NBA Anyone?

By: Justin Jacobs & Chad Ruter

Editors Note: This was a random conversation Justin and I had after we discussed how bummed we were that Boston/Detroit wasn’t on TV tonight. And as promised when we started this site, we’d give you a difference of opinion…and just like Karl “The Mailman” Malone – we deliver!

Justin: I don’t think there’s anyways the Cavaliers get back to the finals. Detroit is much better than they were last year with the addition of Jason Maxiell and the Celtics aren’t too shabby either. Plus, there’s now way either one of those teams are going to let LeBron have a free route to the hoop. He’s going to get fouled more times than Shaq did back in the day. And you know I love LeBron. Cavs/Lakers is the finals I want, but I think Spurs/Pistons is the finals I think we’re going to get.

Chad: So you’re saying the Pistons will beat the Cavs because of Jason Maxiell? Wait a second…does he guard LeBron? And the Joe Smith, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West acquisitions don’t mean anything? They got four talented players for two rotation guys and three other guys that never played

Justin: Yeah, that’s really nothing special. Wallace is crap, Joe Smith is Joe Smith, and there’s a reason why Wally gets traded every year… at least once.

Chad: It’s because he didn’t fit with anyone.

Justin: Exactly.

Chad: He was never with a guy like LeBron, where he can stand still and wait to get the kick-out three-ball. Ben Wallace plays D…and that’s all they need him for. Pair him with Big-Z, and they make a nice post combo.

Justin: Oh – you mean Damon Jones, the standstill guy that LeBron has had for awhile now.

Chad: Jones can’t play 48 minutes though, just like Kyle Korver made Utah so good this year, because Mehmet Okur couldn’t play two different positions or for 48 minutes

Justin: Man, I think you are overestimating Ben Wallace and Wally. They have both been awful the last couple of years.

Chad: Where did Wallace fit with the Bulls? He was on the court with a bunch of other guys that couldn’t score the basketball at all. Now he’s got LeBron. Here’s your job Big Ben: Clean up the boards, and protect the iron

Justin: That’s the problem. He doesn’t really do a good job of protecting the rim anymore. He doesn’t intimidate anyone from going to the hoop like he did when he played for Detroit.

Chad: But now he’s got LeBron. Big Ben does fine on defense, still. Not nearly as good as he used to, but still good enough that they aren’t going to attack him every play. Same goes for some of the other new guys. Here’s your job Wally: Stand behind the arc, hit your threes, and guard the worst offensive player on the other end.

Justin: But Ben Wallace can’t guard the big guys in the East like he used to. Not against the likes of Kevin Garnett and RaSheed Wallace. And who is Wally going to guard? Billups? Hamilton? Prince? Yeah right.

Chad: Wallace is good enough to where guys he is guarding won’t drop 35 points on him in 5 of the 7 games of a series. And Wally can guard Tayshaun Prince.

Justin: Hahahaha, you’re kidding, right? Prince will torch Wally!

Chad: Prince can’t back him into the lane – Wally’s too big for that. So that leaves him shooting, and I’d let him do that all night long. And who says he starts and plays against one of the Pistons’ starting five? You said it yourself they have Damon Jones.

Justin: Damon Jones is one of, if not the worst, defensive player in the league.

Chad: Wow. Worst defensive player in the league? Have you seen Steve Nash play basketball? Does he even run down to the other half of the court other than to fetch an outlet pass? It’s not like the Pistons would go to whoever Wally or Jones guards every possession. They’re too balanced for that, and those guys aren’t undersized to the point of say, Ben Gordon

Justin: Who is the Cavs point guard?

Chad: Do they need one with LeBron? Do they really need a true point guard? Don’t they just need a guy that can bring the ball up past the eight-second line? And Delonte West can surely dribble and make one pass to LeBron. Hell, I could do that.

Justin: What I’m trying to get at is who is going to guard Billups, Prince and Hamilton?

Chad: You’re thinking about it all wrong! Who’s going to stop LeBron?! Who on the planet, outside of Kobe Bryant can slow him down? You’re forgetting the way he single-handedly won that series against the Pistons last year with a bucket of yuck on his team. Do you remember that roster from last year?

Justin: I’m not saying he won’t be awesome, he always is, but there is absolutely no way they allow him to dominate late in the game like they did last year. I guarantee you they will either double team him as soon as he gets the ball, or even employ the Hack-A-Shaq method on him late in games.

Chad: Double team him then. You’re leaving guys that can legitimately chuck the three wide open at that point.

Justin: I’m sure they will take their chances. Don’t get me wrong, I love LeBron James. He’s my second favorite player in the league (Kobe, of course, is numero uno). I’m just thinking about this rationally. Detroit is better than they were last year. I think LeBron is going to have to trust the other guys on his team more in this year’s playoffs, a bunch of guys who really aren’t that good.

Chad: The Pistons are better because of two bench guys they added? They are better with guys who aren’t going to be out there when the game is on the line? And are their starters like a fine wine that gets better with age? LeBron was doubled in the playoffs last year, and he still beat them by scoring 25 consecutive points, and 29 out of 30.

Justin: Yeah. Have you seen the Pistons play this year? They are playing better defense and are averaging more points.

Chad: LeBron’s a bit better this year too. When was the last time someone averaged 30 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists per game?

Justin: Dude, I’m not aruging how good LeBron is. I’m just saying he has to deal with the Celtics with Garnett, Pierce, Ray Allen, a team that plays the best defense in basketball, and a Detroit team that has been playing out of their minds this year. Not too mention Orlando. I don’t even want to know what Dwight Howard will do when he’s angry and in the playoffs.

Chad: Probably shoot 40% from the line, that’s what he’ll do. He’s not good enough to win more than two playoff series – yet.

Justin: Well, we’ll see. It’s just going to be tough for LeBron to make it to the Finals. I think if Cleveland played in the West they would have a tough time getting out of the first round.

Chad: Eastern Conference basketball baby! It’s FANNN-TASTIC!!