Posted by crzymdups:

this trade actually seems like a total panic move by Cleveland. they must be worried about losing Lebron. Big Ben is old. Wally can shoot and little else. Delonte helps them though.

another great trade by Seattle, though.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by crzymdups:

this trade actually seems like a total panic move by Cleveland. they must be worried about losing Lebron. Big Ben is old. Wally can shoot and little else. Delonte helps them though.

another great trade by Seattle, though.

I think it's a smart move by Cleveland. They're ready to make a push to the next level. Big Ben still plays good defense, rebounds, and blocks shots and has only 2 seasons left on his contract. Wally has 1 season left. And Delonte helps like you said.

I disagree. My money's on Cleveland. Weren't you a big believer in "best player usually wins" philosophy? Or do you think Lebron isn't the best player in that potential series?

Posted by oohah:

Posted by codeunknown:

Cleveland should be the favorite in the East now. Delonte can shoot and he's a threat on defense as well. Both Wally and Big Z can also hit from out outside. Wallace brings defense and rebounding.

If West and Wally can create a shot every once in a while and give King James some rest, then that starting lineup is an interesting fit.

Cleveland improved, but I don't think they are better than the Celtics. Especially if the Celtics manage to get Rondo a good backup.

Having said that I will root for anyone Vs. the Celtics. I actually want Detroit to come out of the East, I can't believe I just wrote that.

oohah

cleveland has played boston tough this year so far. if they match up in the playoffs, they have a good shot to beat them. the east is now a 3 team race. adding a big time shooter may further exhibit the greatness of lebron.

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by oohah:

Having said that, I think Boston will get beaten by L.A., San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas.

oohah

I don't think any team in the east is as good as those 4 teams. (Utah's pretty close too actually.) The best east team would probably be the 5th seed and lose to the 4th seed in the 1st round in the west.

Utah would play the Celtics very tough, but I would say the Celtics would probably win in a 7 game series. It is moot because Utah isn't getting out of the West.

oohah

Posted by McK1:

bold prediction:

Dallas will not make the play-offs

Posted by oohah:

I disagree. My money's on Cleveland. Weren't you a big believer in "best player usually wins" philosophy? Or do you think Lebron isn't the best player in that potential series?

Not exactly.

I'm a big believe in the "best team wins philosphy". Frequently, but not always, that begins with having the best player.

Lebron might be the best player ina Boston/Cleveland matchup but Garnett is right up there with him, and Pierce and Allen are both bona fide stars, probably going to the HOF. In addition they have shown the ability and willingness to play as a team, which makes them very formidable.

The "best player" still needs to have enough support, Jordan learned it and so has Kobe. If all it took was to simply have the best player, then LeBron + 4 guys from Ultimate Knicks could win the championship.

Boston's achilles heel is depth. As we have seen, if they lose one of the "Big 3", especially Garnet, tehy are not nearly as good. But if they are healthy and all other situations are equal, I think Boston is the better team(As much as I hate to admit it.).

oohah

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by crzymdups:

this trade actually seems like a total panic move by Cleveland. they must be worried about losing Lebron. Big Ben is old. Wally can shoot and little else. Delonte helps them though.

another great trade by Seattle, though.

I think it's a smart move by Cleveland. They're ready to make a push to the next level. Big Ben still plays good defense, rebounds, and blocks shots and has only 2 seasons left on his contract. Wally has 1 season left. And Delonte helps like you said.

Yeah Ben and Wally aren't long term deals. Before you know they can flip those to teams trying to get under the cap in two yrs.

So it's like the Mo Taylor deal?

I agree it makes sense to try to make cap room for the Cavs. They need to do something to get some help for Bron. Still, I don't see how this deal remotely makes them better than the Pistons or Celtics.

Posted by crzymdups:

Posted by TrueBlue:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Posted by crzymdups:

this trade actually seems like a total panic move by Cleveland. they must be worried about losing Lebron. Big Ben is old. Wally can shoot and little else. Delonte helps them though.

another great trade by Seattle, though.

I think it's a smart move by Cleveland. They're ready to make a push to the next level. Big Ben still plays good defense, rebounds, and blocks shots and has only 2 seasons left on his contract. Wally has 1 season left. And Delonte helps like you said.

Yeah Ben and Wally aren't long term deals. Before you know they can flip those to teams trying to get under the cap in two yrs.

So it's like the Mo Taylor deal?

I agree it makes sense to try to make cap room for the Cavs. They need to do something to get some help for Bron. Still, I don't see how this deal remotely makes them better than the Pistons or Celtics.

No because Ben and Wally are wanted players, no one wanted a Mo Tayolor except us.

Posted by Bippity10:

Definition of a panic move: Acquiring JJames and giving him the full MLE because you "don't have a center"