Pierce Rumors

[McGahee]

Well let's see Steve Nash's numbers in his last year in Big D, shall we.

--He scored 14.5 PPG (1 point less than this past year, and just a tad less than what he normally had)
--Had 8.8 APG (A career high that was beat last year, but certainly not qualifying as a dying player)
--3 RPG (.1 off of career high, and higher than in Phoenix)
--47% shooter (4th highest of his career, later broken next year)
--91% FT (career high, not beaten next year)

So as you can see, the only difference was a couple more assists per game, and he won the MVP award. And to correct you, Nash was replaced because there wasn't enough cap room for him because of all the additions made that off season, in addition to the high salaries of Dirk and Finley beforehand. So with that spurt of 2 more assists per game, Nash is the MVP with 15/11/2, after being 14/8/3.

Now Sam Cassell. Last year's stats...

--13.5 PPG (4th lowest of career and lowest since 96-97 season)
--5.1 APG (lowest since 98-99 season)
--2.7 RPG (lowest since 98-99 season)
--.61 SPG (lowest of career)
--46.4 FG% (2nd lowest since 98-99 season)
--26.2 3 PT% (lowest sicne 98-99 season)

So as you can see, Cassell posted crap numbers. Nash put up much better numbers, and put up career highs, showing that he was at the peak of his game, which would have had more people expect this out of the Suns if they also assumed Amare would rebound from his missed-expectations season last year, Joe Johnson and Q being aggressive shooters, and Shawn Marion staying healthy. Anyways, Cassell had career lows in many categories and had his worst season in 7 years on the others. Obviously, if you think Cassell would improve like Nash would, that would mean putting up numbers that were worse than Nash's last season IN DALLAS.

Where are you getting this Cassell=Nash bull honkey?

[Bibby10]

Well like I said, no way will Cassell be Nash quality. But if Cassell gets a burst (he doesnt need to average 20 ppg and 10 apg, since there are scorers on the team) the Clips could go somewhere.

Please don't get me wrong.

Nash/ 1,000 > Cassell

[McGahee]

xmikebibby10x said:

Well like I said, no way will Cassell be Nash quality. But if Cassell gets a burst (he doesnt need to average 20 ppg and 10 apg, since there are scorers on the team) the Clips could go somewhere.

Please don't get me wrong.

Nash/ 1,000 > Cassell

Lemme put it this way. The Clippers are a playoff team regardless in my mind as they are. But they would probaby raise a spot or two if they had Livingston at the point instead of Cassell. Cassell hasn't proven that he can play with scorers yet anyways, and that's with the best player in KG. So with lesser players, he's expected to be able to play with these guys and win, assuming he gets this "burst", which never happens to players who are 36 or 37? The Clippers are not the 100+ points team with the PG situation they have right now. Livingston might go out and be a surprise, but no Sam Cassell team will ever fly under his wings as the floor general...

[Bibby10]

Sam Cassell wants to be a starter or he won't play. That's what he said in an interview. And I agree with you. If the Clips can't find a way to manage problems like this. And to come out and handle great teams, I don't know about their playoff likeliness.

[Bibby10]

allstarmike2k5 said:

xmikebibby10x said:

All Im saying is nobody expected Nash to do what he did before the season started. And don't gimme that, "I knew it all along" crap.

Nash has been the most underrated PG maybe of all time, he has always been a solid contribuitor, but last season was a dream for him

No. Pete Maravich. But I don't wanna get into that for all the NBA-unwise here. Just leave it at that.

[McGahee]

allstarmike2k5 said:

xmikebibby10x said:

All Im saying is nobody expected Nash to do what he did before the season started. And don't gimme that, "I knew it all along" crap.

Nash has been the most underrated PG maybe of all time, he has always been a solid contribuitor, but last season was a dream for him

Underrated, yes. Most underrated, no. People got so high off of Jason Kidd's first season in NJ, and then there are those guys like Francis and Marbury that shoot a lot, and that took away from the great passer Nash was, but there were probably more underrated PGs THOSE YEARS that were more underrated that Nash was, although Nash was obviously better than them, those guys got no credit at all.

[detroitbasketball]

Sam Cassell will do NOTHING. He has no gas left in the tank. He should just retire, because if the Clippers make the playoffs, he wouldn't have had much to do with it, that I can tell ya.

Plus, as stated, Cassell isn't surrounded by Quentin Richardson, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudamire, and Shawn Marion. He's got Cuttino Mobley, Corey Maggette, Elton Brand, and Chris Kaman. That is definitely not gonna get a ton done for Cassell in the stat category.

[Terps]

Trade ain't bad for the C's. Pierce is still good but Maggette and Wilcox have good potential. Well Maggette is already pretty good and Wilcox was a high pick who could still break out.

[Cerrano39]

People forget, Pierce is only 28. Entering the prime of his career.

Oh, on the other subject. Sam Cassell doesn't hold a candle to Steve Nash. And, the Clips aren't making the playoffs. Although, they do have the must unknown star in the league in Elton Brand.

[Bibby10]

yeah 100% agree. Elton Brand is the most underrated power forward in the game. He a pure beast of the boards.