SoxAce

I'm mentally preparing myself for the brutal Lakers/Celtics final. I would much rather have Kobe add to his legacy, than Rondo and those other douches win another title. Magic have a better chance comming back in their series than the Suns do IMO. Lakers are just a brutal match-up for the Suns.

My Dash now down 3-2 in the 17th. They had to deal with Julio Teheran today who is just a stud. Bellamy.. 3 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 4 SO. He should be on the fast track this year in our system.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 19, 2010 -> 03:33 PM) There's a big difference between averaging a lot of steals and being a good defender. Remember.. I'm the one who said Rajon Rondo is overrated defensively despite him being at the top of the league in (reach around) steals. I would think most NBA die hards know that.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ May 19, 2010 -> 03:25 PM) So, you're saying that the Wiz will have a terrible defensive backcourt, or am I misunderstanding? Wall + Arenas isn't "terrible," but it is pretty bad. Wall will improve defensively as he matures, but Arenas has no desire to do so in that area. I will say this about Wall, that kid is very smart and will play the passing lanes very well. (wouldn't be surprised to see him average 1+ steals a game as a rookie) Arenas will have alot to prove next year, so I expect him to be pretty good offensively for the Wiz.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 19, 2010 -> 03:15 PM) The big difference is that Kirk plays defense. No doubt, but Agent 0 is better offensively. Wall already is like Rose with his defense, not to mention the Wiz are still rebuilding. They can't put Arenas at backup and they can't trade him (I don't think any team is foolish to take that contract not to mention the gun issues) Unless they want to try Wall out as a SG (which I wouldn't think they do) they really have no choice. As a couple of posters here said, they can't trade Wall. QUOTE (Soxbadger @ May 19, 2010 -> 10:49 AM) Since I like Henry for the Bulls I assume he wont be there. Felix can quote me if I'm wrong on this (sorry about your T-Wolves not getting a top 2 pick BTW man ) but they pick 4th and I believe right before us at 16. They need a SG as well so I think they will take Henry or Anderson with their 16th pick if both are still there right before us IMO. Could be a Johnson/Henry draft for them to help out Love which wouldn't be a bad future at all. I like Johnson. (don't think Favors will last after 3, and Cousins is really boom or bust.. no in between and the Wolves still have Jefferson unless he is traded)

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ May 19, 2010 -> 08:36 AM) It scares me how much a John Wall for Andrew Bynum + pick deal makes sense. Stick to hockey. QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 19, 2010 -> 08:43 AM) It scares me even more that you think that would make any sense. Andrew Bynum has missed almost 100 games over the last 3 seasons. Even if he wasn't made of glass, he's not a dominating type that you could build your team around. The Lakers got their freebee in Pau Gasol. They're not about to get another one in John Wall. If the Lakers pulled that off (again) I might be done with the NBA (unless we get LeBron, then I'll jump right back in it ). Their plan from what I've heard is they will stick Arenas at SG, no questions asked. (dude still has a big contract afterall) If Kirk Hinrich's 6'3 ass was playing SG with us and we got to the playoffs, I'm sure they will be fine with Arenas playing SG for them with a talent like Wall.

Shirek... ouch. Marrero already has 25 BBs on the season. Please start hitting kid.

Konerko.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 19, 2010 -> 12:25 PM) Probably belongs in the Diamond Club. Not unless he signs with the Mets. Still sox related/involving, not to mention this was already in pale hose prior to the bump-up.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ May 19, 2010 -> 12:42 AM) I think we'd give the Lakers a better shot than what we did last season, but right now I don't think we're gonna get there. Rondo is just playing amazing, and he's actually hitting his jump shots, which he couldn't do last season, which makes him a lot more dangerous offensively. I never counted the Celtics out going into the playoffs, although I knew they were going to play with more intensity and just better than the 2nd half of this season, they've just taken their play to a whole new level. Playing extra games in the playoffs is actually helping Rondo's potential scary as that is. He was not doing this even by the later part of the season. If he keeps this up next year, no doubt he will be one of, if not, the top PG in the game.

