Agreed, ORL's bench does not have very impressive depth, although I will say that Gortat is the real deal and is one of the better backup centers in the league. He consistently delivers when given the PT.

PG: Alston, Johnson
SG: Lee, Redick
SF: Turkoglu, Pietrus
PF: Lewis, Battie
C: Howard, Gortat

Only impressive bench player is Gortat in my book. Johnson is old and inconsistent, Redick shows up once in a blue moon and can't defend at all, Pietrus is okay but never seemed the same after he was out with his injury, Battie... ha!

iLoveKT

Philippines3615 Posts

May 01 2009 06:59 GMT

#785

I think if C. Lee's injury is really really serious then the Bulls might have a chance against them in 2nd round if they get past the Celtics.

Deleted User 30223

3104 Posts

May 01 2009 06:59 GMT

#786

i for one am glad to see Redick come up big this game. i'm not a huge duke fan, but it was depressing to see the duke's record holder for most points do absolutely shit in the nba

XaI)CyRiC

United States4471 Posts

May 01 2009 07:08 GMT

#787

I'm curious to see if Chicago winning this game will make everyone forget about Rondo's flagrant foul where he threw Hinrich into the scorer's table. After what he did to Miller in the previous game, you'd think the league would take some action against him after reviewing it and possibly upgrade it to a flagrant-2 where he'd be suspended for Game 7.

I know the league would prefer not to take away Boston's starting PG for the last game of such a great series, and the exciting victory for the Bulls will serve as a great distraction, but I can't help but feel that the league should prove that it will actually be consistent with how it carries out the rules, and not interpret them depending on the player/team. If Amare and Diaw could be suspended for a crucial game just for leaving the bench after their team leader is checked into the scorer's table, it seems extremely unfair that Rondo could swipe at Miller's head in one game and then throw Hinrich into the scorer's table the next without missing a single game.

iLoveKT

Philippines3615 Posts

May 01 2009 07:15 GMT

#788

I totally agree with CyRiC. Rondo should be suspended, there was no reason to do that to Hinrich considering he got away with one the prior game. I also dont like the idea of destroying the epic series because of suspensions but rules are rules. They missed 1, they SHOULD get it right for the 2nd one. But I am expecting nothing though, the NBA has bended their rules and principles for a certain team/player/event so many times before.

And btw guys, go to the video sections in nba.com and find the clip of the halftime show on tnt between the bulls and celtics (yes that one with Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley). Listen to what Barkley has got to say about the Rondo incident. I conclude, Barkley is an idiot.

no_comprender

Australia91 Posts

May 01 2009 08:24 GMT

#789

i think the nba should just eat the rondo foul. if he refs are too pathetic to call it on the play then too bad nba, you created this problem by dicking around so much with the rules and the refs themselves in in the 1st place. they don't need to piss off the fans by ruining a great series with more insecure and misguided efforts at rigid enforcement of rules from afar.

the problem is that the refs don't have enough leeway to call the game fluidly as it should be called. and the meddling nba higher-ups deserve much of the blame. rules aren't rules for the sake of it, ideally they're loose guidelines, the nba has a pretty horrible officiating problem as it is without using terrible overreactions like the amare diaw thing as precedent. this series has been epic and the rondo foul was just another part of it imo. can't wait til gm7, i hope it lives up to the hype!

Slaughter

United States20255 Posts

May 01 2009 09:28 GMT

#790

Yea except they already have done this "after the fact thing" in THESE PLAYOFFS. Howard got suspended so why not Rondo? throwing a guy into the booth isnt something that belongs in the game. He should have been ejected and Chicago fans would of had a big beef with the NBA if they had lost the game.

no_comprender

Australia91 Posts

May 01 2009 09:47 GMT

#791

thats true, i haven't seen the howard one. but he was suspended basically immediately right? if they were going to suspend rondo they had to suspend him for game 6.

my brother said howard's wasn't in play either, and that he forcefully swung his elbow at dalembert's head. so it was more dangerous and unnecessary than rondo's foul? not that rondo NEEDED to rake millers neck, but it was at least in play at a desperate moment in the game

obviously this kind of stuff is a grey area, but i think the nba has alienated the fans in recent years with overzealous rule-enforcement and thats mainly what i was ranting about

vol

United States52 Posts

May 01 2009 16:05 GMT

#792

On May 01 2009 12:31 Ace wrote:
Orlando doesn't have depth don't kid yourself. Their bench players are barely notable for delivering.

