Photo. Tim TadderFor part of Dime’s NBA Preview in Issue #37 (on newsstands now), I hit up two of the League’s All-Stars — Gilbert Arenas and Carlos Boozer — to have them break down their respective conferences for the ‘07-08 campaign. I got up with Gil soon after he landed in NYC for another preview; the one for his adidas Gil II Zero kicks. In between that he took some time to give me his take on the Eastern Conference:
Dime: Who’s going to be the story of the East this year?
Gilbert Arenas: Everyone’s gonna look at Boston to see how they come off – I’m interested, too. Even though they have three super-studs over there, they’re also old, you know? They’re older players. I hate to sound like that, but they’re older players. It’s not like they’re 26 still and they can run up and down with us. Ray Allen’s coming off of two ankle surgeries, so that’s gonna be hard to run with all the two-guards. I’m interested to see how that team comes along.
I’m not worried about who plays point guard. With three guys that talented, I mean, just bring up the ball and pass it. Do you really need him trying to average 10 assists? Not really. He has to be able to shoot. When we play them, we’re gonna leave Rondo open. Like, We’re just gonna leave you and let you beat us.
And you’re not gonna double Garnett at the end of the game anyway, because we already know who’s gonna take the last shot: Paul Pierce. See, everybody’s like “Who do you double at the end of the game?” You double Paul. Make Kevin beat you. If you ever look at game-winners, have you ever seen Kevin really take one? He’s a first-through-third period player, then he wants to get everyone involved because everyone’s so focused on him at the end of the game. It’s gonna be a battle between Ray and Paul for the last shot. If it’s me I’m like “Let Kevin take it.” Because it’s his nature to be so unselfish that he doesn’t want that shot.
Dime: Where do the Wizards fit into the conference picture?
GA: I think we got a lot better coming off the bench. I don’t wanna dog the team from last year, but we didn’t have a lot of scoring off the bench. Now we have Nick Young, who’s gonna fill up the stat sheet. We got Dominic McGuire who’s gonna come in. They’re young players – they might not get to play at the beginning, but once we get toward the playoffs, they’re gonna be good.
Dime: After the Celtics, what other teams got better that jump out at you?
GA: New Jersey got better. They were a playoff team last year, and now they got Krstic back and they got Magloire. So that makes them better.
Orlando … they lost Grant Hill, they lost what he did there. I thought about them, and I know they made the playoffs last year, but – ’cause you know I sit there and play around with the lineups – Orlando could be the team that’s in or out of the playoffs, just because Rashard, I don’t see him fitting in as well with Dwight. Rashard is more of a back-to-the-basket guy; he can give you buckets in the post. I just don’t see where he opens up the floor for Dwight. Him and Ray played so well together; I don’t see where that true combination will come with him and Dwight.
Dime: Obviously you’re familiar with the Cavs after the playoff losses in ’06 and last year. What do you think of their team?
GA: They didn’t really do anything [in the offseason], did they? But they’re gonna be good because they have a consistent team, so their team is gonna win 50-something games. That’s who they are.
When I look at Detroit, I think they got worse in the sense where if they don’t get Webber back, they decline. Because you lost Ben Wallace, who won a championship for you, and you replace him with a scorer in Webber. Now if you lose Webber, where’s that center? Now you don’t have a defensive center or a scorer. Who’s coming in there? Jason Maxiell? Ohhh-kay. You’re gonna have a 6-4 center? So I look at them like they’re on the decline.
Miami, that’s still a dangerous team. You look at them and even though they’re older in age, they still got D-Wade and they went and got Smush. That’s a wild card team. They can either be really great or average.
Then Chicago, I think it’s the same thing. They might win 50 games. They won’t be a standout; they’ll just be a consistent, grind-it-out, defensive team.
Dime: What about the Knicks?
GA: You know, on paper – I’ll say it was like two years ago, when they had Jalen Rose, Steph … they had four guards who were All-Stars – on paper, it was one of the deadliest teams in the League because when they take [Steph and Francis] out, they had two more All-Stars in Jamal Crawford and Jalen Rose. So I was like, “This is a hard team if they really wanna play.” Same thing with this year. If they don’t play together, they’re gonna do the same thing they’ve been doing.