QUOTE (danman31 @ May 19, 2010 -> 12:38 AM) It was hard to defend Viciedo over those two last year. I was starting to doubt early this year. Look at him now. He's killing the ball. No doubt. I'm still one of Hudson's biggest fans BTW.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ May 19, 2010 -> 12:10 AM) Now that the draft order is set, I'm really hoping Henry falls past the Hornets, because if he does, he will likely last too the Bulls. Henry or Anderson (who I think fits more with us as a sniper, though Henry has the higher potential) makes Ace a happy camper.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ May 18, 2010 -> 10:30 PM) Just because Hossa isnt scoring goals doesnt mean he hasnt been a factor. Imo hes generally one of the more dominant players on the ice. He is a great defender and he is good at getting the puck of the boards at getting it to teammates. I'm only quoting what the guy said himself. He even said he's been bad. I'm not talking defensively, but the offense has not been there for him. Toews on the other hand wants to break Malkin's playoff scoring record the way he is going.

Hossa has been terrible this series (really this whole playoffs minus a GW and another goal) hit the pipe on an empty netter.

QUOTE (danman31 @ May 18, 2010 -> 09:48 PM) Viciedo .303 overall. OPS .873. K rate still falling (like I said it would). He's outperforming the preseason top 2 (Hudson/Flowers) while being 2 years younger than both (technically a day short of 2 years younger than Hudson, but whatever). He's my vote for top prospect. We both have been on his bandwagon for a good year now. He was both of our top prospects last year when most people here were slurping Flowers/Hudson.

Joe Thornton was havin it with Bolland all game.. you could see it commin. Classless play that was.

If there is one guy the Hawks HAVE to re-sign in the off-season it's Hammer. Damn shower, I missed the goal.

Sox win, Nets lose a top 2 pick... lets get a Hawks win to complete this resume.

I called the Wizards getting into the top 3.. then called them winning it and my friend was stunned. 76ers are gonna have a great future with Iggy and Turner (who I agree with Slav will probably be the best player in this draft IMO). Poor John Wall. Going to a small market and you have really nobody. I like McGee as a center and Blatche is solid, but that is about it. W00T at the NETS not getting the top pick!

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ May 18, 2010 -> 04:02 PM) He's very raw and there are serious concerns about his pitch recognition. Plus the signability factor. From what I heard, he won't be Bryce Brentz bad though. QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 18, 2010 -> 04:03 PM) Why didn't Heyward go until #14? Why did Stanton make it to the 2nd round? Most mocks I've seen have Wilson going a few picks before or after ours. Other than the first top 10 picks (or even top 5 mostly), it is a crap-shoot with mock drafts from 11 on. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Wilson fell to the mid first or even a supp. pick/2nd rounder. I thought Melville last year would be a mid 1st rounder for sure, in fact.. I was betting it (hell most mocks had him as a top 15 pick), and I believe he didn't get picked till the 3rd round (you can blame scared of mechanics, signability issues, whatever).

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ May 18, 2010 -> 02:59 PM) It helps when NBA teams are now getting bye weeks in between playoff games. Kobe hasn't looked that fresh since November. I would say getting your knee drained and saying you feel 5 years younger afterwards helps as well.

QUOTE (zeke bonura is the GOAT @ May 18, 2010 -> 02:43 PM) Greg, you act like we need to treat ozzie like a freaking special ed student. It's Kenny's fault that he gives Ozzie bench players and he over plays the hell out of them? Come on. Swisher was a better leadoff option than Wise the whole year, despite having an off year. Ozzie still chose Wise over him. Not to mention he called Swisher a "s*** player" even though he still sported a .351 OBP at the leadoff spot for him despite hitting like .180. Swish was pretty damn bad for us, but he wasn't complete "s***." I am one of the few here that felt Swisher got a bad rap here though.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 18, 2010 -> 02:15 PM) Except Ozzie has done that exact thing before. He should do it more though, there are guys on the team who dog it way too much (but actually not as much this year's team, as last year). I'm talking veterans (though Hanley is young, he is still a veteran player) not younger players. (I.E. Tracey, Viciedo, etc..) I'll bet you my life insurance Ozzie would have never done that, especially to his star player. I applaud Freddie for it actually. Hanley has to learn that even if the younger guys do it too, he is the leader and face of the team. Set an example young fella.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ May 18, 2010 -> 03:06 PM) BTW, nice post game write ups. I've been enjoying them. Ditto, especially when people miss a game. (like I did a few days ago) Well done Balta.

Ozzie would never have the balls to do that. And yes, I would still take Hanley and not think twice, as I'm sure most sane fans would also.