Take the best player off each remaining playoff team and rank them from best to worst. You can mention the player you're subtracting as it could be debatable in itself. I'll mention the debatable subtractions in parenthesis. 1. Lakers 2. Magic 3. Spurs (Duncan) 4. Celtics (Rondo) 5. Suns (Nash) 6. Cavs 7. Hawks 8. Jazz I can convince myself to rearrange the top 5 every time I look at it, but here's my quick take on it. I have trouble deciding between 1 & 2. And then 3-5 are pretty close IMHO. I'd like to hear thoughts on the whole thing.
I know you mentioned only the remaining teams but I still feel compelled to point out how truly pathetic the Heat would be without you-know-who. I suppose that's an extreme example, though. In any event, agreed with the Lakers at #1. Pau Gasol, at the very worst, has been Kobe's equal during the playoffs this year. I'd say Spurs second, C's third then maybe the Magic. In all fairness, Orlando would be clueless on both ends of the floor without Dwight out there commanding so much attention and paving the way for the 1,405 three point attempts the Magic toss up every game.
I think the Hawks without Johnson may be better than the Suns without Nash or the Cavs without James.
1. Lakers - Still very tall and talented. 2. Celtics- play good team defense, still a lot of talent dispersed around. 3. Suns - Dragic is no slouch. 4. Spurs - Still have some talented players in Parker, Ginobili and Hill 5. Magic - This team is built around Dwight Howard. Things would be a lot harder without him around. 6. Cavs - Losing Lebron is the biggest blow, but they still have talent. 7. Jazz - DWill does it all. 8. They aren't even that good to begin with.
I first thought of picking the Hawks over the Cavs, but I went back on it considering the Cavs have Varejao, Hickson, and West coming off the bench. But on second thought I'm probably overrating that. I had the most trouble deciding on where to put the Celts.
Not hating at all. It's fairly obvious what the Magic are out there to do offensively. They work an inside-out game on offense and defensively he makes that team what they are inside 15-feet of the basket. You remove Dwight from that equation and the flood gates could potentially come out.
I've figured that would've at least gotten a mention, since their best player has been out since the playoffs . . . last year
I agree the team is based off Howard , but most of time i feel people discount Nelson , Carter , Barnes, Pietrus, Lewis and the bench . They are the deepest team in the league w/o a question with their night in night out production.
With a HEALTHY Yao , Rockets w/o a doubt will make the playoffs next year , the question is will they add few interesting pieces to the puzzle.
Cavs has got to be last. Without LerBon, they wouldn't even be a .500 team. If LerBon is gone, the Cavs lose their best player, their mojo, their economy, their will to live, and will be swept out of the Playoffs.
Hawks look good on paper but they have some issues.. Series going to game 7 against a bucks team who didnt have bogut or redd.. losing by 40 to the magic in game 1. They have good individual talent but lack any sort of chemistry, drive and heart. Barkley did comment how they didnt seem to like each other.
ehhh maybe a few years ago that was true but they have a decent team now. i agreee they dont have a goto scrorer with out Lebron but this is not the same cavs team that made it to the finals a few years ago with just LBJ. Outside of LBJ Shaq - Old but still a very effective center Varajeo - Hate the guy but he does the dirty work, rebounds and plays D Jaminson - A 20, 10 guy. Puts up great stats and can be the go to scorer Mo williams - can heat up and is a decent PG Other decent players, JJ Hickson, Moon, West, etc I am surprise that Gibson fell off the face of the planet so fast. He was a huge part of that team a few years ago. But I think the cavs can still make the playoffs in the East.
everyone thought Carter was a downgrade from Turkey Glu. But looks like the Magic knew what they were doing.
Lakers minus Kobe, you are looking at Grizzles. 0 penetration ability for the team, poor outside shooting. Gasol wouldn't find the spacing he needs to operate.
Celtics or Magic should be first. the rest of the teams are mediocre without their stars. if the rockets were in there then they would definitely be top 5.
