Ok, Banks just arrived in Phoenix and is already causing controversy. That's the way to win friends and influence people, Marcus!! Now, the question in my mind isn't who is the fastest, but who is the most effective. Banks is fast, there is no doubt about that, but he rarely was totally under control and rarely looked to find the open man.

The Celtics have two pretty quick guards now who have replaced Banks after he was shipped to the Wolves. Rondo and Telfair are every bit as fast as Banks, if not faster. But the difference I see with them is that they play more under control and they look to direct the offense and find the open man rather than to set themselves up for the shot. Banks was always me first and never did seem to get the team first concept. He tended to pout when asked to put the team before himself and became a malcontent in Boston. Unless he changes, I expect the same to happen in Phoenix.

As for the Celtics' current PGs, Rondo impressed me in the SL games I watched. He is incredibly fast (I would say faster than Banks, but I guess I am a bit prejudiced) but he was always under control and always looking to set up the open man. I have read that Rondo can't shoot but either he has been working on it or the Denver game was a fluke because his shot looked pretty good there. Telfair is also very fast and also looks to find the open man and direct the offense but he didn't seem to have the control that Rondo did. From the reports out of Las Vegas, Rondo and Telfair became quick friends and so I don't expect any controversy or problems in Boston between their PGs. They will both work for the good of the team. Both just want to win.

It should be interesting to see how it all plays out in Phoenix, but I am quite happy that Banks is no longer here. He will cause division wherever he goes as long as he puts himself before the good of the team. It should also be interesting in Boston this year to see who wins the starting PG job and who emerges as the leader by the end of the year. I predict Telfair starting at PG to begin the season but Rondo being the starter by the end of the year. West will play mostly at the 2 but also back up at the 1 when needed. He may be a candidate for 6th man of the year. What do you think?

Barbosa vs. Banks The controversy may not end until the middle of Suns training camp in October. Amaré Stoudemire's comeback? No. Boris Diaw's contract extension negotiations? No. Steve Nash's hair length? No. No, everyone is waiting to see whether newcomer Marcus Banks really is as fast or, gulp, faster with a basketball than Leandro Barbosa. Nash's new backup didn't back down when he arrived last month to sign his five-year, $21 million deal, saying, "I'm a competitor, so I'm going to say myself." When Barbosa rolled through town last week to sign his five-year extension worth at least $33 million, Republic NBA writer Paul Coro informed him Banks had laid down the gauntlet. Barbosa smiled and his eyes widened with that "We'll see about that" look. "I think he's fast but not faster," Barbosa said. Barbosa's agent, Merle Scott, said he was talking to Banks two months ago in Miami when Banks made the claim that he was the league's fastest. "You might be one of the fastest but Barbosa is one of the fastest, too," Scott said. "Nobody is the fastest." source:AZCentral.com Discuss this topic on the Celtics Green Forums!