One of the best series ever: Celtics win 4-3

[SpongeWorthy]

I think the biggest difference between Rose and Francis is above the neck, not anything in their physical skill set.

[Mike Aller]

Im curious to see your list. The only ones that are noticeably better right now are CP3, Parker, and Deron.

Those three are the only ones are noticeably better, yes. But there is a good debate with multiple others that are similar, or in my opinion, a bit better.

 

See: Rondo, Nash, Baron Davis, Devin Harris (not sure if he's technically a point guard, but he gets almost 7 assists per game as a small(er) type guy), and Billups. Don't get me wrong, I think that as soon as Rose has next year in under his belt he will pass all of those besides the top 3 and possibly Rondo, but I don't think one fantastic playoff game immediately makes him a top-5 players.

[RedFlash]

Paul Pierce is one of the 10 best NBA players and has sucked. The C game comment is probably dead on.

 

If you had watched the interview in which Pierce made that statement, you would not have made your post, wolf. PP is trying to spin it, but the fact and video remain, that was Boston's best effort.

[imb]

without looking at his stats, rose reminds me a lot of stephon marbury when he attacks the basket. announcers used to joke that marbury would hit a hole line a running back, and rose seems to do that too. his acceleration is off the charts.

[ChiCubsFan]

without looking at his stats, rose reminds me a lot of stephon marbury when he attacks the basket. announcers used to joke that marbury would hit a hole line a running back, and rose seems to do that too. his acceleration is off the charts.

 

I think Rose is a lot stronger and can take a lot more contact than marbury. they have a similar lack of defensive skills, though (although I expect this part of Rose's game to improve a lot in the future)

[imb]

without looking at his stats, rose reminds me a lot of stephon marbury when he attacks the basket. announcers used to joke that marbury would hit a hole line a running back, and rose seems to do that too. his acceleration is off the charts.

 

I think Rose is a lot stronger and can take a lot more contact than marbury. they have a similar lack of defensive skills, though (although I expect this part of Rose's game to improve a lot in the future)

 

i think marbury was/is listed at 6'2 200, Rose has to be smaller than that. If anything, I think Rose is faster and Marbury is stronger, he used to be a total bull when he'd get to the rim.

[ChiCubsFan]

without looking at his stats, rose reminds me a lot of stephon marbury when he attacks the basket. announcers used to joke that marbury would hit a hole line a running back, and rose seems to do that too. his acceleration is off the charts.

 

I think Rose is a lot stronger and can take a lot more contact than marbury. they have a similar lack of defensive skills, though (although I expect this part of Rose's game to improve a lot in the future)

 

i think marbury was/is listed at 6'2 200, Rose has to be smaller than that. If anything, I think Rose is faster and Marbury is stronger, he used to be a total bull when he'd get to the rim.

 

you're right. marbury is bigger. I guess I'm just not remembering the marbury that took it to the basket, and Rose constantly attacking the hoop and making ridiculous shots after getting knocked around by the bigs is fresh in my mind. Rose is definitely faster though. his acceleration is amazing. the only PG that I think might rival him is Parker.

[cubswin2009]

If you told me the Bulls would go into Boston and win 1 of 2 and lose by 3 in the loss I would have been thrilled. The Bulls did a nice job taking care of business in Boston and now hold HCA. Hopefully we can take 2 in Chicago and take complete control of the series. Leon Powe being out is huge.

[UMFan83]

If you told me the Bulls would go into Boston and win 1 of 2 and lose by 3 in the loss I would have been thrilled. The Bulls did a nice job taking care of business in Boston and now hold HCA. Hopefully we can take 2 in Chicago and take complete control of the series. Leon Powe being out is huge.

 

I definitely agree looking at it from before the series. The problem is, when you win Game 1, expectations change. And then when you play with the Celtics down the stretch, expectations are now to win the game. Then when you are leading by 5 with 2:54 left, you expect to win the game. So when you lose its not as easy (at least at first) to say "well we did what we needed to do".

 

But now that almost a day has passed, I feel a lot better about the fact that we took 1/2 in Boston, and in the other game where you knew Boston's intensity would be about as high as it could get, they took their best punch and easily could have won. I am not sure who is going to win the series, but I feel a lot better about Chicago's chances than I did a few days ago.

 

Basically it is now a best of 5 series with Chicago holding HCA. However, I think the Bulls need to win another one in Boston to win the series IMO. They will not win all 3 home games.

[cubweiser03]

I also like Rose's ability to drive to left or at the hoop and use his left hand. And if they can get a big man that can play the screen/pick role and put the ball on the floor watch out. Miller needs to stop trying to put it on the floor too.

 

Rondo is crazy good too. He makes some fantastic moves to the hoop and shots in the paint. I still dont get how a guy that athletic cant jump shoot worth a damn. The dude is like the Ben Wallace when it comes to jumps shots for PGs. There was a time last game where he was a foot inside the top of the key and whoever was playing him dared him to shoot it. Everyone PG in the league dots that dudes eye instantly. I know the talk is all about the big 3 but Rondo is really valuable for them, hes unheralded.

 

There are some really good PGs in the league thats for sure.

[gflore34]

Pierce says they have only played their C game. This is absolutly insulting to the Bulls. Nobody could of guarded Gordon last night, nobody. I like KG but it appeared that during and after the game he was yelling at the Bulls bench area, whatsup with that. Dude says the MF word or variables of it a lot.

 

I believe those are the type of statements made by a team that knows it's in danger of losing the series. They're searching for something, anything to give them an edge.

