Bullets, Wizards... Makes No Difference in Celtics Win

["dan.p" <dan.p@MCI2000.com>]

A great win tonight for the Celtics, who trailed most of the game but
managed to stay close throughout three quarters.  The hard work paid off
with a great run in the fourth and the C's put away the Wizards for their
second win in a row.  Welcome to the Celtics roller coaster.

I found myself rooting extra hard for the Celtics after some classless play
by a couple of the Wizards players, particularly Webber.  There was one
play in particular where there was a scramble for the ball with Bruce Bowen
and Bowen hit the floor and Webber laid it in or dunked and just stood
there glaring at Bowen.  What a chump.

I can certainly appreciate the roll of intimidation in basketball, and the
Celtics certainly have had their share of guys who knew how to use words
and body language quite effectively.  But the Celtics and Wizards of today
are two young talented teams trying to reach the next level.  With a lot of
hard work and smart play, both teams could be powerhouses for the next
couple of years.  Chris Webber is acting like the opponent doesn't deserve
to be on the court with him and he hasn't proven a thing except that he can
rack up gaudy numbers and lose lots of games.

On a different dunk he was looking over at his bench smiling and yukking it
up.  Meanwhile guys with no reputation for being speed demons are blowing
by him on defense (Bowen had a particularly nice move, and he didn't even
bother to glare at Webber afterwards).  Strickland looked bored.  There was
one play with the ball going out of bounds and I thought with a little
effort he could have gotten it.  Certainly if he had dove after it.  The
look on his face said it all - it isn't worth it.  But, hey, they don't put
wins and losses on paychecks, y'know?  Webber will become the next Derrick
Coleman - the public isn't far from turning on this guy.

Walter McCarty discovered a jump shot (he hit three big ones down the
stretch... he doesn't have three point range but within 18 feet he's not so
bad) and Andrew DeClerq turned in some inspired play.  I would have never
guessed he had such a good touch near the basket based on his preseason
games.

Would the people who predicted the Celtics would win *fewer* games than
last year like to revise their predictions?

D Parker