Nah I think you’re over-exaggerating the effect of not having Davis or Perkins there to defend Howard. Whilst it would make it easier for Howard to score points in the paint without those two dudes there he’s not a good offensive player to the extent he can take over a game. He may score 30 points some games but the Celts shouldn’t be too worried in that scenario because it slows down the Magic’s offense. Those fast breaks and threes would be reduced if the Magic dump it down to Howard often and therefore transition into a more half-court game.
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Perkins and Big Baby are pretty much the Celtics only hope for guarding Dwight. Hell even with them there they Magic have managed to get Howard to score with alleys and just nifty passing finding him under the net. Now they won’t need to try as hard. Perkins and Big Baby are both big and rough enough to keep Howard further away from the net where he’s less effective and needs to sink those hook shots he’s not really that good at. With them gone the Celts will have to go smaller, and smaller players won’t be able to keep Howard from the basket.
Not to mention smaller players are going to have to guard Dwight- Rasheed Wallace, and I don’t know who else, maybe Garnett. That in turn will tire both of those players out on the offensive end, not to mention put them in foul trouble as they’ll need to foul him more often. If you want to see the results when Garnett isn’t on his A game, the past two games should give a good example.
With 7 full minutes left they half-heartedly resorted to fouling Howard and hoping he missed the free throws. They were out of tricks. Granted they were short on players, but that looks like it’ll be the case in game 6, too. So Howard’s gonna give them hell.
Rasheed will get into foul trouble QUICKLY against howard. He has already and that is whith a 3 or 4 man rotation, if it’s down to a 2 man rotation, he will have to play him longer, and that means being even more tired which of course means more fouls. Now I’m not saying this because Howard is going to make a ton of free throws, but this will make it a nightmare if Rasheed fouls out with much of the game left.
Dwight Howard pretty much controls the game defensively as well. I know I said Dwight Howard isn’t a great offensive player, the Magic as a team have worked around that. And now they have it even easier. This series is going to 7 games.
And I don’t have a problem with the technical calls or the increasingly rough play of Howard. I can’t be the only one who notices that the Celts need to shut the fuck up a little more. They scream at the refs after every call. They’re actually as bad as the Cav’s except that they scream for longer and really get in the ref’s faces for a minute or two. The ref’s probably decided it was time to keep them in check and let Perkins be an example- which was great because he was the worst offender. Message sent.
And it’s not news that you have to play rough to guard Howard [like you do with Shaq]. I guess it was news to Howard that he wasn’t getting the foul calls he wanted. So good on him for playing rougher, and throwing the occasional elbow. I hate to see what happened to Big Baby but that’s not the norm and it should stop Howard from doing what he has to.
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The Magic look like they have the best chance I’ve seen to accomplish “never been done before” winning the series after being down 3 games to 0. The Celts better win game 6.
[quote]randman wrote:
I can’t believe what I’m seeing. The Magic look like they have the best chance I’ve seen to accomplish “never been done before” winning the series after being down 3 games to 0. The Celts better win game 6.[/quote]
Like I said a couple of pages back, if the Magic win game 5 I think they take the series. Boston let a golden oppertunity get away from them. Also, no one gets more bullshit fouls called on them the Kendrick Perkins. That poor guy can’t walk to the scorers table without catching a whistle.
And I don’t have a problem with the technical calls or the increasingly rough play of Howard. I can’t be the only one who notices that the Celts need to shut the fuck up a little more. They scream at the refs after every call. They’re actually as bad as the Cav’s except that they scream for longer and really get in the ref’s faces for a minute or two. The ref’s probably decided it was time to keep them in check and let Perkins be an example- which was great because he was the worst offender. Message sent. [/quote]
Collectively the Celtics don’t complain to the refs anymore than the rest of the teams in the league. Lebron and Kobe, on their own are sometimes worse. Dirk does it too. I could sit here for an hour and list players that cry like pussies to refs.
The two techs on Perkins were BS, period. If the refs want to send a message, then they get with Van Gundy and Rivers before the game and lay down the law. They don’t determine the outcome of games by blowing their damn whistle for no reason. Perkins walked away from the official and still got “T’d” up. Now that call wasn’t going to effect the outcome of game 5. Orlando was going to win that regardless, but it might effect game 6.
