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  • December 22, 2007 02:12 AM ET

Gary Payton will turn the Celtics from contenders into champs.

Cowboys-Celtics-Chisox (384-168-36) vs bIGROCKHOGG (53-64-6)
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Gary has called his agent to contact the Celtics about a job. This is the ONE missing piece to the Celts puzzle, a vet PG. Obviously Payton isn't a starter at this point, but as a bench piece to spell Rajon Rondo in critical situations you couldn't ask for a better match.

The Celtics bench has already been fantastic, far exceeding expectations. Their one weakness is not having a legit PG off the bench. Adding a vet the likes of Payton makes that bench perhaps the best in the East while already possessing the best starting lineup in the conference. And having already played in Boston, it would be a seamless transition.

Gary Payton turns the Celtics from Eastern Conference favorite, to NBA finals favorite.


"Gary Payton turns the Celtics from Eastern Conference favorite, to NBA finals favorite."

I don't think so. He will be a nice addition to the team but if they win it all you can't say that they wouldn't have got it done without Payton.

Besides, the Celtics need to figure out how to beat the Pistons, who they just lost to, before they can start thinking about being the favorite to win the NBA Finals.

Western Conference power houses like the Spurs and Suns might have something to say about being the favorites to win it all.

Remember, the Celtics have played a soft schedule to open the season. They haven't even had to travel out of the eastern time zone.

Lets wait until these guys get it done late in the season before we crown them the champs. Remember that the core of this team between Garnett, Allen, and Pierce are all older players. I'm not saying that they can't keep it up but I would like to see them get it done a little bit more than 23 games into the season.

Lets see where they are at through 50 or 60 games before we name them the favorites to win it all.


Oh, I'm not saying they "can't" win it without Payton, I'm saying he plugs their one glaring hole. A solid PG off the bench.

I'm glad you mentioned that Pistons game. Do you know why they lost? Yep, PG. Did you see the game? Rondo was out for defensive purposes. Gary Payton doesn't commit that foul on Billups that won the game for Detroit. He just doesn't. He's much smarter than that. If anything he talks Billups into a turnover. With Gary Payton at PG, the Celtics win that game. No doubt in my mind about it. Shouldn't be in yours, either, if you saw the game and know anything at all about Payton.

I am so sick of the "soft schedule" nonsense it's not even funny anymore. 21-3. I don't care WHO they played, every one of those teams is in the NBA.

KG, Allen, and Pierce are NOT "older players". Good lord, are you dismissing the Yankees because of the ages of ARod and Jeter? Those two are both older than Pierce and Allen. The Celts big three are IN THEIR PRIME stars, not old guys.

Nobody, except you, is questioning their ability to compete at this point. The only question is can they go all the way. With Gary Payton, the odds jump substantially in their favor to do just that.


OK I am not saying that signing Payton would be a bad idea. In fact I said that it would be a "solid" pickup to an already talented team.

My beef is when you said that signing Payton makes them the favorite to win the NBA Finals.

I just think that there are other more established teams in this league that have been getting it done for years and that they should be the favorite to win it all. I think the defending champion Spurs might have something to say about who should be the favorite to win it all.


Sure, the argument will rage until the finals get here no matter who signs where, that's not the point I was making. The Celtics are already in the discussion of favorites right now. The majority of the question marks have been answered...such as "how will the big three get along" and "is that bench going to be any good"...the team is as solid across the board as any in the NBA.

but

They have one glaring weakness. Rajon Rondo is the only true PG on the roster. When he goes to the bench, that weakness is exposed quickly. When he has to defend bigger, stronger, more experienced guys in crunch time, it's also exposed such as in the Pistons game when Chauncey Billups just abused him in the final minutes of a tight game. Payton not only plugs the hole, he becomes an immediate factor while not being asked to do too much.

When you look at the Celtics roster and try to find a reason they shouldn't be considered right there with the Spurs as favorites to win it all, the only thing you can really point to is lack of depth and veteran leadership at the point. And Payton fits the Celtics more than he would most teams. He's very familiar with the team, having signed with them twice before.


Wow, you reply pretty fast.

I know that he will help them more than hurt them but he won't help them as much as you making it out to be. You make it seem like Rondo has been costing them games. Yeah sure he committed the foul that put Billups on the line with 0.2 secs left but there are a whole lot more plays that you can point out that costed Boston that game. If he does sign on with the Celtics I think he will be used like he was with the Heat. He'll play a limited role off the bench. Signing Payton will help but it wouldn't make them a whole lot better than they already are.

Comments (18) Add A Comment

December 22, 2007  02:51 AM ET
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are we the only 3 on FN right now? It seems like it.

December 22, 2007  02:54 AM ET
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Oh yeah, about the argument. If Payton comes back then......

-The Celtics would have a great 6th man in Rajon Rondo

-He would give them playoff expirience....and tons of it

-Solid depth at PG

-Points

how can you say that this won't help? My vote goes to CCC.

December 22, 2007  03:06 AM ET
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My argument should have said Peirce and Garnett are younger than ARod and Jeter...I think Allen is the oldest of the trio. Too tired to actually look it up, though.

December 22, 2007  03:09 AM ET
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Pierce=30 Garnett=32 A-Rod=33 Jeter=??? all i know is that he is old.

Oh yeah, Allen=31

December 22, 2007  03:10 AM ET
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"Besides, the Celtics need to figure out how to beat the Pistons, who they just lost to, before they can start thinking about being the favorite to win the NBA Finals."

they lost one game against them, os what?

December 22, 2007  03:12 AM ET
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"I am so sick of the "soft schedule" nonsense it's not even funny anymore. 21-3. I don't care WHO they played, every one of those teams is in the NBA."

The Celts may have had an easy schedule but not one other team in the league could go 21-3.

December 22, 2007  04:59 AM ET
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I was WRONG! Ah, well, it happens.

Garnett is 31, Allen is 32, Pierce is 30

ARod is 32 Derek Jeter is 33.

So the Celts big three is the same age or younger than the best player in baseball and all are younger than Jeter. Damn bunch of "old" guys.

December 22, 2007  05:02 AM ET
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Oh, wait, I WASN'T wrong.

Damn, I need sleep.

December 22, 2007  05:51 AM ET
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"The Celts may have had an easy schedule but not one other team in the league could go 21-3."

21-3. That's just an unbelievable record, isn't it? The season is 82 games long. If the Celts only went .500 the rest of the way, they'd finish 50-32 and probably a top 3 seed in the east.

It's not about the regular season anymore.

December 22, 2007  07:52 AM ET
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I'm a celtic fan and I want nothing to do with Peyton. Be patient with Rondo, this team is getting better every game.

December 22, 2007  08:40 AM ET
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I did this and am losing, 18-10

He is a solid backup PG.....Not very many choice's to choose from unless u wanna pick up Hardaway

They dont have to give up a player or a draft pick, they can sign him to vet minimum and if he creates any probs, cut him

December 22, 2007  04:12 PM ET
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"I'm a celtic fan and I want nothing to do with Peyton. Be patient with Rondo, this team is getting better every game."

I'm not advocating Payton to replace Rondo, gza. Payton would come off the bench. As of now Boston has no true PG to come in when Rondo is rested and it clearly shows when he's on the bench.

Chauncy Billups just absolutely abused Rajon the other night. That doesn't happen if you have a wily vet like Payton to come in late in the 4th QTR.

December 22, 2007  05:55 PM ET
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Your title says that signing Gary Payton makes them "Champions."

Come on now. If he was still that good of a player, don't you think he would be on a roster making big time millions?

December 22, 2007  06:11 PM ET
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No rock, what it does is fill the hole. He's not going to carry any team anywhere at this stage, but teams win championships with role players just as much as with super stars. At this time, on THIS team, he's perfect for the one role they need filled to be a truly elite team.

December 22, 2007  06:15 PM ET
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CCC's 2nd argument s sums up what i need to vote...

December 22, 2007  06:18 PM ET
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"Yeah sure he committed the foul that put Billups on the line with 0.2 secs left but there are a whole lot more plays that you can point out that costed Boston that game."

No, he didn't. Tony Allen did. He was in for Rondo for defensive purposes...the role Payton would have been playing had he been on the team.

And you're right, there were a whole lot more plays that cost them that game. Namely Billups taking over in the last 5 minutes against an over matched Rondo. That's why Tony Allen was in the game to begin with.

December 22, 2007  06:45 PM ET
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i say they dont even need to sign him

they're alreasdy the favorites...adding him wont make a big differece

 
December 22, 2007  07:11 PM ET
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thank you

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