NBA season is here!

[jimmytheg]

considering it was the biggest series of his life at that point, i think they are considered clutch....in fact, im not sure what else qualifies as clutch

[GeoffM]

That big streak the Raptors had gone one was 3 years ago, actually, when Carter first ran into his real problems with injuries. The last 2 years have been washes, one bad season led to Bosh, and Bosh's first season the Raptors were a bad team. We have improved in several areas, most notably a more reliable and less injury-prone point guard (Reefer Alston), as well as Bosh moving to PF, his natural position, and putting on a few pounds. Like I said, he is a poor man's KG, which is a very good thing to be considered as, considering KG is God on the court. Rose is going to have to step it up this year and be an all-star, and Carter will have to stay healthy. Weak in the middle but Loren Woods has played mediocre so far, and if they can get mediocre play from the middle they will make the playoffs.

They also have Marshall coming off the bench, a versatile big man with range. I'm also happy they are giving Lamond Murray some minutes, this guy was buried on the bench last season and Sam Mitchell has done a good job getting him some minutes. He could be the wild card in the Raptors season, as their bench is nothing to brag about after Marshall and hopefully he can step it up. Watching the Portland game yesterday, the Raptors need a rebounder still, Dennis Rodman perhaps .

[eddo31]

i think that the pistons are a good team, but they would not have beat the spurs last year, and they probably would have lost to the t-wolves as well. they happened to be in the right place at the right time, with the right opponent, to win the title.

i dont want to disrespect them at all, but they are essentially a very good defensive team, with just enough offense to get the job done. ben wallace is a great player, but he needs to improve his offensive game in order to be considered a great player. tim duncan and kg are just as dominant defensive players, and they also have tremendous offensive games as well.

[GeoffM]

Not quite. Wallace is bar none, the best defensive player in the game, IMO

[junYUN]

i think wallace is overated definsively, most of his "defensive player of the year" titles hinged on his defensive rebound numbers. tim duncan is a GREAT defender, he doesn't get as much credit as he deserves. garnett i think could be a better defender than he is (although he's still a good one), but he doesn't block as many shots as he should with that height and those arms.

[GeoffM]

Ben Wallace was 2nd in the league in blocked shots last year, 3rd in defensive rebounds. Duncan was 2nd in defensive rebounds and 3rd in blocks (but Wallace averaged about a half a block more per game). Wallace also played for a team with better rebounding overall, so he definately is deserving of the edge. Wallace was also 7th in the league in steals per game, for a CENTRE. Duncan is nowhere near the top of that list, so I don't think numbers lie. People merely say Wallace can't play D because he can't play O as well.

[junYUN]

i never said he couldn't play D, i simply said that he is not the best defender in the game. he has A LOT of good defenders on that team, so he gets a little help from them (see: billups/rip leaving the only passage to the hoop right through big ben, rasheed waiting on one side to block a shot -- big ben on another)

[Chutups]

I don't think he's overrated at all, He's a great one on one defender and he's an even better team defender. His defensive player of the year awards not only hinged on his defensive rebound numbers, but he is always on top of the league in blocked shots yes he's only around 6'7.

[GeoffM]

WOW, anyone watch the Raptor game last night? Very impressive, coming back from 6 down in the late 3rd quarter to win. Maybe they are for real this year, maybe they'll win the playoffs.

Despite not liking Vince a heck of a lot, I would love to see what he could do in an entire season. I think he could very well come in the top 10 in scoring, and would love to see a highlight reel dunk every game like we use to see out of him.

Crazy, coming off a shelling at the hands of the Kings, they would win the next night on the road.

[jimmytheg]

[quote=GeoffM]That big streak the Raptors had gone one was 3 years ago, actually, when Carter first ran into his real problems with injuries.

I meant in 2003, when vince was injured at the end of the year and the won like 13 straight to sneak in the playoffs