FavreFan wrote:
Between Howard and James you're in a big hurry to concede the East for the next decade to two guys who, to put it generously, have questions about their playoff poise.
When Kevin Garnett went down the Celtics lost to the Magic. The whole team looked lost for most of the year even with Rondo playing great. All of a sudden the 3 hall of famers wake up and the team looks great. My guess is that Lebron or Howard would have "playoff poise" if they were playing on the Celtics instead of Rondo. In fact, I'd guess that they would easily win the NBA title.
FavreFan wrote:
The C's era will end very quickly, but they have Rondo locked up for Deng money for 5 years and it hasnt even kicked in yet. Ray, PP, + KG = Tons of cap room off the books. If Boston has even adequate management going forward they should be able to rebuild with only one, or none, bad years.
The key word is rebuild. Let's see if they find 3 hall of famers to put around Rondo again. I'm not trying to take something away from Rondo but there should be more questions about Rondo rather than Howard or Lebron. We know how good those two are. Rondo is a good player but isn't even the best player on the Celtics right now. He may not be in the top 3.
FavreFan wrote:
But I really am not even arguing for the Celtics. You of all people should know how unstable sports teams/leagues are. You always kept criticizing me for saying the Packers have a franchise QB locked up for the next decade. WYC?
Not in the NBA. Superstars win titles. If you look back at the past 20 years, every player who has been considered the best player in the league has won at least two titles.
Jordan, Ahkeem, Jordan, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan. There is room for others to sneak in but Lebron will join that list. Howard has a shot if he steps up his game but the next in line after that is likely Durant.
The NFL changes really fast. The NBA doesn't. Whatever team Lebron goes to as long as it's not the two train wrecks in NY will be the favorites to win it all. If he gets a player like Rose or Wade to play with they'll be the overwhelming favorite.
My guess is that Rondo will have a similar experience to Wade after the championship team disbanded even though Wade is a much better player than Rondo. I don't think Rondo is the best player on a championship team. Lebron definitely will be. Howard is closer but I don't think he's there right now.