re: Bruce Bowens top 5 pgs...just showed on SC

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That Denver team? Yeah, I do think they could.

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right, they got bounced by Utah this year, a lesser talented team than PHX

Isn't the "if healthy" qualifier always present? I don't fully know what kind of shape Paul is in. I'm not gonna pick him if he's on crutches right now, today. That's kind-of a straw man you're setting up there, isn't it? If Michael Jordan had a high-ankle sprain during his prime that put him on crutches for a month, would Clyde Drexler suddenly surpass him? I'd say no. The health qualifier always exists.

Unless you're taking the position that Chris Paul is past his prime and that injuries have permanently slowed him down at the age of 25. I don't think that's the case, do you?

Guys. Let's just make this clear.

CP3 before the injury was one of the best PGs the league has ever seen. That's not hyperbole. There are stats and plenty of basketball reasons why this is so.

If Paul hadn't gotten injured he'd still be at the top of this list.

But now with two major injuries in his career, a game predicated on speed and quickness, it would not be unfair to have question marks about where he stands at this point.

Also worth noting is that this game is about matchups, and Bruce Bowen is likely ranking them based on his own personal subjective experience in guarding them.

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I'm pickin Paul over Rondo in a second.

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tHATS A WASH AT BEST!!!!!

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Unless you're taking the position that Chris Paul is past his prime and that injuries have permanently slowed him down at the age of 25. I don't think that's the case, do you?

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the NBA is not a vacuum.
And they did frick the surgery and remove the meniscus from his knee. Which mean he now has bone on bone contact anytime there's impact. The Hornets really fricked this one.

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If Michael Jordan had a high-ankle sprain during his prime that put him on crutches for a month, would Clyde Drexler suddenly surpass him? I'd say no. The health qualifier always exists.

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but for Paul this has been more than a month long problem. Also, Paul does not have the previous sample size of dominance of Jordan. not even close. I am not looking at health on a daily basis, as this is a majority of the season issue, and it involves knee surgery....so it's not a straw man at all in this case esp if you are picking a player for today, and it's not even one if you are picking one for opening night next season.

There will be some uncertainty about Paul's health coming into next season, and it's not crazy at all to consider taking Rondo over him until Paul proves over a decent amount of time that he is back to form.

eta: also, Rondo has been steadily improving while Paul has been gimpy...closing the gap regardless of Paul's health.

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I'm with you on this one. At full health CP3 is on the floor at crucial moments during the last Olympics, and Rondo is at home watching like us. I know Rondo is better now, but I'm still not sure he would make that team.

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there's just no fricking way. Rondo just isn't better than a healthy Paul

Paul's a better ball handler. He's as good at picking people's pockets. He makes better decisions with the ball. He sees the floor better. He is just as agile and fast in the open court. He changes direction as well as anyone in the league, breaking through creases that appear non-existent. He sees plays before they develop. He plays under control at all times, even when moving at a speed faster than everyone else. He plays smart, tough, and knows veteran tricks that usually take 10 years to pick up. He's also fiery but unflappable. There is no part of his CP3s game that you can shut down, because he can get to any spot on the floor that he wants, and as opposed to Rondo, actually hit those shots from 15 feet and out. He's a dead eye from 22 and in. He's brutal off the pick and roll because he can shoot over the top of the screen, or curl around it faster than a defender can react. And he's proven to be a clutch end game shooter and free throw shooter. He is a the perfect point guard save his size.

The only thing a healthy Paul gives up to Rondo is height and ability to contest shots.

That's it.

Rondo's game is predicated upon relentlessly breaking people off the dribble until a lane opens up or somebody collapses and leaves his teammate open. Without zone busters (or people to keep from helping on the drives) like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and occasionally Sheed, he'd be helpless.

Paul on last year's Celtics team and the Celts win the title even without Garnett. If Rondo wins this title it'll be because he didn't face an elite PG in the playoffs.

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Rondo will abuse Fisher

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Kobe will play Rondo, Fish will play Allen. And it won't have anything to do with Rondo, Kobe can't be chasing Allen around 3 screens every time down the floor.

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Kobe will play Rondo, Fish will play Allen. And it won't have anything to do with Rondo, Kobe can't be chasing Allen around 3 screens every time down the floor.

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this might happen in the 4th quarter, but i doubt it happens that much before then. They also can't have Kobe wearing himself out chasing Rondo all over the damn place now.

As far as the physicality of the Lakers frontline, Artest will add some toughness there. It'll be interesting to see him and KG going at it. (and by that I just mean two of the most intense players being in the same physical space. not that they'll be out and out matched up on each other.)

somebody might get hurt.
:gasp: