But, we probably won't feel as exciting as now. BTW, Denver (wc team) hasn't show they deserve that playoff spot yet.
Being from Atlanta, I am so proud of this team. Only downside is that they will probaly keep Mike Woodson as coach now...
Dont let them get to you Gater. Right now, any player who has a good game in the playoffs is going to get the "T-Mac should do that" label. I just quit arguing with them. Its like arguing with someone about politics: Youre just never going to convince one another otherwise.
The Celtics had back to back Lottery picks in the 2001 draft. They picked JuCo player Kedrick Brown at #11 just behind Joe Johnson. Johnson started 33 of Boston's first 38 games as a rookie, but his playing time dwindled as the Celtics made a push for the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 1995. (The Celtics version of "Win Now"?). Midway through his rookie season, Johnson was traded to the Phoenix Suns along with guards Randy Brown, Milt Palacio and a first round pick for veteran forward Rodney Rogers and guard Tony Delk. The pick conveyed to PHX eventually became Stanford's Casey Jacobson. The post-JJ 2001-02 Celtics beat the Sixers (3-2) and Pistons (4-1) before losing to the Kidd-led Nets in the EC Finals 4-2. At PHX, Johnson averaged 13.25 points per game in his two seasons and developed into one of the most lethal three-point shooters in the NBA. In the 2004-05 season playoffs, Joe Johnson required surgery on his face after dunking the basketball he swung off the rim and landed horribly on his face. Because of the injury, Johnson wore a face mask for the rest of the playoffs. The Suns lost to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs, 4 games to 1. In August, 2005 Johnson (an unrestricted FA) was SnT'd to the Hawks for Boris Diaw and two future first-round draft picks. The Suns sold the first of those draft picks back to Boston and the Celtics turned that into Rajon Rondo. This summer, PHX will have the 15th pick in the draft. Had the pick not been Lottery protected, it could have netted the Suns Al Horford in last year's draft. The BOS GM selecting Joe Johnson was in fact Chris Wallace. By selecting JuCo player Kedrick Brown, Wallace passed over Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Zach Randolph, Gilbert Arenas, Troy Murphy, Gerald Wallace & Sam Dalembert. In addition to the #10 and #11 picks, Wallace selected Joe Forte @ #21 ahead of Tony Parker, Gerald Wallace & Gilbert Arenas. While it is an unsubstantiated rumor, apparently the Suns would have taken either Johnson OR Kedrick Brown in the mid-season trade. The good news for Rockets fans is that Chris Wallace has replaced Jerry West as GM of the Grizzlies. There's probably hope that the Rockets can get a mulligan on that Rudy Gay for Battier trade.
They remind me of the Warriors of last year's playoffs. Fun to watch, fast...very entertaining and athletic.
No, that's not an unsubstantiated rumor. Chris Wallace admitted it when he got the job as Memphis GM. IIRC, Wallace said Joe Johnson's performance was declining and they needed to make a playoff push. That's why Chris Wallace somehow send Johnson to the Suns. Also, Kedrick Brown was scouted by Chris Wallace himself.
Valid. Indeed, the threat of alternative offense is often as important as offense itself. My big problem is that on so many potentially momentum-changing plays, T-Mac pulls up for a quick 3 with a guy in his face with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. He can get that shot any time he wants. He can get that shot with 5 seconds on the shot clock. There are way too many instances when he settles for a jumper with a hand in his face, and just doesn't even make an attempt at penetrating. It's not that T-Mac's trying and failing to penetrate. From what I'm seeing, he's too often simply not trying at all. Whether that's his fault or Adelman's, someone's gotta realize that quick pull-up three-pointers off the dribble are no way to win a playoff series. Yes it's easier for Johnson to do that with the guys he has around him, but the disparity is still too huge to be entirely circumstantial.
Yeah, but the problem is the Hawks spent season after season as one of the worst teams in the NBA. This gave them draft pick after draft pick - AKA all the athleticism you're seeing on the floor for them now. The Rockets have been relatively successful, and haven't stockpiled any draft picks (Gay, I know, I know). I think it's a lot harder for teams like the Rockets to get more athletic - they're constantly drafting in the mid-20s, as opposed to top 10.
What a great idea! Let's tank the season less than 87 games into it for an inknown commodity! Not smart.
Now I'm hearing about possible suspensions. Perkins is gone for sure. Marvin Williams unlikely. I think KG has a better chance of being suspended. If KG and Perkins are gone they will have severe problems on the boards and ATL will have a good chance to steal one in the Garden. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.....
The reason the Rockets don't have enough talent is because the FO has been mediocre this past decade.
"Heart" isn't mocking Paul Pierce when he's knocked to the ground or attacking KG and getting away with it. Anyway, that's my bias. Go Celtics!
Pierce was talking MAJOR smack the first 2 games, it's only deserving he gets it back in his face when he is on the ground. Pierce shouldn't have been running his mouth and he wouldn't have been embarrased like that.