They actually have been noted many times for delivering on many occasions, in fact they have been noted by almost all the ESPN analysts as the main reason Orlando was able to keep one of the best records in the league. They get no attention in most national highlight shows because they happen to have one of the best players in the NBA on their team. I am in no way belittling Howard's contribution but it is definitely not a Wade/Heat situation (as proven by their records.) They showed what they are capable of last night so the more doubters the better position it puts us in anyways.

Ace

United States16096 Posts

May 01 2009 16:14 GMT

#793

Ok I'll keep doubting then

Although Cyric is right, Gortat is pretty good. From the very few times I've seen him play I've gotta admit he knows what he's doing which goes a long way for Centers in the NBA. Most of guys that play Center are just terrible or not built for the current league.

ETA: In fact I think there really are only 2 kinds of good choices for having a center:

1a.) a big, take up space kind of guy that can score and establish a presence.

Yao Ming and Shaq are perfect examples. Mutumbo and Alonzo Mourning in their primes. If they are in the paint you will have problems. Ask Portland. These are one of the ways as described in the other thread that you can end up with a franchise big man. It's sadly one of the ways you can end up with Kwame Brown too.

1b.) somewhat like 1a but just as destructive is if they can shoot.

Yao Ming again,Gasol, Ilgauskus (sp?), Gortay, Sabonis of old, Vlade (see a pattern

). Centers that can shoot are a matchup nightmare. They create space which as a coach of the opposing team will give you a fit. The only problem with this is they can be out of rebounding position. If you get a combination of 1a and 1b and a guy that can still have smarts to rebound well you get a monster.

2.) Freakishly athletic players that can use their speed and strength to dominate.

Dwight Howard. Bynum. Young Patrick Ewing. Young Alonzo. This is the future NBA center that every team wish they had - why? Because it's like having 2 power forwards on the court except one is much bigger than the other. There are a lot of PF/C hybrids in the NBA that are in reality simply PFs. PFs are also one of the most dominant positions in the NBA right now since there are SO MANY good ones and a couple of greats. If you could get 2 of these guys you'd be set.

ok thats enough for now ^_^

KOFgokuon

United States14912 Posts

May 01 2009 17:11 GMT

#794

how can you forget AKEEM THE DREAM
He's like the epitome of category 2
still can't believe the 76ers lost

il0seonpurpose

Korea (South)5638 Posts

May 01 2009 17:18 GMT

#795

Ray Allen had two good looks, one was when Paul Pierce hit that retarded shot to go to overtime, he was right behind him and still didn't pass. The other time was when Rondo got blocked, Ray Allen was wide open!!

And JJ Redick was pretty impressive, he got his Duke shooting touch!

unknown.sam

Philippines2701 Posts

May 01 2009 18:34 GMT

#796

dude you also missed the admiral T_T bynum shouldn't even be there with those high caliber centers (i don't quite see him in the same light athletically as those other centers in their younger days)

Xeris

Iran17695 Posts

May 01 2009 19:09 GMT

#797

Gortat is a poor man's Pryzbilla.

tonight

United States11130 Posts

May 01 2009 20:20 GMT

#798

On May 02 2009 04:09 Xeris wrote:
Gortat is a poor man's Pryzbilla.

Pryzbilla is a poor man's pryzbilla

XaI)CyRiC

United States4471 Posts

May 01 2009 20:21 GMT

#799

On May 02 2009 04:09 Xeris wrote:
Gortat is a poor man's Pryzbilla.

I haven't seen Gortat play much, but he seems more capable on the offensive end.

igotmyown

United States4291 Posts

May 01 2009 20:27 GMT

#800

Shaq never used his speed/strength to dominate? I guess he calls himself most dominant ever due to his clutch free throws. Hakeem was known more for his dream shake than dunking around/over people.

And if you're going to put Gortat as an example of 1b, what's wrong with Bynum in 2.