Shaq traded to the Cavs

[JP4CY]

I can't be the only one who thinks that the Celtics aren't going to be dominant next year, can I?

If the Magic are somehow able to resign Hedo, why wouldn't the be able to make the finals again?

[LindenCy]

I think if the Celtics are healthy, they can take it. Honestly though, I don't see the Magic going back to the finals over the Cavs. Not saying it couldn't happen, but just guessing it won't.

[WalkingCY]

I can't be the only one who thinks that the Celtics aren't going to be dominant next year, can I?

If the Magic are somehow able to resign Hedo, why wouldn't the be able to make the finals again?

Garnett, Garnett and more Garnett. If he is healthy, the Celtics are the best team in the East. I mean, they went to 7 games with the Magic without him. I have to give the Magic credit for a great run in the playoffs this year though....especially for the easy win over the Cavs in the Eastern Finals. Honestly, I was not suprised to see it the way Orlando was playing at that time. But, I don't see another run like that for next year for the Magic.

The Celtics also match up well with the Lakers, and will win the title again. Pierce-Allen-Garnett-Rondo action is too much... I mean they owned the Lakers in last year's finals...... but they have to be healthy. I just see it happening for LA and Boston next year to meet again. Plus, it will be good for the NBA..... and a rivalry will be back again.

[jdoggivjc]

I think if the Celtics are healthy, they can take it. Honestly though, I don't see the Magic going back to the finals over the Cavs. Not saying it couldn't happen, but just guessing it won't.

I think that the Cavs trading for Shaq pretty much guarantees that the Magic are a better team than the Cavs next season. Shaq was not the Cav's missing component. Do they need someone to match up with Howard? Yes, but that was Shaq of 10 years ago, not Shaq of today.

[CycloneErik]

I think that the Cavs trading for Shaq pretty much guarantees that the Magic are a better team than the Cavs next season. Shaq was not the Cav's missing component. Do they need someone to match up with Howard? Yes, but that was Shaq of 10 years ago, not Shaq of today.

I think this is completely correct. Shaq doesn't help that much, he just has a big-time name.

[Clones85']

Garnett, Garnett and more Garnett. If he is healthy, the Celtics are the best team in the East. I mean, they went to 7 games with the Magic without him. I have to give the Magic credit for a great run in the playoffs this year though....especially for the easy win over the Cavs in the Eastern Finals. Honestly, I was not suprised to see it the way Orlando was playing at that time. But, I don't see another run like that for next year for the Magic.

The Celtics also match up well with the Lakers, and will win the title again. Pierce-Allen-Garnett-Rondo action is too much... I mean they owned the Lakers in last year's finals...... but they have to be healthy. I just see it happening for LA and Boston next year to meet again. Plus, it will be good for the NBA..... and a rivalry will be back again.

The Lakers are a good PG away from being unstoppable. Arizu gives them a legit 3 and we all know how good their 4/5 players are. Give them a PG who is decent and they won't have any problems with Boston next year.

Heck if the Lakers hadn't blown a 24 point lead 2 years ago that series would have been 7 games. Boston was the better team but Lakers have gotten better since and I don't know if you could say the same for the Celtics

[jdoggivjc]

Garnett, Garnett and more Garnett. If he is healthy, the Celtics are the best team in the East. I mean, they went to 7 games with the Magic without him. I have to give the Magic credit for a great run in the playoffs this year though....especially for the easy win over the Cavs in the Eastern Finals. Honestly, I was not suprised to see it the way Orlando was playing at that time. But, I don't see another run like that for next year for the Magic.

The Celtics also match up well with the Lakers, and will win the title again. Pierce-Allen-Garnett-Rondo action is too much... I mean they owned the Lakers in last year's finals...... but they have to be healthy. I just see it happening for LA and Boston next year to meet again. Plus, it will be good for the NBA..... and a rivalry will be back again.

The Magic did split the season series with the Celtics last season with KG, so it's not as if we don't already know that the Magic can compete with a Celtics team that has KG in the roster. Granted, that may not necessarily carry over to the post season, but the Magic also aren't going to be "starry-eyed" going into the playoffs next year either - they're going to be much hungrier next year than they were this year.

[LindenCy]

I think that the Cavs trading for Shaq pretty much guarantees that the Magic are a better team than the Cavs next season. Shaq was not the Cav's missing component. Do they need someone to match up with Howard? Yes, but that was Shaq of 10 years ago, not Shaq of today.

Not saying that Shaq is the answer, just saying that I don't think the Magic are as good as they looked this year. I am not going to the wall for this as it is very early, but I am just not as enamored with the Magic as many are. My comment is more about them than about the Cavs.

[Clones85']

The Magic did split the season series with the Celtics last season with KG, so it's not as if we don't already know that the Magic can compete with a Celtics team that has KG in the roster. Granted, that may not necessarily carry over to the post season, but the Magic also aren't going to be "starry-eyed" going into the playoffs next year either - they're going to be much hungrier next year than they were this year.

Yep and Nelson will be healthy and Howard will be a year older. IMO they need to get Turkolu off the ball more often. He dribbles the air out of the ball and Boston's defense w/ KG will kill Turk if he has to play point

[WalkingCY]

What about the Bulls? We haven't discussed them yet. And I beleive that they need to be discussed.

I can even see the Bulls beating the Cavs in a 7 game series next spring. Obviously as an upset of course.

Best in the East: 1. Boston 2. Orlando 3. Cleveland 4. Chicago? 5. Atlanta? 6. Miami?

[Clones85']

What about the Bulls? We haven't discussed them yet. And I beleive that they need to be discussed.

I can even see the Bulls beating the Cavs in a 7 game series next spring. Obviously as an upset of course.

Best in the East: 1. Boston 2. Orlando 3. Cleveland 4. Chicago? 5. Atlanta? 6. Miami?

I'd put the Bulls 6th in the East. I think Atlanta and Miami are both better. I also feel that the Bulls need to part ways with Ben Gordon as he kills the flow of that offense when he gets in a me vs the world attitude

[jbhtexas]

The Magic did split the season series with the Celtics last season with KG, so it's not as if we don't already know that the Magic can compete with a Celtics team that has KG in the roster.

Not to mention that the Lakers also swept the Celts last season, and KG played both games.

Even with KG, Boston is not the team that won the title a year ago. They have some issues.

[egami]

I'd be all for the Bulls ditching Noah.

[LeBron]

The Cavs can beat the Celtics. They took them to seven games two years ago, and they almost won. And that was before they got Mo Williams and Shaq. Williams was an upgrade over Delonte West, and Shaq is an upgrade over Ilgauskas.

[Clones85']

The Cavs can beat the Celtics. They took them to seven games two years ago, and they almost won. And that was before they got Mo Williams and Shaq. Williams was an upgrade over Delonte West, and Shaq is an upgrade over Ilgauskas.

They can definitely win. I just don't see it. They still need another scoring option before they are a contender IMO