Those players you named are “superstars.” Perkins is not anywhere close to a superstar. KG, Pierce, Allen and Rondo didnt get those Technical calls cause they are (or are close to being) superstars in the league. Thats just how it works. Refs have less leaniency with “regular” players than they do with superstars
2.The first T WASNT BS cause Perkins elbowed Gortat and then Gortat punched the ball out of Perks hand so a double T was definitely in order. They had to keep the game under wraps. The second T seemed to be BS but none of us know what he said to the ref at that time or if he had been jawing at the refs all night and maybe the refs had been telling the players to knock it off?
None of us know and wont know but I do agree that the second T seemed uncalled for and shouldnt have happened…and I HATE the Celtics. (I am glad it was perkins though that got it cause he seems to always have an attitude and I cant stand him lol)
I might be wrong about this but isnt there a clause in the rule that says “showing up a ref” is grounds for a T? Not just whinning about a foul call. If you just whine about it but arent “showing up the ref” by comments, actions and body language you more than likely wont get a T.
yeah celts magic lakers suns conference playoff discussion its all fine but lets not get sidetracked from the truly important thing that matters basketball-wise: where lebron is going to end up.
i was thinking to myself, as you do, and it came to me that a dirk lebron ticket could be possible! heat/knicks trade wade/the whole roster, pick up dirk and 'bron and then smile smooth to the champs.
The up side to having Rasheed in the game is that he is a much bigger offensive threat than Perkins. He was hitting those 3’s at the end of last nights game. I would be worried about that if he can stay out of foul trouble for game 6.
I’m not sure about the LeBron thing. I think he should stay in Cleveland. I dont think he’ll be able to compete for a championship sooner by going to another team unless he teams up with someone but if Dirk or Wade leave for another team they’ll be loosing out on 30 million dollars so I dont really see that happeneing.
It is gonna be interesting. I wanna see what happens
2.The first T WASNT BS cause Perkins elbowed Gortat and then Gortat punched the ball out of Perks hand so a double T was definitely in order. They had to keep the game under wraps. The second T seemed to be BS but none of us know what he said to the ref at that time or if he had been jawing at the refs all night and maybe the refs had been telling the players to knock it off?
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Well, I disagree. You don’t call a T in that situation. You pull the players aside and tell them to cut the shit out. This is playoffs, I want the game settled by the players on the court.
Or, as I said previously, pull the coaches aside and tell them that techs will be handed out to players if things get chippy. If players don’t listen, that’s on them. Maybe the refs have done this at some point, I don’t know. But if they haven’t, that’s what should happen.
We could argue back and forth on the first tech, but my point is I would prefer the refs take a different tact in trying to control the game than just throwing technical fouls left and right.
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None of us know and wont know but I do agree that the second T seemed uncalled for and shouldnt have happened…and I HATE the Celtics. (I am glad it was perkins though that got it cause he seems to always have an attitude and I cant stand him lol)
.greg.[/quote]
As far as I could tell Perkins didn’t actually say anything to the ref. He “reacted”, as in, put his hands up or on his head and then immediately turned and walked away. As he was walking away it looked like he said or “mouthed” the words “bullshit”. But I think the tech had already been called by then.
[quote]Gettnitdone wrote:
yeah celts magic lakers suns conference playoff discussion its all fine but lets not get sidetracked from the truly important thing that matters basketball-wise: where lebron is going to end up.
i was thinking to myself, as you do, and it came to me that a dirk lebron ticket could be possible! heat/knicks trade wade/the whole roster, pick up dirk and 'bron and then smile smooth to the champs.
what do ya think?[/quote]
Two things:
1- Where James ends up is only important for revenue. He still won’t win shit.
2- Like I’ve said several times now, he either signs a short contract with the Cavs and signs with Jersey in a few years or signs with Jersey now.
And wtf is this talk with Cleveland or Chicago picking up Phil Jackson and possibly using that as bait to get Lebron to want to play for him.
If Phil leaves and coaches Lebron, the Lakers vs Lebron battle next year could be EPIC… I can’t imagine how Kobe would feel if Phil left to coach Lebron… I really don’t think he will, but I’ve hear it said more than once now and it’s got me a bit nervous. That would be a tragedy for the Lakers.
On a side note, have you guys looked at the players salaries??? Check out the link, does anyone else find it an incredible waste of money the amount they are paying Adam Morrison?? He makes more than Fisher, Brown, and Farmar? And almost makes what Artest makes. WTF?
^ I’m not nervous AT ALL. There’s no way Phil leaves next year to coach another team. He either coaches the Lakers or retires. He can win more championships where he’s at right now. He’s comfortable here. His girlfriend is here. He has nothing left to prove by restarting again. He’s 65 and comfortable. He’s already shot down those reports of being interested in Chicago or Cleveland.