Payton to sign with Miami

[End Boss]

and robert horry

[Bang]

Minimum? Hm...what are they going to do with Mid Level? I'm hoping they somehow trade it since I don't like Sprewell much...

beauduvall, the Celtics had four hall of famers at one point and won a championship! (Bird, McHale, Parish, Walton...I think..)

[Rip32]

Chauncey Billups Personal Bitch is back, Thank you...

[GloveGuy]

You're all idiots.

He's not Billups' bitch. He won't even guard Billups. Wade will. He'll own Rip Hamilton though. Ask Reggie Miller -- Gary Payton, despite his age, will give headaches to those who live off the ball.

I don't expect him to start, but he will play fourth quarters, and he will give backup PGs torture backup PGs when the second unit is on the floor.

[-BHZMAFIA-]

How can he handle Rip, when its hard for some of the best defenders in the league to handle Rip with all those picks? WHEN the Heat lose this year, I'm probably going to go on a posting spree and laugh at them for not being able to win with all that talent.

[Indy]

Ask Reggie Miller -- Gary Payton, despite his age, will give headaches to those who live off the ball.

This is true. Danny Ainge was pretty stupid for having Tony Allen guard Reg for the first 3 games of the series against us.

So... are the Heat going to play with 2 balls this year?

[Rip32]

He's not Billups' bitch.

2004 NBA Finals MVP? If i remember right he was the one totally losing Payton on the pick and roll.

He'll own Rip Hamilton though.

4 years ago maybe but now? Hell No. If Payton isnt even gonna start how will he guard rip? With your logic that means till GP comes in it'll be Jason Williams on Richard Hamilton, Thats a train wreck on the miami side. GP is not a lockdown "own you" defender anymore hes a guard who like to shoot but he cant anymore and he like to say hes agood defender but hes not anymore.

[GloveGuy]

How can he handle Rip, when its hard for some of the best defenders in the league to handle Rip with all those picks? WHEN the Heat lose this year, I'm probably going to go on a posting spree and laugh at them for not being able to win with all that talent.

GP's one of the smartest defenders in the league. He knows how to fight through picks and he knows the ways of off-the-ball defense. Plus, he gets respect from the refs that some of the quickest and fastest defenders in the league lack.

2004 NBA Finals MVP? If i remember right he was the one totally losing Payton on the pick and roll.

Pick-and-roll requires two players to guard. Payton was left by himself. If he went around the pick, Billups would bury the jumper; if he went through, that would give Billups the open lane seeing that Shaq would never come out to help. Watch the game, not the stats.

4 years ago maybe but now? Hell No. If Payton isnt even gonna start how will he guard rip? With your logic that means till GP comes in it'll be Jason Williams on Richard Hamilton, Thats a train wreck on the miami side. GP is not a lockdown "own you" defender anymore hes a guard who like to shoot but he cant anymore and he like to say hes agood defender but hes not anymore.

Like I said, you'll see a lot of Gary Payton in the fourth quarter, Jason Williams on the bench. Are you gonna tell me that Dwayne Wade can't guard Billups. Come playoff time, GP could eventually be starting. Who knows.

Must I repeat the fact that Payton absolutely owns on off-the-ball defense? Guarding Richard Hamilton does not require lockdown defense. It's about being intelligent and reading screens. Even at age 36, are you gonna tell me that anyone could do it better than a 9-time All Defensive Team member?

Stop the hate and realize that there are veterans in this league who can still make a difference. Didn't you even watch Gary Payton when he was with the Sonics? Did you see one Celtics playoff game this year? Now shut your mouth and stop thinking that the NBA revolves around it's rising stars and franchises.

[Rip32]

Pick-and-roll requires two players to guard. Payton was left by himself. If he went around the pick, Billups would bury the jumper; if he went through, that would give Billups the open lane seeing that Shaq would never come out to help. Watch the game, not the stats.

I see your points but still its the same deal this time if Billups gets on Payton. Same pick and roll situation with Shaq not wanting to come out and play D.

[NNpF]

C - Shaquille O'Neal / Michael Doleac / Earl Barron
PF - Udonis Haslem / Wayne Simien
SF - Antoine Walker / James Posey / Dorrell Wright / Matt Walsh
SG - Dwyane Wade / Shandon Anderson / Andre Emmett
PG - Jason Williams / Gary Payton / Gerald Fitch

That is what Miami's roster looks like as of right now. Now there might be some changes but then again there might not be any.

The Heat are extremely deep at almost every single position except maybe center. Antoine Walker will be able to play PF at times when Haslem is on the bench and Posey will be able to fill in the SF spot.

Now as everyone already knows, this team can either win it all or beat themselves. The player I'm worried the most about is Antoine Walker, because he needs a lot of shots to have a good game scoring wise, and other than scoring he doesn't do too much on the court.

I'm also worried he will complain about his minutes seeing as Haslem does a good job at PF and Walker has tons of talent just waiting to step onto the court and play at his position.

[Amphatoast]

if walker 3point percntage increases he could be a 3pt specialist @ sf

[b_king]

the heats will be an amazing team...

C-Shaq
PF-Haslem
SF-Walker
SG-Wade
PG-Payton

[Carmo]

This is true. Danny Ainge was pretty stupid for having Tony Allen guard Reg for the first 3 games of the series against us.

Wouldn't that be the coach's fault and not Danny Ainge?

[Indy]

This is true. Danny Ainge was pretty stupid for having Tony Allen guard Reg for the first 3 games of the series against us.

Wouldn't that be the coach's fault and not Danny Ainge?

Just said the wrong name on accident. I meant to say Doc.

[Strike Freedom]

It's Payton's decision, he's willing to play backup pg.. for a minimum salary..
i suppose he's takin his last shot at the trophy..
When did Kevin Willis win his first trophy?

[Kemp]

When did Kevin Willis win his first trophy?

In 2003 with the Spurs where David Robinson is still there.

[BOSS]

Who can get J-Will?

I think he didn't mean Miami's J-Will, but Jay Williams, the free agent. I expect him to go to Houston too.

I am not sure why Houston might want him. They got Bob Sura, Charlie Ward, Mike James, Derek Anderson who can all play the PG position. Mike James looked pretty impressive in the Charity game but its a Charity game so ye, anything goes. Hopefully the Raps can get him to be a backup to Alston and Calderon to be a backup small SG.

[beau_boy04]

now the Heats are really overaloaded with some talents. But my friend Payton should've signed up with the Spurs because with or without him they will win the title once again.

[Andrew]

Skeptical of Miami's overhaul as I may be, I do like the Payton signing. J-Will's habits might have been toned down - even just a little - since he entered the league and he's a capable starter, but you need some playoff savvy veterans to get you over the hump and step in when the game needs some disciplined play.

The Heat don't need Payton to be The Glove of old. The role he'll play is perfect for this point in his career. I have to agree with GloveGuy, I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting by the end of the year should he prove to be more effective in Van Gundy's gameplan than Williams.

[Fresh8]

Gary Payton seems to be very mature about this. He said he's going take a lesser role and urges the rest of the team to do so. Class act.

Although I don't want to see the Heat take it out, I'd be happy to see Payton get his elusive first ring.

[Matt]

I remember a certain Ron Artest having problems with Richard Hamilton.

Still, Billups offense is top notch and he can make any one his bitch, durin their championship run he embarassed Kidd a good few times. That was in 1-on-1 situations and not pick and rolls.

[noch]

finally the heat signed him...And yes watch out chauncey and rip because theres the so called the GLOVE!!!!

[Fenix]

finally the heat signed him...And yes watch out chauncey and rip because theres the so called the GLOVE!!!!

You have to be the best poster evah. And Payton's D was ALWAYS overrated and is still today, although he has clearly lost a step or thirteen. Billups will eat him alive.

[Indy]

I remember a certain Ron Artest having problems with Richard Hamilton.

That's why Ron Artest doesn't really guard Rip.

[GloveGuy]

finally the heat signed him...And yes watch out chauncey and rip because theres the so called the GLOVE!!!!

You have to be the best poster evah. And Payton's D was ALWAYS overrated and is still today, although he has clearly lost a step or thirteen. Billups will eat him alive.

Did you not read any of my posts? Did you ever see Gary Payton play defense from 1993-2001?

I remember a certain Ron Artest having problems with Richard Hamilton.

I remember a certain Gary Payton having won the Defensive Player of the Year award and being voted to the All Defensive team nine times. Artest's physical abilities are amazing, don't get me wrong, but mentally, he's not on the level of Payton, and is much better at guarding players one-on-one.

And I'm not saying that he won't have to work hard, but he won't have to work nearly as hard on offense, something that Artest has had to do over the years being the number two option.