East's elite making multiple moves and countermoves
By Chris Bernucca
Pro Basketball News
The top of the Eastern Conference is a game of rock-paper-scissors.
Orlando Magic fans will argue otherwise. They will say that their team beat both the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, clearly making the Magic the beast of the East.
Really?
Would the Magic have beaten the Celtics if Kevin Garnett was playing and able to take a turn on Dwight Howard or Rashard Lewis? Would they even have gotten to a seventh game?
We can hear the Celtics fans thumping their chests now. "Garnett is wicked awesome, man! He's a soup-a-staah! No way Orlando gets Game Seven in the Gaah-den!"
Easy, chowderhead. When's the last time you won a game in Cleveland? And where was Game Seven of that series supposed to be?
See what we mean? All three teams can stake a claim to superiority -- and all three can have that aura erased in the next breath.
Which is why all three have been highly active in the offseason, adding pieces that they think will give them the edge come next spring.
Collectively, this is the roster of players added by the Magic, Cavs and Celtics since the end of the season: Shaquille O'Neal, Vince Carter, Rasheed Wallace, Brandon Bass, Marquis Daniels, Matt Barnes, Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker and Ryan Anderson.
The group has five championship rings, nine NBA Finals appearances, 27 All-Star berths, one MVP and roughly $58 million in salaries. Add one capable ballhandler, and it would be in the hunt for the le.
But we're not building a fantasy team here. We're dealing in reality and trying to determine which team now has the upper hand in the rock-paper-scissors game.
Some of these teams might not be done, either. The Celts are still trying to bring back Big Baby Davis and the Magic are interested in C.J. Watson.
All three teams are in the eight-figure stratosphere of the luxury tax. The Cavs get the most relief from expiring contracts next summer -- which also means they have the most work to do in keeping together their nucleus. The Celts have the most experience -- which also makes them the oldest. The Magic have the most core players locked up - which could be problematic if the mix is wrong.
Keep in mind that some of our criticism is nit-picking; these are all teams that should win between 60 and 65 games and battle for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
But also keep in mind that at least one of these teams will fall short of the conference finals, which give the expectations and offseason commitment could mean a massive overhaul. Ask the Maloofs or Stan Kroenke -- spending money without seeing results can change an owner's approach in a hurry.
Here's the breakdown.
CAVALIERS
Good: Despite his advancing age, O'Neal still has to be accounted for and will command double-teams. He gives the Cavs an interior threat, which they did not have last season and led to an overreliance on isolating LeBron James. O'Neal also is an underrated, willing passer from the post who finds cutters and spot-up shooters. And he gives the Cavs one of the best backup centers in the league in Zydrunas Ilgauskas, whose pick-and-pop or spot-up ability will provide a totally different look. ... The additions of Moon and Parker make Cleveland a bit longer and more athletic, an issue against Orlando.
Not so good: With O'Neal and Parker in the starting lineup, the Cavs will be worse defensively than they were last season, when that end of the floor - not the greatness of James - was the primary reason they won 66 games. Ilgauskas was a lumbering liability in the pick-and-roll, but O'Neal has been awful in those situations and will put a lot of pressure on Anderson Varejao as a help defender. The Cavs may have been overwhelmed by Dwight Howard in the series clincher, but they had more trouble with the Magic's pick-and-roll schemes. ... O'Neal is a more reliable second option than Mo Williams - until the last five minutes of a close game, when his free-throw shooting becomes an issue.
Issues: James' future will hover all season unless he signs an extension. ... Delonte West's ability to play both guard spots might make him more useful as a backup, but he started last season. It will be interesting to see if he moves to the bench -- and if he stays content. He is a much better defender than Parker, whose arrival pushes Daniel Gibson deeper into DNP-CD territory and virtually eradicates Gibson's value as a trade chip. ... Can Varejao manage his fouls over starter's minutes at power forward? Behind him is the inexperienced J.J. Hickson. ... The Cavs still need a better backup point guard than Tarence Kinsey.
CELTICS
Good: Wallace plays both big positions on defense and stretches the floor on offense. He gives the Celtics versatility they did not have with Davis and Leon Powe. He has been on le-contending teams for most of the decade and will find a way to make his skills fit the Celts, rather than the other way around. ... Daniels has an excellent nose for the rim, some versatility and defensive length that makes him an upgrade over Tony Allen.
Not so good: Even with Wallace, the Celtics are still in need of another quality big. Re-signing Davis plugs that hole; using Brian Scalabrine as your backup big forward does not, given the advancing ages of Wallace (34) and Garnett (33). ... Daniels, Eddie House and Gabe Pruitt all have some point guard skills but are liabilities over extended stretches; a true backup point guard is needed, especially to free up Daniels to spell Paul Pierce.
Issues: Without a backup point guard, Rajon Rondo's importance increases - and perhaps with it the inflated opinion of his game from fawning observers and himself. That is not what you want filling the head of a stubborn player who is due a contract extension. ... Speaking of extensions, if you were Ray Allen, wouldn't you be wondering why Wallace -- who is one year older than you and definitely in decline -- got a three-year deal and your future has not been secured? ... The Celtics have six rotation players born in the 1970s. Their window could close faster than those in Cleveland and Orlando.
