OSUBasketballJunkie;894850; said:
Its hard to agree with you when your opinion of Garnett is so low.....most basketball fans and most media consider Garnett a top 5 player but by your comments you make it seem Garnett is just a serviceable player. Pierce and Allen have played most of their careers by themselves and their is a difference when three past All-Stars combine on one team. I am not saying they are in the finals next year as I have stated earlier in this thread but I think they are much improved and it is realistic to expect them in the playoffs. Stop with all the Boston hate. Lets remember I was comparing the Cavs and Celtics, not Garnett and Lebron....if you want to have a discussion at least get the points correct.
When comparing the Celtics to the Cavs, I have to consider what the best player on each team is capable of come playoff time. I know it might seem easy to dismiss given the fact that Boston also has Pierce and Allen, but in the NBA playoffs (for the most part), it's alpha-dog time. And since we're discussing whether Boston is a contender based on what Cleveland did last year, it's hard to deny a comparison of Lebron vs. Garnett.
And my point above being that Lebron, in his short time in the league, has shown a significant amount more leadership qualities than Garnett has in his 10+ years.
Your point above was that you didn't see Boston's situation any differently than Cleveland last year. My point is that it's not close to the same situation. Boston can't simply rely upon the fact that, in one offseason, they blew up the team and brought three guys that have never won before and assume they are now a contender. The Cavs, for all of their shortcomings sans Lebron, have still had a core of guys together for a while that are at least aware of their responsibilities. Boston is hoping that Garnett, Pierce and Allen figure in out in one or two seasons. I don't call that a conference contender - regardless of how weak you perceive the Eastern Conference to be.
Once again, you cannot seem to understand the fact I like two teams....get over it.
You're right. I can't. I'm over it enough to drop the subject.
I think this comment is a vague attempt to insult my intelligence. I understand basketball and football rosters, drafts and anything else you want to address.....Your opinion that this trade is similar to the Walker trade is laughable in my opinion. Lets just remember that the players Boston gave up weren't exactly wanted players, with the exception of Jefferson and the jury is still out on him, so before you equate this trade to anything, lets see how it plays out down the road, it took Dallas 2-3 years to benefit from those draft picks and remember you are assuming that McHale will make good selections with those first round picks...
No more a vague attempt to insult your intelligence than your attempt upon mine earlier. I've never pretended as if I'm capable of ignoring such comments without some retort.
Of course it still takes luck and scouting to use those picks to further Minnesota's future. I wouldn't dare be so presumptous as to believe McHale, of all people, will be able to build a title contender in 4 years. But, I will say that Boston has allowed the pieces to be put in place if Minnesota can capitalize. It was a wonderful trade from the T-Wolves perspective. They got rid of Garnett, who didn't want to be there because he could not win. And they brought in some good, not great, young talent to pair with multiple HIGH first round picks in the next couple of years. Sounds like the Chicago plan.
Bottom line is this: Who would you rather be a fan of in 2011-2012? The answer should be Minnesota if McHale doesn't drop a deuce all over himself. My position remains that when Boston fizzles out the next 2-3 years, people will see who got the better end of this deal.
I will end this by saying that regardless of how you view Garnett, Pierce and Allen.....barring injuries they will be a contender in the east, not only because they are talented but partly due to the east being so weak.
Assuming the East is weak is a common misperception. I agree that no team in that conference, as shown by the Cavs in the Finals, could compete with either the Spurs or Suns. But neither can any team in the West right now. Those teams are clearly a cut above everyone else right now. But if I seem to recall, neither Minnesota nor Seattle could muster so much as an 8 seed the last two years in the West. And Boston hasn't smelled the playoffs in two years either in the so-called "weak" East. So if Boston plans on being a "contender" in the East, it's got a lot more work to do than just throwing some ingredients in a pot and hoping a conference title comes out.
You bastards have won enough already. 
