Delonte West

[sam_I_am]

This series really made the Ray Allen trade look like a bust. Not only did Wally outplay Ray Allen but Delonte West had a heck of a series too. And then we gave up #5 too. But the trade was a great one none the less and Ray has proven his worth all season and 67 wins was no fluke.

I really just want to pay some overdue praise to Delonte West who has been the whipping boy of a number of good posters here the past 3 years - especially Pete who has numerous times said he is not good enough to play in the NBA.

Yet in the biggest game 7 at the Garden in 20 years, Delonte West was the 3rd highest scorer on the court and the 4th best player on the court. Think about that for a minute. With names like Lebron, Pierce, Garnett, Allen, Cassell, Posey, Big Z, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith (former #1 pick)..... Delonte West was the 3rd best scorer and 4th best player on the court.

If he hits that wide open 3 pointer he had..... which he took without hesitation in a game 7 end of 4th quarter .... and we might be talking about Cleveland/Detroit series.

I think the Delonte debate has come to end. The majority of fans here always felt he was a special player given his talent level (late 1st round pick). I and others always said he was the type of guy that could be huge on a great team and he has proven us correct. I expect big things from him in the future. I would love to see him in green again but I think he has found the perfect player to play with in Lebron. Unfortunately for us, that means that a former draft pick of ours - much like Chauncey Billups - is going to make some great plays against us the next few years.

Seeing another guy who epitomizes what it means to be a Celtic make great plays against us really hurts.

[jjwalker]

no ray = no kg.

[bruno sundov]

Delonte was just average when he was here. It was an average player ona bad team. The way TA looked (great) last year. He was often hurt and coudln't handle the PG duties. That trade was still excellent for the celts. Even though Ray is driving me insane. He is the greatest shooter in the L and he is playing like junk.

[sully00]

I am Delonte West fan but he proved everyone right. He showed his strengths that everyone who loves him believes he has and he also proved his detractors right as well. Dude still dribbles with one hand and struggles against even minor pressure. Plays hard with a big heart but he is not developing as a real pg or a real sg. He is a nice fit with a dynamic player like Lebron but he was the ying and the yang. He was the only player that stepped up for the Cavs yesterday but he also struggled down the stretch with some forced TOs and weak shots..

Comparing Wally and Ray is nonsense. Wally struggled to make wide open shots and Ray struggled with being the focus of CLE defense. I can't think of anymore fools logic than to compare these two and their situations and decide the fate of a trade. On the flip side I think Wally showed that in the right system and healthy Wally is nowhere near as bad defensively as he was ripped for being here.

[s1ickd]

delonte is a nice player. he's not ray allen. he wasnt going to match ray's scoring averages in the reg. season and first round. he doesnt attract the same type of double teams as ray. get real.

[bruno sundov]

That mark under Dwest mouth just looks gorss. What is that an open soare?

[ermocrate]

West is an average player at best, he can shoot someties and he has heart, that's all. Don't try even to mention him as Ray Allen's milkman, he is not worth that, every NBA player beside Kobe and LeBron who would have recived Allen's attention on offense would have been cancelled from the games. If Rondo develops a consistent jumpshot wuold be 6 times better than Delonte.

[ParticleMan]

no ray = no kg.

ftw.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Ray is in a slump, but he is a great player. Delonte, while nice, is not even in the same league.

[GuyClinch]

Wally outplayed Ray? O'rly?

Maybe you missed his BIG TIME game 7 performance with his 0-3 shooting in 15 minutes and a high -14 +/- in a close game. Did I mention he had 1 rebound, 2 turnovers and four fouls.

LMAO. The only thing good about Wally is his expiring contract. I'd absolutely take my chances with Ray Allen moving forward.

As for West - I still don't like him as a starting PG. Sure he has spunk - but plenty of other PGs could do as well or better given that opportunity. The fact that the Cleveland management is so woeful it can't find them is a blessing for us.

Pete

[BadWolf]

I really mis Delonte. I hope we get after him in the offseason, he might be available, who knows. He's a great 6th or 7th man for this team.

[Tricky Ricky]

no ray = no kg.

[ParticleMan]

Back to Delonte, I wouldn't mind it at all if we somehow got him back. Sure, he's not a PG and he's not a SG, but he's a baller. He shows up. In the last 2 games he was the only Cav besides Lebron to show up. I'd much rather have West as our backup PG than Cassell or House, I can tell you that.

that said, i doubt we get him since he probably made himself some money this series, and he's probably going to want a shot at starting somewhere.

[CeltsfaninDC]

Dwest = King of junk minutes stats

[BadWolf]

^^ Really? those were all junk minutes ihe played in this series?

[ParticleMan]

Dwest = King of junk minutes stats

just the oppoosite, actually. the guy is clutch. as the series went on, he outplayed rondo more and more.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^Agreed, although once Rondo gets a bit more experience under his belt, he is clearly the better player.

That being said, I wouldn't mind having Delonte back one bit...he was a CELTIC, if you know what I mean!

[Bad-Thoma]

Delonte was the definitely a factor for Cleveland in this series. I was a big fan, mostly because of the heart he played with, but I'd take Rondo at point any day of the week, and I am still a big supporter of the Ray Allen trade, even if he pulled a disappearing act this series. I think Ray'll show up with a vengeance against the Pistons, he's too good not to. I'd love to see Delonte in green again coming off the bench though, he's got a nice diverse skill set, pulling down some boards, making some assists, hitting some shots, getting some steals, etc. He plays with a great motor.

[tlee324]

All DWest did in this series was prove he can play. It doesn't mean he's better than so-and-so or whatever else. He's a player. And in the right role, he can help the team he's on. Period.

I'd rather have him than Marcus Banks.

[GuyClinch]

Meh. I think Banks could do the same if given a similiar opportunity. But I like how Delonte played with confidence - he was angry the entire series. It's the best I seem him play.

Pete