MAGIC
Good: Carter's five 3-point attempts per game didn't suit the Nets as well as they will the Magic. He doesn't fly as high as he once did but attacks the rim better than Hedo Turkoglu or Courtney Lee. Let's not forget that Carter is still a 20-point scorer who can carry an offense and make a big late-game shot. ... Bass has a mid-range jumper that will help in the pick-and-roll. His arrival allows Lewis to spend more time at small forward, where he can use his underrated post game. ... Barnes has good range and length. He can play small forward when Lewis slides up.
Not so good: Where the Magic will miss Turkoglu is as a decision-maker in the pick-and-roll. Without him, the bulk of that duty will fall to Jameer Nelson, who despite his All-Star status isn't great as the trigger. ... There were too many times in the postseason when the Magic ignored the post presence of Dwight Howard, who still needs to add a patented go-to move from the block. ... As a small forward, is Lewis going to defend James and Pierce? Not effectively.
Issues: Marcin Gortat didn't hide his disappointment at remaining a backup to Howard. If his grumbling continues, he may have to be moved. And if the Magic cannot get back a center, that puts Bass on the spot. ... Barnes played a career-high 27 minutes per game last season and Anderson played nearly 20 with 30 starts. With the talent in front of them, both will have to accept considerably reduced roles here. ... J.J. Re , who has worked hard to make himself a serviceable rotation player, is back at the end of the bench as he approaches the end of his rookie contract.
CONCLUSION: Right now, we like the Magic. They seem to have the deepest roster, the most flexibility and the fewest issues, both on and off the court.
Im going to go with the Cavs. Magic may have added more talent to last year's team, but i think they lost their main matchup advantage over the Cavs by trading away Turk and moving Rashard down to the 3. They can still go to a line up of Howard-Lewis-Pietrus-Carter-Nelson, but without Turk who creates more mismatches than Carter.
Id put it...
1. Cavs
2. Celtics
3. Magic
Cavs are probably the third best team in the East. Boston is loaded but with old dudes so we'll have to see how they hold up. I agree with the author that Orlando are the favorites in the East.
I have no issue calling Orlando the best in the east. IMO the east comes through them.
If the old card is going to be used for the Celts, it should be used for the Cavs as well.
A healthy Boston team would beat the Magic. They matchup well all over the court, and Perkins and Garnett are the toughest combination for an opposing post player to score against - especially one lacking a complete post game.I have no issue calling Orlando the best in the east. IMO the east comes through them.
If the old card is going to be used for the Celts, it should be used for the Cavs as well.
Plus, Garnett has the ability to cover Orlando's main mismatch, by defending Rashard Lewis, and turn it into a mismatch in the Celtics favour.
Honestly, i think its too close to call, and there isnt really a favourite, but i like the Cavs moves the most, and think they definately improved the most out of the three teams. They added Shaq for literally nothing, and added size throughout their lineup while moving solid players who could start on alot of teams, into reserve roles, giving them one of the better benches in the league.
You are really overrating the Cavs. I think they got better but not better enough to win the east let alone to win it all. It is just Shaq,Lebron, and a bunch of jump shooters. That's it. Anthony Parker and Jamario moon arent moves that are going to put them over the top. Cavs better pray a 38 year old Shaq can make it happen this year. They ed up overpaying Varajeo to that contract considering they needed that cap space to give Lebron a star sidekick next summer. They still will have matchup issues with Orlando because while they lost Hedo, Jameer Nelson (assuming he is healthy) will abuse Mo "I talk yet cant back it up in big games" Williams. That will be the new headache for the Cavs D. Their head coach isnt all that great either.
Orlando is the team to beat in the east but the Celts had a much better offseason and have a much better bench than the Cavs. If the Celts keep Baby
House/Allen/Daniels/Sheed/Baby>>>>>Gibson/west/Kinsey/Varajeo/Z.
cavs need a legitimate all star next to lebron. shaq may or may not be that person because they won't know if it will be the injury ridden shaq or the all star shaq that shows up in 2010. celtics are getting old since they had a small window to begin with. they still have one more good year and should make it back to the finals if healthy.
1.) Celtics
2.) Magic
3.) Traveliers
I don't see how getting Shaq alone will make the Cavs better.
I am going to give the Eastern Conference Champions some respect and take them first.
Magic
Celtics
Cavs
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Boston Celtics
3. Orlando Magic
BostonGuy, the Cavs were never going to sign a max contract guy next off-season because they would have no other money to gather depth. I really want to see Cavs vs Boston, the Magic!
Yeah! The Magic!
:
shaq isnt the big man they need.
Same , different time a select few of us called those flukes out mid way through the season when everyone was going ape about their record. they certainly have gotten better but not by a lot
People really underestimate how much better the Cs have gotten...
They were doing crazy good before Garnett got injured, and now they have crazy efficient jump shooters across every position in their starting lineup.
Sheed isn't really an efficient jump shooter IMO IMHO
Neither is QUis for that matta.
neither is Rondo!
Crazy efficient jump shooters my ass!
Althouhg yes Boston is very good on paper... but the age bug is a question... pierce is 32, Allen is 34, and garnett is 34 come playoff time... Sheed 35 too.
In what respect, Charlie?
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