Dime: Looking at the rest of the Eastern Conference Lottery teams – Philly, Atlanta, Indiana, Charlotte, Milwaukee – do any of them stand out to you?
GA: To make the playoffs? Less than likely. None of ’em. But one team that’s gonna be good two to three years from now: Atlanta. That’s gonna be a good team. Milwaukee is gonna be a talented team. You know, they might sneak into the playoffs [this year]. They’ll be in the fight. If they don’t do it this year I’ll give it to ’em next year. Charlotte has J-Rich over there. And I know he hated that trade, but that’s going to help him out. All they do is catch-and-shoot, so he’s gonna love it. They’re about four, five years away from being a dominant team.
Dime: Who’s going to be in the race for MVP, particularly in the East?
GA: You know it’s gonna start off with me, Dwyane Wade, LeBron … probably Garnett. Until you start winning, that’s when you separate everybody. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning.
Dime: Who’s a player in the East that people aren’t talking about who will have a breakout year?
GA: You know who I like? I like (Jose) Calderon. I don’t know why … I just like his game. He’s just gotten so much better since he first came into this League. I like that whole team. That Toronto team is deadly.
Joe Johnson can be very special if that team can win, because somehow he just gets it done. I remember we came into the Draft together and they kept saying he’s a special kid, so when I used to watch him I was like, “OK, he’s not a jumper. He doesn’t really do much.” But when you just sit there and watch him you say, “There it is.” You see it.
I wanna see what Dwight gives me this year. Am I gonna get more than just power? Give me a right hook, left hook … show me something.
On my team, Nick Young. If he can get on the floor with me, Antawn and Caron – I know that’s a small lineup – but if he can get in with us, he’s gonna be special because he doesn’t have worry about learning offense, he can just come in and fire it. Because at the end of the day we score and run so much, everyone’s gonna get opportunities. It’s not like we have 40 possessions, so when someone takes 20 shots that’s ball-hogging. If we get 80 possessions, it’s like, “I got my 20. That’s 60 more to go around.”
Come back later today for Boozer’s Western Conference breakdown…
October 29th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
djKianoosh says:
gil is da man! but I wonder what he really thinks about the sixers.. not even a word about them. seriously dissed (can’t blame him).
love the line about rondo. LOL
October 29th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Captain America says:
Gil is right. Anyone ever remember KG taking the winning shot at the buzzer? I don’t see and age or injury problem, however. Ray Allen may have periodic swelling in his ankles but I can’t imagine anything more (assuming they were clean ankle breaks).
I hope for Boston (and the NBA) the Celtics do well. Now they will need to prove the preseason hype.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
Captain America says:
The original Big 3 were champions. Watching them on NBA Classics shows why they were banner winners. The jury’s out on this newer version. Can they win banners?
October 29th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
dank says:
im almost positive KG took like 3 game winning shots last year and drained them all, one of em was against the celtics and the other was against the blazers (i dunno who the 3rd was against). but its true hes not gunna be the shot taker there when its do or die.
either way i love Gil’s perspective on the whole thing and i agree with it all.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Bron42 says:
ya, kg took some last year, i know he made one that was close to a 3. Captain america, do you ever say anything important? call you captain obvious, of course we don’t know if they can put up banners, the season hasn’t even started yet. So stop hatin on garnett and shut up already.
October 29th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Gil is so honest. Gotta luv that. But to correct him (and Capt America), KG does have a couple buzzer beaters to his credit. As recent as last yr against the Blazers in Minny. He’s iced a few games with his jimmy before.
Paul Pierce is still the best closer in the league. I am not even a Celts fan, but dude gets it in during the last 3 minutes of the 4th quarter. Best closer to me; especially when he’s on the road.
Arenas needs to get more camera time. Dude is honestly funny with it!!
October 29th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Mel says:
Jose Calderon Baby!
Gil you are a smart man!
October 29th, 2007 at 4:09 pm
Kobeef says:
Yikes…when an All Star player says the Rashard signing will not help Dwight that concerns me. I thought Rashard was gonna play outside - not in the post!? Maybe the magic got confused also.
Like the Hawks mention and agree that if..if, if..they can keep that team together it will be fun to watch. Joe is a leader, Josh haS shown he can be a 4 category stat machine, Marvin and Al will make noise this year, Acie is ?? - if he can play like he did in college they could break through.
