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celtics in 4
Saying Billups is an inefficient scorer is like saying Jeter was a great fielder last year because he didn't commit many errors or that A-Rod was as good a hitter as Miguel Cabrera in 2010 because they had basically the same number of rbis.
celtics in 4
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...ayoffs-return/Delonte West injured again, Shaq set for playoffs return
Kurt Helin
Is there a M*A*S*H* unit that follows the Celtics around?
It just seems it would be cost efficient at this point. Boston picked up another injury Monday, but just one so it may be under their daily quota. This time it was Delonte West spraining his ankle, reports A. Sherrod Blakely at CSN New England.
Delonte West hurt his right ankle in the third quarter, the same ankle that sidelined him for a couple of weeks earlier this month.
“I was worried,” said coach Doc Rivers, who added that there’s no timetable for when West will return.
Don’t expect to see Wednesday for sure. Boston struggled for a stretch when Rajon Rondo got worn down because there was no quality backup for him. West was going to fix that, but it’s less of an issue heading into the playoffs when the minutes behind Rondo would be reduced anyway.
The bigger issue is Shaquille O’Neal. Boston needs him back — he has played just six minutes since Feb. 1 (he came back from an Achilles injury and it took six minutes to strain his calf). Danny Ainge told the Boston Globe Shaq will be back when the playoffs start. Promise.
“We’re planning as of right now of him practicing Thursday or Friday and being ready to play for Game 1 of the playoffs,” Ainge said. “I have every confidence that he will be ready and play in the playoffs.”
Is there anyone counting on Shaq, anyone who has bet bigger on him recently, than Ainge?
The measure first discussed was FG%. That's what I addressed. From the field, Chauncey isn't very efficient. He shoots a lot of jumpers, a lot of three pointers, which brings his FG% down. But even his two point field goal percentage is under 45% in both the regular season and playoffs. That's because he doesn't attack the basket much, and isn't a strong finisher anyway, and relies heavily on his jumper to score. Jumpshooters are less efficient than bigs and slashers obviously. Other than guys like Parker and Rondo, many point guards are jumpshooters and aren very efficient scorers.
Billups is a good three point shooter and is adepT at getting to the line where he's a great shooter as well. Look at TS% all you want, but the discussion started with FG% and that's what I responded to and that's what the inefficient comment was directed at. Chauncey still gets his points but he doesn't shoot efficiently from
the field.
Chauncey's only hit the big shots his team needed when Larry Brown was the coach and Detroit scoring 15 points in the 4th quarter was enough because they'd hold the other team to 12.
Using FG% was the wrong argument, I'll admit, my overall point is that unless Larry Brown is coaching and micromanaging every single action Billups takes, he lacks poise and composure during playoff games and makes stupid decisions just like Amare and Melo do.
Celts in 5
Yeah, that's worked out really well. They have a below .500 record with Billups running "whatever offense he wants" with 2 of the NBA's top 15 players at his disposal. That's a lot more of a reflection on D'antoni's stupidity than it is Billups classiness (or whatever other reason Spurfan loves him so much).
That was just in response to Jamstone saying he wasn't effective in D'Antoni's offense.
I agree he has the bed countless times in the playoffs the last few years, his Mr. Big Shot rep is five years behind. When people were jerking off to him hitting a few clutch shots versus Miami this year like the last five years never happened I had to just immediately leave this site for that day since it was too re ed to bear. But because he hits a lot of threes and honestly has a lot of little bull moves/tricks he uses to draw fouls (which the refs fall for like every time), and shoots so well from the line, he's an efficient scorer over all. I hate watching him play personally because he spends half his time trying to draw fouls.
I meant to say Douglas would probably guard Rondo while Billups will guard Allen earlier.
Jim O'Brien built his entire coaching philosophy around TS% and the idea that a 3 pointer with a 35% chance of going in is just as good as a 2 point FG with a 52.5% chance of going in. Then he was fired, and his replacement has the Pacers in the playoffs by putting an end to them chucking 30 threes a game.
