NBA season is here!

[eddo31]

i think that the pistons are a good team, but they would not have beat the spurs last year, and they probably would have lost to the t-wolves as well. they happened to be in the right place at the right time, with the right opponent, to win the title.

i dont want to disrespect them at all, but they are essentially a very good defensive team, with just enough offense to get the job done. ben wallace is a great player, but he needs to improve his offensive game in order to be considered a great player. tim duncan and kg are just as dominant defensive players, and they also have tremendous offensive games as well.

[GeoffM]

Not quite. Wallace is bar none, the best defensive player in the game, IMO

[junYUN]

i think wallace is overated definsively, most of his "defensive player of the year" titles hinged on his defensive rebound numbers. tim duncan is a GREAT defender, he doesn't get as much credit as he deserves. garnett i think could be a better defender than he is (although he's still a good one), but he doesn't block as many shots as he should with that height and those arms.

[GeoffM]

Ben Wallace was 2nd in the league in blocked shots last year, 3rd in defensive rebounds. Duncan was 2nd in defensive rebounds and 3rd in blocks (but Wallace averaged about a half a block more per game). Wallace also played for a team with better rebounding overall, so he definately is deserving of the edge. Wallace was also 7th in the league in steals per game, for a CENTRE. Duncan is nowhere near the top of that list, so I don't think numbers lie. People merely say Wallace can't play D because he can't play O as well.

[junYUN]

i never said he couldn't play D, i simply said that he is not the best defender in the game. he has A LOT of good defenders on that team, so he gets a little help from them (see: billups/rip leaving the only passage to the hoop right through big ben, rasheed waiting on one side to block a shot -- big ben on another)

[Chutups]

I don't think he's overrated at all, He's a great one on one defender and he's an even better team defender. His defensive player of the year awards not only hinged on his defensive rebound numbers, but he is always on top of the league in blocked shots yes he's only around 6'7.

[GeoffM]

WOW, anyone watch the Raptor game last night? Very impressive, coming back from 6 down in the late 3rd quarter to win. Maybe they are for real this year, maybe they'll win the playoffs.

Despite not liking Vince a heck of a lot, I would love to see what he could do in an entire season. I think he could very well come in the top 10 in scoring, and would love to see a highlight reel dunk every game like we use to see out of him.

Crazy, coming off a shelling at the hands of the Kings, they would win the next night on the road.

[jimmytheg]

The high flying, dunking over people Vince is long gone. Leg injuries have taken their tole on him. He's still productive though, he finished in the top 10 in scoring last year, just more of a jump shooter than a slasher like mcgrady.

You wanna talk about comebacks, you shoulda seen the cavs game against the suns last night. They were down 21 in the 4th, and their center had to hit a 3 to tie the game with a couple seconds left. they won it in overtime too. lebron had a like 35 points. Great game

[GeoffM]

LeBron is sick, he'll be one of the greats, and maybe 1 of the only players that will be able to get the scoring record for career points. He started playing young so if he can average high numbers throughout his career, he could pass Kareem.

McGrady is a fossy. Stupid cow, couldv'e stayed in T. and him and Vince would have torn the league apart. But I guess we don't want ego-maniacs here in Toronto.

Ilgauskas, awesome played. First game of the year he had 35 points and 18 rebounds, I mean, those are KG numbers.

P.S. Go Leafs Go!!!