[gflore34]

Pierce says they have only played their C game. This is absolutly insulting to the Bulls. Nobody could of guarded Gordon last night, nobody. I like KG but it appeared that during and after the game he was yelling at the Bulls bench area, whatsup with that. Dude says the MF word or variables of it a lot.

 

This and, whatever that crap Perkins sprouted about Rose was, are the type of statements made by a team that knows it's in danger of losing the series. They're searching for something, anything to give them an edge.

[Derwood]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

[cubswin2009]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

Didn't the Celtics make it to the ECF with a Pierce/Antoine Walker combo?

[Derwood]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

Didn't the Celtics make it to the ECF with a Pierce/Antoine Walker combo?

 

In '01-'02 they made it to the ECF and lost to the Nets. Is that the year you're referring to?

[KaiserCesar]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

 

To be fair, a lot of other players and development of players around him came with Garnett. Too bad the current defensive scheme is pretty much dependent on him. The Celtics are hurt most on defense by the lack of Garnett, that was obvious in game 1, I think they showed some graphic that opponents score 10 more ppg w/o him

[SouthSideRyan]

Pierce says they have only played their C game. This is absolutly insulting to the Bulls. Nobody could of guarded Gordon last night, nobody. I like KG but it appeared that during and after the game he was yelling at the Bulls bench area, whatsup with that. Dude says the MF word or variables of it a lot.

 

This and, whatever that crap Perkins sprouted about Rose was, are the type of statements made by a team that knows it's in danger of losing the series. They're searching for something, anything to give them an edge.

 

Perkins was right, Rose was shut down. And the Celtics won.

[Sosa21MVP]

Pierce says they have only played their C game. This is absolutly insulting to the Bulls. Nobody could of guarded Gordon last night, nobody. I like KG but it appeared that during and after the game he was yelling at the Bulls bench area, whatsup with that. Dude says the MF word or variables of it a lot.

 

This and, whatever that crap Perkins sprouted about Rose was, are the type of statements made by a team that knows it's in danger of losing the series. They're searching for something, anything to give them an edge.

 

Perkins was right, Rose was shut down. And the Celtics won.

 

lol

 

I don't really have a horse in this series but it is fun watching you go back and forth with the Bulls fans.

 

Boston is in for a long series but I'm just not ready to proclaim the Bulls a winner yet. I could still see the Celtics using their "saavy" to pull out just enough games to win. But it probably will go the distance IMO.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, I'm starting to resign myself to a 7 game series, which is fine, at best we get embarrassed by Cleveland, so might as well have some fun on the way.

[Flames24Rulz]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

Didn't the Celtics make it to the ECF with a Pierce/Antoine Walker combo?

 

In '01-'02 they made it to the ECF and lost to the Nets. Is that the year you're referring to?

 

The Eastern Conference was so horrid that year. I think the Bucks made the conference finals in that time span as well, which is all you need to know about how bad the East was back then.

[cubswin2009]

Yeah, I'm starting to resign myself to a 7 game series, which is fine, at best we get embarrassed by Cleveland, so might as well have some fun on the way.

Wouldn't we play winner of Orlando/Philly next?

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, I'm starting to resign myself to a 7 game series, which is fine, at best we get embarrassed by Cleveland, so might as well have some fun on the way.

Wouldn't we play winner of Orlando/Philly next?

 

Whoever wins this series plays the winner of that next, but the Celtics(and the Bulls) best case is to be embarrassed in the Eastern Conference Finals(Unless Garnett is as tough as Pierce)

[Guest]

I know I'm late to this but, really? Paul Pierce is a top 10 player in the league? REALLY? How far did that get him pre-Garnett? And how far will that get him with Garnett out?

Didn't the Celtics make it to the ECF with a Pierce/Antoine Walker combo?

 

In '01-'02 they made it to the ECF and lost to the Nets. Is that the year you're referring to?

 

Pierce also had a lot of garbage around him for a long time as well. That and Antoine Walker, who was basically a three-point chucker.

 

Kevin Garnett never made it out of the first round until he had Latrell Spreewell and Sam Cassell on his team in 03-04.

 

Kobe Bryant missed the playoffs in 04-05 and only made the first round as a No. 7 seed the next two years with guys like Smush Parker, Kwame Brown and Brian Cook starting a ton of games.

 

Jordan didn't win anything until Scottie Pippen was on the team and got a couple years under his belt.

 

Just because Pierce didn't get all that far pre-Garnett doesn't mean he isn't a top-10 player. I'm not saying he is or isn't, just that judging him based on how far he was able to take his team in the playoffs isn't a good way of doing it.

[1908]

Paul Pierce is one of the 10 best NBA players and has sucked. The C game comment is probably dead on.

Wait, what? Maybe four years ago. He's not close to top 10 now.

[RedFlash]

Paul Pierce is one of the 10 best NBA players and has sucked. The C game comment is probably dead on.

Wait, what? Maybe four years ago. He's not close to top 10 now.

 

 

Let's see:

 

LBJ

Kobe

Wade

Paul

Howard

KG--when healthy

Kevin Durant

Brandon Roy

Carmelo Anthony

Yao Ming

 

You're right 1908, Pierce is no longer a Top 10 player. Then when you throw out players like Chris Bosh, Deron Williams, Al Jefferson, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Danny Granger, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, and I don't think Pierce is even a top 30 player at this point in his career.

 

About the "C game" comment, no way that is dead on. Pierce couldn't convince himself with this statement is true, much less people watching in. The "Truth" is, Pierce knows the C's are in trouble and they were bailed out because of stupidity in the 2nd game.