Re: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V4 #64

[kjgoo <kjgoo@worldnet.att.net>]

Rhett Orcutt -- let me get this straight.  Felton Spencer, Eric Montross, Acie Earl (who, incidentally, is 
almost EXACTLY the same size as Duncan if you lop off that goofy fade) and Stojko Vrankovic are your idea of 
solid NBA players?  Regrettably, we've experienced the latter three in action, and as far as Spencer goes -- 
how's he doing with Mullin, Joe Smith, Latrell Sprewell, Marc Price, BJ Armstrong...  have I made my point 
yet? 

MBerry wrote:

<I posted the opinion that size still wins in the NBA, and I'll stand by it.
 The Pistons were among the most physical teams in NBA history, even if they
 did rely on guards for most of their offense. The Bulls are an exception in
 that their two best players are perimeter players, but remember, they didn't
 win championships until Horace Grant became a physical presence. They lost to 
 the Magic without Horace, then returned to the championship after signing Rodman
 the next year. He gives them a physical presence they need.>

Let's review -- the Pistons didn't have size.  The Bulls are an exception, and you're citing Horace Grant 
(who's 6'10" and relatively thin for a PF) and Rodman (6'8", 210!!) as the physical presence who made a 
difference.  You're also forgetting about the Rockets, who beat the Ewing/Oakley/Chas Smith Knicks one year 
with Olajuwon (and yes, he REALLY is only 6'10") and Thorpe (also 6'10"), and the Shaq/HoGrant Magic the next 
without Thorpe!  Leave out the Bulls, Rockets and Pistons and you have to go back to the 1988 Lakers to find 
an NBA champion with a 7'-plus dominant center -- and Jabbar was 41 at the time. It's not about size.  It's 
skill, determination and the ability to play as a team that win games in this league.  Need I remind Celtic 
fans that the championship-winningest team in NBA history was led by a 6'9" stringbean?  

Jason Huffman wrote:

<Well, the day is nearly here...I have tickets to the Pacers/Celtics
game at Market Square in Indy and once again I will go and hope they
can pull it off.  Ive been to several Pacer/Celtic matchup over the
years (because I live in Terre Haute, you know where Bird went to
college) and yet they never seem to beat the Pacers.

However, this year I think that the Celtics can do it.  Even though
they do suck, they have played the Pacers extremely well both times,
and if it were not for the Reggie buzzer beater in Indy, they would
be 2-0 vs Indiana.  The only thing that worries me now is that Mark
jackson is back with the Pacers, and they are playing extremely well.

Everyone wish me luck, there are usually only about 10 celtics fans
at these matchup and I'm always getting yelled at, but my Celtic
Pride will never die.>

Good for you, Jason!  As a New Jersey resident, I get to watch the Celtics play in THREE hostile arenas (the 
relatively bannerless Garden, Philly's CoreStates and our own Exit 16W), so I know all about that lonely 
feeling.  Keep that Celtic Pride burning and GO SYCAMORES!

Michael Gooen