October 29th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Myrie in NY says:
Kobeef…..are you trying to sell us on the Hawks? Get real. Them bums. Will their coach (Mike Woodson) make it to Christmas or will Jeff Van Gundy step in an replace him? I can see it now….
Outside of Joe Johnson, is there anyone on that team that can actually make 2 jumpshots in a row?
And why haven’t they drafted a true point guard after all these years in the lottery?
Bah well….it’s not like anyone in Atlanta knows they have a pro team anyway.
October 29th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
DOC says:
KG hit one against KG too.
October 29th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
DOC says:
I mean the Sixers.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Carlosan says:
For a moment, I thought this was a transcript of Gil’s NBA Preview for Slam…specially the parts about Detroit losing C-Webb, KG being unselfish and the props he gives out to Smush.
October 29th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
heavy d says:
Go ahead and take your cheap shots at the Hawks, but don’t give us Jeff Van Gundy. I have no love for Woodson, but if he’s replaced let’s get someone who’ll go up tempo and make it fun to watch. I’ve sit through several years of walking it up and need a reprieve.
October 30th, 2007 at 1:34 am
mr. fresh says:
I agree with mostly everything gil said…I like how he started the mvp candicacy with himself, I guess you have to be atleast a lil cocky to be great though.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:24 am
jw says:
Gil’s a ball hog with a big mouth. His team is going nowhere. If he had to do everything like KG had to in MN, he’d be exhausted in the 4th quarter, too.
Hopefully, Doc isn’t stupid. The ball at crunch time goes to Ray Allen. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen him bury that jumper at the buzzer. The Celts win the East easy because there isn’t any competition. KG will be MVP again.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:49 am
Triple Threat says:
Who cares if KG is only good for 3 and half quarters of a game. Shaq could never finish either, he had kobe to do that. KG has Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, personally I would give it to Pierce. Pierce gets to the line a lot more than Allen does. Pierce can beast his way into the paint when ever he wants too, he’s too big and strong for the guys who try to guard him. And Pierce proved to be a better clutch player than anyone of his team right now. But Ray Allen is a nice second option.
Anyway, Arena and Allen, Butler and Pierce, KG and Jamison that’s going to be a good battle.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:02 am
nick says:
i only wish he would have commented on the whole raptors team instead of just saying toronto is deadly. how are they deadly would have been nice because it seems he did that for all others.
but gil is the man still
October 30th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Falcon says:
Agent O is the man, I was impressed with his spin on things. We all know Rondo is going to be the weak link for Boston, I don’t think they will be deep enough to keep things going all season. I am probably going to regret this but I can see the Magic and Knicks doing better than people think and Miami having a real bad season.
October 30th, 2007 at 10:11 am
.K.i.n.G. says:
The Maxiell joke was pretty funny and im not hatin on dude cuz he can ball but gil is right he is short for a center (ps Nazr Mohammed is on the team right?????? lol)
October 30th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Mike says:
I love that Gil is so honest, but he’s just providing bulletin board material for all the other guys he insulted. I don’t respect some of my coworkers, but you better believe I’d never come out and say it. For a guy who motivates himself on perceived slights, it doesn’t make sense for him to go out and do it himself, considering he hasn’t exactly done a ton in the playoffs himself.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:48 am
mavid says:
Myrie, there are many Atlanta Hawks fans.
Marvin Williams has a beatiful jumper that has been very consistent in the preseason.
Just wait till we play your Knicks. You’ll be surprised.
I’m definitely more concerned about the Nets than the Knicks.
October 30th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Kudabeen says:
KG and Jamison that’s going to be a good battle
WTF?!?!
October 30th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Jackson Wow says:
Totally agree with his oppinion about Jose Calderon. Jose could be the starting pg in most teams ( inclusing Toronto )
October 31st, 2007 at 3:48 am
Guycamero says:
This interview of the East is horrible in comparason to the one they did on the west.
He never really gave a preview, just his usual trash talking that no sane person would agree with.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
RAP FAN says:
I agree with u Jackson Wow, as a “Raptor” I have to say that we are going to have it difficult to remain with Calde if we dont give him more minutes ( that he deserves of course )
GO RAPS!!