Re: Bucks Beat Press

["K. Kveraga" <6166kkver@umbsky.cc.umb.edu>]

- ----------
> From: damekmo@teleport.com
> To: celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Re: Bucks Beat Press
> Date: Sunday, October 19, 1997 1:45 AM
> I don't mean to be an alarmist, and believe me, I realise it's early and
> everybody is young and playing together for the first time, but...what if
> there's a perfectly good and obvious reason nobody in the NBA plays
> running, pressing, trapping basketball anymore? What if the players are
> just too quick and too athletic for a pressing and trapping defense to
> work? 

Last night Cousy said something to that end. I can't remember exactly, but it
was something like "you can get away with this stuff in college, but the NBA is
another matter". 

I mean...it certainly looks like the Celtics are going to give up as
> many easy baskets as they make. Now, I've only listened to these games on
> the radio (realaudio/WEEI) so I could be way off here, but it certainly
> seems like teams are getting way too many uncontested easy shots. So...is
> this true? But....sure, it has to be the youth and inexperience of these
> players right? The system is new, it's early, they're all
> confused...sure...nothing to worry about...right?
> 
> Paul M.
> 

I'm having my doubts, too. Kendall Gill's deficiencies aside, he may have a
point. Certainly, the full-court press could be effective, when applied
suddenly at certain points of the game against certain players (i.e., when the
opponent is tired, doesn't have good ballhandlers/passers on the floor at the
time, and the like). Playing everyone this way all the time will guarantee us
high odds of getting #1 pick in next year's lottery (which, nevertheless, may
be the smartest way to go, if you're willing to be patient). If winning more
this season is the object, I hope Pitino is smart enough not to have this as
the Celts' modus operandi when they start playing for real. This must be just
an exercise to see how all the new people do under such adverse circumstances,
how well they can withstand it physically, and how quickly they can catch on to
the system.  
He may even have said something earlier about applying it only selectively,
does anyone remember? 
Random thoughts: in the 4 games, Mills, Edney and Massenburg have not shown
much, and Brown, Minor, and Barros are pretty much their old selves, which is
to say,
nothing to write home about. 
Ray Allen is simply incredible... If Mercer/Billups become half the player he
is, I'll be happy. 

Kestutis Kveraga