The back court tandem of BOS and NJ

campybatman · Post #1 » by **campybatman** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 6:12 am

Are there two starting guards playing better this season in the east than the Rondo/R. Allen or Harris/V. Carter combos?

What's interesting is: The uncertainty of the immediate futures of Ray and Vince with the Celtics and Nets, respectively.

Of the tandems, I would take Boston's over New Jersey's because Vince's name tends to be the talk of trade rumors (to Cleveland or Orlando) or he could possibly be traded than you read of Ray's name in the news. And the fact that Rondo and Ray play defense is another reason. Obviously, Harris' play this season has made New Jersey's front office hold off or rethink placing Vince on the block. The Nets are currently behind Boston in the standing leapfrogging the Raptors.

SuigintouEV · Post #2 » by **SuigintouEV** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 5:58 pm

And the fact that Rondo and Ray play defense is another reason

You do realize that prior to rondo having Perk and KG behind him, Devin Harris was widely considered the best defensive PG in the league right?

And that Vince Carter is a better defender than Ray Allen, right?

Just sayin. I'd prolly take the nets backcourt tbh, at both positions.

Rocky5000 · Post #3 » by **Rocky5000** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 6:01 pm

No way is carter a better defender than Ray. Look at what TA did to Carter this preseason. It was almost embarassing.

Dogen · Post #4 » by **Dogen** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 6:18 pm

I get the Nets games on TV. Vince doesn't have the dominant hops anymore, but he looks healthier than last season. Harris is just downright unstoppable offensively; he can get a shot whenever he wants, and his defense is still decent, too.

Harris/Carter right now is one of the best backcourts in the league. They get the nod over Rondo/Ray.

captain_cheapseats · Post #5 » by **captain_cheapseats** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 7:02 pm

New Jersey definitely has the better guard combo at the moment. Good thing the Celts have better bigs and depth.

campybatman · Post #6 » by **campybatman** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 7:55 pm

Statistically, Rondo's right there or better than in certain categories right now with Harris except when you notice the distinction in scoring averages and free throw percentages. Similarly, for Carter and Allen too. Harris and Carter are simply out scoring Rondo and Allen and are averaging a combined more minutes a game.

threrf23 · Post #7 » by **threrf23** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 8:42 pm

Devin Harris has been insane, the difference in the Nets play with him versus the three games they were without him is rather telling. And, as much as I don't mind an iffy defender at PG, he's always been considered one of the league's best defenders @ PG, and his defensive metrics would be higher this season if playing alongside better defenders. Vince Carter wouldn't be a better fit than Ray on our team, but like him or not he could be considered the better player - thus far in the season his scoring efficiency has actually been better than Ray's, and he doesn't have the luxury of playing alongside PP or KG or any other real solid post option. And he's arguably a more capable defender than Ray even if not a better one.

Harris, btw, has the lowest TO% in the league among PGs not named Derek Fisher. He hasn't been a great assist man, but he's been very solid there considering he doesn't play alongside a lot of great offensive players and he's (efficiently) scoring a certain percentage of the Nets points offensively. Harris' scoring efficiency is right up there with Chris Bosh's and Dwight Howard's and he turns the ball over less than Rondo despite handling the ball a hell of a lot more than Rondo. He is easily better than Jason Kidd right now, and is also better than Rondo.

Andrew McCeltic · Post #8 » by **Andrew McCeltic** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 9:50 pm

Anyone remember when DA claimed after the 2004 draft that he'd rather have Delonte West than Devin Harris? Celtic Nation kool-aid tastes so much better spiked with success than with denial..

mr_sunshine · Post #9 » by **mr_sunshine** » Mon Dec 1, 2008 11:50 pm

The Nets backcourt is easily much, much better.

campybatman · Post #10 » by **campybatman** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 2:15 am

It sounded like one of the WEEI broadcasters compared Harris and Carter (or they remind him of) to Detroit's old back court tandem of Thomas and Dumars. I don't know about that... But, the Nets' current back court tandem do have more of a responsibility to score in order for them to be in a lot of their games than Boston's back court tandem does. If Ray's off... There's still Pierce and Garnett. I think a lot of fans lose sight of this. Rondo and Ray aren't burden by these same scoring responsibilities in most games. But, as a Boston fan, you would still hope that Ray scores...