TS% is an extremely flawed stat when discussing who can close games out and is clutch. TS% basically says midrange shots are the worst shots anyone can take, when the best closers in the NBA are the ones who have the best midrange game (Melo, Pierce, Kobe, Wade, etc.)
Then we agree, ignore my last post.
Common misconception. "Mr. Big Shot" was actually coined in the 2002-03 seasons in Rick Carlisle's last season with the Pistons when he hit about 4-5 game-winners. Even the following year in Larry Brown's first season with the Pistons, he made mentioned how Chauncey didn't make any game-winners for him.
The whole "Big Shot" nickname has been overblown. But, his "big shots" were not only in the fourth quarter, last 5 minutes of the game variety. At least in Detroit, he would make big shots in the second or third quarters to stop a run or to change momentum. Those are the types of shots often overlooked because most people only view crunchtime shots as "big shots." Billups did have an innate ability to make a big shot at a crucial time, whether or not it was in the clutch. That's what kept the nickname going, not game winners or buzzer beaters. Beyond that, Billups for those 5-6 seasons with the Pistons was a dead-eye free throw shooter to close the game.
Yeah, FG% was certainly the wrong argument. I don't really disagree with your overall point, but I wouldn't say I completely agree with it either. Even in Detroit and even under Larry Brown, Chauncey had the tendency to take ill advised shots at times. Part of it was that he would look for momentum-gaining or momentum-switching shots. It would often be frustrating, obviously especially when he missed those shots. But fortune often favors the bold. If Chauncey didn't take those shots, he wouldn't have as many opportunities to switch momentum or be a hero. He'll make his share of dumb decisions. I wouldn't put him anywhere near that type of player to make a lot of stupid decisions like Melo or Amare.Using FG% was the wrong argument, I'll admit, my overall point is that unless Larry Brown is coaching and micromanaging every single action Billups takes, he lacks poise and composure during playoff games and makes stupid decisions just like Amare and Melo do.
To me, it's not about Chauncey's shooting or decision making that will hurt the Knicks in a playoff series. It's his inability to guard a player like Rondo. I think Rondo will shred Chauncey to bits. He was never a great defender, but at this point, I wouldn't be surprised if Rondo averaged 15 points and 15 assists on Chauncey and it will force an already weak team defense to collapse and get more exposed.
I think the Knicks can beat the Celtics in 7. These aren't the same Celtics anymore, they're still a great team but I think if the Knicks can get hot they'll win.
All good points. Speaking of O'Brien...
Could there possibly have been a worse coach for Antoine than O'Brien? Antoine loved chucking threes, and O'Brien encouraged it.
Celtics in 6. New York will lose both games 1 and 2 in Boston, and then follow up with a win or even two at home in games 3 and 4. Melo will go off for one game that's for sure...35+ points.
All I can say is it's New York against Boston, probably the best two city rivarly in all of American sports. Boston should win in 5, but I know the Knicks won at least 3 series against the Celtics without having home court; 1972, 1973, and 1990. Knicks should be better than the Celtics in a year or two, but not yet.
LMAO. No way is this series going to be a sweep for the Celtics.
Have you being watching them play lately?? And dont give me the bull generic response that they were strugling last year too and went on a nice run.
Fact is the Celts are broken in more then just one way. They'll still win the series though.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slu...ltics-onealoutShaquille O’Neal to miss Boston’s playoff opener
By Howard Ulman
Shaquille O’Neal will miss the Boston Celtics’ playoff opener against the New York Knicks with a right calf injury.
General manager Danny Ainge made the announcement during practice Saturday. O’Neal ran briefly before the workout but had to stop because of the pain.
O’Neal had missed 27 games with a sore right leg then returned on April 4 against Detroit. But he lasted just 5 minutes, 29 seconds before leaving again and has not played since.
Game 1 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series is Sunday night in Boston.
How much can I vbookie that Shaq won't play again this season?
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