Warriors may offer Ellis for Ray Allen

swede

I think it would be FOOLISH to break our players trying to get homecourt. I also think that is EXACTLY what Phil is doing to his squad and I firmly believe he and the lakes are going to pay for it.

I totally agree.

I would not be against resting players for games even without injuries (do not know if the players might be against it for whatever contract reasons though).

Lakers sure are pushing hard for home court.. on the other hand, looking at their away record they just might need it

For those old enough to remember

1969 was the perfect example of just getting to the playoffs relatively healthy and forgeting about the best record....or the second best or third.

That team won by NOT having any home court advantage in any round.

This team could do the same thing.

beat

beat,

I have been hoping the same thing, and perhaps these guys have been coasting while waiting for the injured to return. This is the optimistic side of me coming out.

Pete

pete and beat

I get a deep sense these guys all know how good they are AND exactly how good the other guys are and I also think they like their chances.

Thank god there's a trade deadline. Then the REAL season will start, when teams will focus primarily on the importance of dealing with what they've got and gelling for better or worse.

Lordy, it must be tough for a guy like Ray to read this stuff without being sidetracked by worrying about his son's medical care. It certainly can't help solidify their commitment to chemistry. My hat's off to the professionals who persevere despite the distractions and continue to devote themselves to the team effort.

Sam

Game 3 - 1969 Finals

John Havlicek goes down hard, the stoic John Havlicek is flat on the floor, his face showing obvious pain. Who was the first one to get to his side? His coach and teammate, Bill Russell. The image of Russell, with his arm around his shoulder, helping Havlicek off the court is one of the most unforgettable moments of that series.

Afterward, reporters asked Bill what he was thinking about when he watched Havlicek writhing on the floor in pain. With Satch and Sam hurting, did he think he would be facing the Lakers singlehanded, down 2 games to none?

Bill replied, "I was thinking only that he might be hurt badly. You see, first, these men are my friends. Above all, we are our friends."

Anyone who wants to make a trade, even Danny, should try to calculate the 'friends' factor into the bargain.

Lastly, say we keep this unit together and win the championship the next two years. You'd hope the old guys would start to see the advantages of spending more time on the pine, leaving some extra minutes out there for someone.

Wouldn't there be at least the possibility of a decent free agent like Quis who's willing to take more for one season because he really, really wants a chance at a ring?

I don't recall the details but I recently read about a scenario whereby the C's could extend Ray to have his contract expire along with KG's.

The bottom line would be we get the most out of the couple of years each still have left at a good level, and then have seious money to rebuild on the fly with Rondo and Perk in their prime.

In theory a win-win; we keep a competitive roster over a longer period. As I recall that's part of what Ainge had in mind with the big three's staggered contracts in the first place.