My point in regards to the future of the Celtics is that you can't really say they are in great shape because they have Rondo because it's not really Rondo that won the title and while he's been a good player all season the reason they are the best or second best team in the league is because the others have returned back to form even if it isn't going to last for longer than another 10 or so games.

When the Big 3 are gone there are just as many question marks on whether Rondo can get it done as there are with Lebron and Howard.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

But they are in great shape imo. I'm not sure I personally would put Rondo in the same tier as LeBron or Howard...I mean of course he will need additional pieces. But when the big 3 are gone they will have a ton of cap room. They don't really have any albatross contracts at all, aside from Wallace for a few more years at ~5 mil which isn't great but isn't horrible either. In the NBA cap flexibility is a huge thing so I would say with one very solid piece (Rondo) and a ton of cap room that they do have a good future.

After making it to the NBA Finals Boston will extend Pierce and likely re-sign Allen. KG is still on the books for 2 more years. It is highly unlikely they can duplicate the success they've had this postseason again. They will spend the next couple years waiting for KG's contract to get off the books and still will likely have Pierce and Allen on the books. IMO they won't be playing for titles for the next 3 or 4 years.


http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm

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Why would they resign Allen unless it was for significantly less money? I think someone (stupid) is going to offer him more than Boston is willing to go. I can see them extending Pierce just because he's the face of the franchise. I still think even without Allen, with Pierce KG and Rondo- and Perkins and Davis- they can contend for titles. Of course it depends on where Lebron goes. They're just using the Spurs plan of coasting to the postseason and then turning it on. I'm not sure why they couldn't do that again. I think KG is in the worse shape of them all, physically speaking, but I still think he can play

Father time. It's one of the reason Doc will likely leave. Why wouldn't they bring Allen back? They need someone to shoot the ball like Allen. IMO he is the only one of the Big 3 that doesn't appear to have lost as much. Pierce will likely sign a deal paying him somewhere in the area of $15M a year. They will still have too much money one the books unless some fool decides they want to take on KG's salary after next season.

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I was thinking the opposite- that Allen looks like he's lost the most. This series is the first time I can remember him actually throwing down a dunk in years. I'm not saying they shouldn't bring him back,I just think some team with cap room is going to pay him 10 mil or something insane and Boston won't match (yes i know he's unrestricted)

I think the plan is pretty simple- content next year. The year after that, KG's deal will be expiring so if they are still contending they could trade him for an asset or two or if they are terrible team at that point just let the salary come off the books and start over. Plus I'm guessing Perkins will want more money and again, some dumb team is going to throw a boatload of cash at him.

I think the new CBA will prevent many teams from throwing dumb money around.

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True, a lot hinges on that

This is how I see their next couple years playing out.

Rick, not sure how to even debate against you if you dont think Rondo is CLEARLY the best player on that team right now. Of course he needs help just like LeBron and Howard do too. I'm not saying he's a better player than either of them yet, but I do trust him in a big playoff game more. He's given me more reason to over his brief career than they have in their not-so-brief-anymore careers.

I'm not pumping Rondo up to some insane degree. He's playing like a top 10 guy and has been for awhile now. I'm not saying he'll contend for titles the next 10 years, I just am not willing to hand 6 titles to a guy that hasnt won a Finals game yet. Thats just where we differ my friend.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Rereading this thread, I realize that the bold sentence is pretty much our only disagreement, but it is a big one. I'm not certain at all he will join those guys. He definitely can, and I wont be surprised if he does. But he hasnt shown the same qualities in May and June those guys have. The talent is obviously there, but we should all know by now there's alot more to it than that. Also there's been 5 different champs in the past 6 years. In the state of the current NBA, I'm not sure we're going to see a Bulls-esque run again unless the Wade/Bron/Bosh trio actually happens.

Also don't forget that Wade isn't exactly old right now, and has plenty of options this summer, as does Miami. I'm pretty sure he'll be heard from again late in the playoffs, sooner than later. I think he's a better player than Howard and more trustworthy of being the franchise guy on a contender. I'd mention him before anyone else in the East aside from LeBron if you're talking about guys potentially dominating the conference. It's almost impossible that his team will continue to suck this bad.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

rose is already better then rondo. ugh. watch basketball.

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Rondo is a better all around player and a better PG. Rose is the better offensive player.

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fiddlesticks. put rose in boston and he would be even better. put rondo in chicago and he would be worse then ben gordon.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

I agree Rose would see his assists go up but it wouldn't make him a better defender. Rondo's assist would go down with the Bulls but he would be a better defender and have more scoring opportunities.

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doesnt rondo have 2 years on rose though? rose has already shown he is far more consistent too, that matters more then anything in the nba. I HIGHLY HIGHLY DOUBT rose will stay bad at defense. there is just no way. you noticed last year he was clueless, and this year he was generally making the right moves he just wasnt getting there fast enough. he will.

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

I completely agree. Rose cares about the game and he will work to become a better defender.

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There's a difference between being decent at defense and being All World defense. I hope Rose at least becomes the former. Rondo is on the verge of the latter.

And Rose is not more consistent. IMO you can tell Rondo is becoming elite when he had 19-6 in Game 5 and I thought he had a terrible game. He's getting to that point where you expect greatness from him. The way he reacts to this will tell his future IMO.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul