Two non-playoff, EC teams just got much better.

[mrhonline]

Boston adding Ray Allen and Charlotte adding Jason Richardson just made things a whole lot tougher for Mike Woodson.

Is adding Horford/Law enough to get the Hawks into the playoffs? If so, who falls out?

[WraithSentinel]

Wiz should fall out.

[vdunkndunk]

Boston will be better because maybe Pierce will actually play in some games and they won't be trying to lose on purpose, plus Ray Allen should help them. I'm not sure exactly why they chose Ray Allen, though, unless they were just adding any veteran star they could - or unless maybe they will be trading Paul Pierce as a follow up move.

Also, I'm not sure about adding Zach Randolph. In a way he's like a better-rebounding version of Eddie Curry, and they don't really compliment each other very well. They both are low block back-to-the-basket scorers. They're both kind of fat. Neither one plays defense. I actually think they'd have a tough time guarding Josh Smith and Al Horford.

[KB21]

I don't think Boston is any better with Ray Allen. It sounds good, but you can't put two scorers like Pau Pierce and Ray Allen together and have it work. Boston has tried this with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. It didn't work.

Plus, the Celtics will be horrific defensively on the perimter outside of Rondo.

[ncthompson11]

Walker was never a team player, but Allen seems to play the game the right way and would probably take a lesser role if they started to win.

[capstone21]

Allen is an excellent defender.

I think Boston will improve but only for the short term. Allen probably doesn't have a whole lot left in the tank. A season...maybe 2.

[DJ_Money]

Assuming this Charlotte deal gets done...

I'll then assume they don't re-sign Wallace...

I don't think Richardson is an upgrade.

[mrhonline]

Who else is going to pay Wallace? No one has cap space left but Charlotte and Milwaukee IIRC. Why would he choose Milwaukee over Charlotte?

[Sasha_Volkov]

Boston just made their worst move since JJ for Delk/Rogers. At least they were sniffing the Finals then. Now they've mortgaged their future for two first exits at maximum. Ainge/Rivers make BK/Woody look like Auerbach.

They needed to trade Pierce while his value is still high, not acquire a declining player in a flawed playoff gasp.

[Johnnybravo4]

Id kill for some first round exits. You cant live in a perpetual waiting mode. You have to win eventually. Good teams don't have 5 year rebuilding periods.

[mrhonline]

Who cares how far in the playoffs these teams go. What matters is that it's not likely that all three of these teams will make it.

[Atlantaholic]

Quote:

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I don't think Boston is any better with Ray Allen. It sounds good, but you can't put two scorers like Pau Pierce and Ray Allen together and have it work. Boston has tried this with Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker. It didn't work.

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huh? Didn't Pierce and Walker make it to the Conference Championship??