NBA Playoff Thread

The only thing I expect from Wallace is a profanity laced, toddler-like tirade if the Celts trail by double digits in the fourth quarter.

 

According to BasketballValue.com, Wallace has the worst plus/minus rating of any Celtic in the playoffs. (Kendrick Perkins, btw, has the best.) Now, obviously it's a small sample size (23 games), and his plus/minus is a lot better against the Lakers. (He was +15 in Game 3 and had seven rebounds.) But I think that does say something about his defense. It comes and goes.

Wallace is impossible to guard if he's motivated because he has those long arms and a crazy-high release, and the more points he scores, the more he's into it. So if I were Doc Rivers, I'd tell Rondo to feed him the ball on the block a couple times early and let him shoot that post-up jumper that used to drive me bonkers when he played for Portland and burned the Lakers often in his prime. As an individual defender, he can still give Gasol some issues, even though he doesn't like contact anymore. But as a team defender, he's a liability. I think he doesn't help particularly well, he doesn't run the floor like Perkins does, and he doesn't block shots.

He needs to hit shots, keep Gasol from establishing position early in possessions, and rebound. I doubt he can do all three of those for any sustainable minutes. Two of three perhaps, but not all three. Even if Wallace scores, I'm betting he and Davis can't hold Gasol to 20 points.

If I were Rivers, I'd be thrilled if he gave me 14 points, 7 rebounds and no meltdowns. Although if he could get Artest ejected somehow without getting himself thrown out (unlikely) that would be just as important, because Pierce is too much of a wuss to deal with Artest right now as long as Ron-Ron is into it.

As Small Town Guy said, Ray Allen still scares the crap out of me. He's the only Celtic I'm truly nervous about. The Lakers simply cannot guard him with their personnel, so for me, it comes down to whether or not Allen (THE GREATEST SHOOTER IN NBA HISTORY!!! LOLWUT?) can make shots.

 

That video featured one of three whole blocks he's had in the Finals.

 

Just pointing out that "he doesn't block shots" is inaccurate.

 

You're right. He does block shots. Three of them, apparently.

 

Glad we agree.

 

He still sucks and as a Lakers fan, I'm glad he's playing for the Celtics.

 

I'm glad he's playing for the Celtics, too, especially with Kendrick Perkins out. I'm not saying he's going to be a difference maker, but he'll hold his own in Game 7. Just a feeling.

 

You hold onto that feeling. Holler at me when, after picking up a couple, three fouls he obviously didn't deserve, he realizes it's the last game of the season and gets tossed for shits and giggles.

Clutch player that Wallace is.

 

Will do.

 

I love the tagline on that video:

"For those who claimed Pau as the best PF, think again."

Absolutely. With this single play, Rasheed Wallace shows how worthy he is of that moniker.

Anyway, we Laker fans certainly seem to be felling our oats today. Not quite as insufferable as the Celtics supporters a couple of years ago acting like Garnett was a career Celtic. But . . . I hope we don't end up with egg on our faces, having to read Gee's loud proclamations of "soft Lakers!" after Thursday evening.