Good Stuff
Vinny,
Keep up the good work. I like reading your stuff. Especialy the C-Webb post. The Fab 5 was one thing I wish I could go back in time and see in person. Howard, Jackson, King, Rose and Webber changed college basketball for the better.
Paul Pierce police report
Please take time out to read the lies Paul Pierce gave in a police credit card investigation totaling over $95,000.00 causing me to loose my business. Also this take a look at my myspace page dedicated to Paul Pierce. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=368128364
C-Web
He is a hall a fame player for sure. Vinnie was being nice by saying that he is a top five talent. I do not know another power forward besides KG that can do what he does. He was in Philly is was putting up almost 20 and 10 with Ivo and 72% health besides his last year. This man is a beast and he can do it all. The only thing other fowards got over him is a ring. If he didn't play past his prime, just to chase a ring he would be 23 and 11 for his career. This man pass better any power forward and handle the ball better than any power forward besides Anthony Mason lol. If this man is not in the hall of fame, then no foward should be in there. Hall of fame don't measure how many rings you have then John Sally will be in there hands down. C-WEB hall of fame player
I love this story
Jordan Rule
I don't know if these Pistons has it in them to put anyone on there back. We have a soft coach and soft big men. Maybe Maxcell can put someone on there butt, but he have to get the ok from offensive minded Flip Saunders, so nine times out of ten that will not happen. I think it's time to get rid of the starting front court, they are not tough or young enough to effect a LeBron. I am sure the die hard Piston fans think the Jordan rule is coming back, but I am not convinced.
jordan rules
Great story Mr. Goodwill. I might be a little older than you, but these Jordan rules go back way before MJ. Teams have always tried to neturalize an opposeing team's main threat. Dr. J, Wilt, B. Rusell, and even Bird have all had these jordan rules thrown at them. I think the key to deterime wether or not it works is balance. Those baby bulls you mentioned did't have balace so it worked. Once they did the jordan rules didn't work. Although the piston played the Cavs well i think they still had lapses of bad defense which has hurt them in the playoff the past few years. I think a team is only as strong as its weakest link defensively. If Flip can keep good sub pattrens and we can stay aggressive defensely I think we have a good chance this year
Mixed Seeding
People tend to forget that everything has a way of evening itself out. In every professional sport, almost every year there is one "dominant" conference and the other just never seems to have it going for them. Yet, more times than not, the "weaker" conference at the very least, gives the more dominant conference team a run for their money. Using mixed seeding would do very little in the way of making the playoffs more competitive...and it would place yet another shadow over the results with the idea of travel.
ZEKE
This was a good article and very informative. I don't have much to say, but I still enjoy the game no matter if it's defense or no defense.
Zeke was a better point guard than Magic. You brought up a good point about Magic's supporting cast.
Kobe
Great Article...you point out many things that so many people overlook when discussing the MVP.
People tend to overlook critcal elements, then bring them back up as the criteria changes...shameful
Vincent Goodwill
The Shaq Effect
Vinnie,
While I agree that Shaq is no where near the monster he was when he helped the Lakers pull off the three-peat at the beginning of the decade, however, he is still 7-feet plus and 325 lbs. His sheer size makes him a load in the paint, and Phoenix is not going to depend so heavily on O'Neal. Shaq will give them the knowledge on how to win a ring, something the Suns so sorely lack at the moment without a champion on their squad.
Shaq's impact on a game may not be as great as before, but a 325 lb. man is still a 325 lb. man and he is still going to be a load in the paint.
Vijeta,
Shaq's size will work against him in the vaunted Phoenix system as he won't know how to get out the way of his teammates driving down the lane...and his 325 lb frame with weak knees and strained hips surely will help a team deficient of "D"
Vinnie
Mr. 24
I am going to keep this one short and sweet.
I totally agree with everything Vincent said. It's a couple things that he didn't mention, Mr. 24 is the best on ball defender in the league and will have two more rings within the next 4 years.
Fluker, I said "lockdown defender", I don't know if he's the best perimeter defender anymore, he might've been around 4 years ago, but he's had to do so much on the other end he chooses when he wants to play lockdown...now that he's got Gasol and an improving Bynum, we'll see if he gets back to it
Vincent Goodwill
The Shaq Attack
I think that was a HORRIBLE move by Steve Kerr. You get a 40yr old man to play with up tempo team. He could barely keep up with the pace of Miami and Steve think he is going to keep up with the Suns. Then people is holding on to every word Shaq has to say, he is going to hurt this team in the regular season and in the playoffs. Most likely he will be hurt himself. The Suns strength is get into the lane and kick the ball out. Shaq and Amare will clog the lane and Nash will not be able to operate. Shaq will not command a double team, and he is not good enough to put the ball in the basket consistently. On top of all that he can not play in close games because he can't make free throws and we all know that WAS the Suns strength. So now you have a 40yr old over weight slow big man that still thinks he is great replacing a guy who can fill the lane, hit the 3 ball, make free throws and not to mention checks your best offensive player no matter the position. Actually I think the Heat came out on top big time.
Shaq a non factor?
While I concur with young Vinnie Goowill, Shaq is definitly post prime and will never put up numbers like he did in the past, however I think his present can impact the team. To my knowlege no one on the Suns roster has ever won a ring. Shaq could be that locker room present that keeps the team focused, don't under estimate the John Sallys' of the world, not to mention how much that will help Admire's game out now that he can stop pretending to be a 5 and play the power forward position like he was built to do. And just think about the playoffs when running-gunning doesn't work and they have to run sets. Shaq could play a major role in those situations where running time off a getting bucket is critial. I think that's why the Suns have not contended for a ring thus far.
With that said I still dont think Shaq to Suns was the biggest move in the league.
How about Paul Gasol to the Lakers for 2 young bums.
I think Lakers are the team to watch in the west. Paul Gasol has waited for this his whole career, to play for a contenting team in a big city. Kobe truely has a second or third (depend odem's game)option now. Gasol's motivation should be through the roof, he should be ready to perform at allstar levels and since he not a selfisf player he should mesh well with the lakers in no time. Just remeber you heard it here 1st from Flip Johnson the prettiest street balla ever.
