This poll will last until tomorrow at this time, please try to break this tie for the 2nd spot in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Milwaukee Bucks - kk30 C: Jeff Foster / Andray Blatche PF: Amare Stoudemire / Tim Thomas / Josh Powell SF: Gerald Wallace / Antoine Wright SG: Paul Pierce / Rashad McCants / Willie Green PG: Mike Bibby / Sebastian Telfair Charlotte Bobcats - ghoti C: Greg Oden / Tony Battie PF: Anderson Varejao / Joe Smith / Ian Mahinmi SF: Peja Stojakovic / Al Thornton SG: Mike Dunleavy Jr. / Dorell Wright PG: Derrick Rose / Rafer Alston / Chris Quinn
I don' think Bibby/Pierce/Wallace/Amare can make it through a full season together, and KK's bench is pretty weak. Tim Thomas, Bassy, Antoine Wright, and Willie Green disgusts me. The big man rotation isn't too strong either. I think having a bench full of players who are known to be seflish/soft/character concerns will only harm that team. ghoti has great depth, Thornton, Alston, and Joe Smith make up a fantastic bench. Over a long season I think that ghoti's team comes out on top.
Bibby played in 48 games last year, so that's fair... Paul Pierce played in 80 games... Gerald played in 62, ok... and Amare in 79. I don't think it's that bad.
Derrick Rose isn't even going to be that good next year, Alston will probably be getting the bulk of minutes on ghotis team
Bibby is coming off a major injury that really affected his game. Pierce had a big injury 2 years ago. Amare's knee issues are well documented, even though he's bounced back strong, it's always a concern. Gerald Wallace can't play a full season. What do you do when Gerald misses time? Slot in McCants and put Pierce at the 3? Then you have a team full of players who need the ball to be effective in Bibby, McCants, Pierce, Amare. If you take McCants off that bench, you have nothing left on it. Antoine Wright? Tim Thomas? Bleh. Odds are that bench will be needed to limit the minutes and keep that team fresh, and the bench is so weak, over a full season I can't see them being that great.
Yeah, a big injury 2 years ago...and Paul just played 80 games and was the MVP in the finals. Amare was dynamite last season. I think in theory you've always got to keep a knee injury in the back of your head, but he's shown nothing but positives. Other wise you make some good points.
You could say the same for ghoti's team to an extent right? Oden and Battie have had injury problems lately. Varejao has no offense whatsoever, Peja and Dunleavy = not very great defense. Derrick Rose is too raw to lead a team etc.
You're right about Amare and PP. You can't really talk bad about their injuries. But Bibby and Wallace are a concern. Especially Wallace. I don't think he can ever finish a full season. ANY injury to that starting lineup screws the team. They are banking on the starting lineup. I just don't see it happening.
Ghoti has a strong defensive frontcourt with Varejao and Oden. Oden will eliminate a lot of mistakes on defense. I like the combo of inside presence between those 2 on the defensive end. Oden is a monster shot blocker/eraser, while Varejao will step into the lane and clog it up from penetration.
Both teams have huge holes. I really don't like either team all that much, but I think over a full season ghoti's team wins more games.
Oden is hasn't even played a game in the NBA, how do we know he's that big of a presence already? I don't really like either team much, one has great starters and the other one has inexperienced starters. Both teams have guys that can be injured, so when you throw out the injuries, KK30's team has to win since Rose is still so raw and Oden hasn't played a game yet, so you don't exactly know what he can do yet.
On the contrary, the one thing you KNOW about Oden is that he is going to dominate defensively. I can say that with 100% confidence without seeing him play in a NBA game yet.
Everyone in the NBA can be injured, but Gerald Wallace can't make it through a full season. Bibby had like 6 nagging injuries last year, that's a big concern. With rookies you have to use your own expectations. You can't just say Oden will be trash bc he hasn't played. I think he'll be a defensive anchor.
I also don't like how ghoti has no go-to guy. If the games on the line and you have the ball, who gets it? Peja for 3? Brick. Dunleavy? I don't know about that. Thornton is young, Oden isn't an offensive minded player, Varejao shouldn't even touch the ball.
Yeah, but he's still learning the game, so he might not be quite as dominant as everyone is playing him out to be. He is coming off a big time knee surgery and still lacks experience, which usually leads to more foul trouble. Not saying he's trash but how many bigs dominate in their rookie year? Bibby had that thumb injury last year that screwed up his shooting, and then some sore knees but he's definitely on his decline. You know what Bibby & Gerald Wallace will do, while rookies aren't always consistent, especially someone as raw as Derrick Rose. Oden should do alright, just everyone is playing him off to be a proven stud, 16/10 is the best case scenario for him IMO, and I still don't think he'll be able to do that right away.
