Celts Murder Mavs: much to little

[JOzersky@aol.com]

Celts Murder Mavs

Bill Cooper asked me to fill in for him last night, and he couldn't have
chosen a better occasion -- a rare blowout of the hideous, rudderless Mavs.
 The game, as you all know by now, turned into the Dee Brown show by the end,
but it was marked by a genuine, if ragged, offensive cohesiveness and the
usual strident defense.

The first quarter was more the ragged part.  The mavs jumped to an early lead
as the super athletic Mike Finley, another Chicago wunderkind (though now
sans jeri curls), scored often and early from everywhere.  The celtics were
kept in it by the game play of Walter, who played like a madman, with spin
movies, dunks, and three pointers.  You know, in off years, guys like this go
number one -- i don't see the difference between Walter and Joe Smith except
in good ways.  Anyway, Chauncey played well, on one occasion faking out a
referee, and on another scoring a nice drive.  There some nice passes in
there, and if the team had shot better, a few more assists would be added,
though not to billups.

The second featured the mavs showing their true colors.  It's hard to believe
a Don Nelson team could be so unsound, or that Sean Bradley could be so bad.
 He couldn't score down low when defended only by Dee Brown!  I couldn't
believe it.  Awful.  We continued the way we had, only started hitting some f
the shots.  Travis looked sort of lost, but Chauncey was determined to show
Josh Ozersky that he was a point guard dammit, and made some nice passes
including one to a cutting minor that was truly "smooth."  The only down part
was that Antoine continued to play as if he had had his talent stolen by the
monsters in Space Jam.  On one awful play, he selfishly drove to the basket
despite open men on the wing and was rewarded with a Bradley block.  I think
he had something like three points in this game, and that on a set shot from
way outside.  yet as Tommy pointed out, "there's been plenty of opportunities
for antoine tot ake the fifteen footer in this game."  

The Third was where we really got it together.  Chauncey threw a nice alley
oop to twoine, and a nice feed to Andrew.  The celtics still have a
rudimentary offense, but when coupled with bad D and a bad O on the other
side, they can run up the score.  Everyone contributed -- Dee driving and
shooting, dana shooting and driving.  Imprecise but energetic passes for good
shots became so routine that at one point, at a time usually reserved for
dissection by the good Mr. H, he ignored play and began his "Mike, if you're
a big and tall guy like me" sales plug.

More of the same in the fourth.  Aside from Dee's outside shooting show,
which we can only hope will trick someone into trading for him  (said Willie
Maye, "was that your swan song?" in the interview afterwards), there was
plenty to enjoy.  Tyus Edney made a rare extended appearance, and it must be
noted that the offense ran much smoother with him in gear.  He got the ball
to big men where they could do something with it, as opposed to the
lightning, flashy bailout passes which are number 8 and Number 4's specialty.
 Even Bruce Bowen looked good on offense, shooting and driving and dribbling.

PLAYERS

Antoine:  horrible game.  circus passes that went nowhere, terrible shooting,
invisible presence on boards.  Just went on vacation completely.

Chauncey:  One of his best games yet, because he seemed to be trying to get
other people shots rather than himself, which although not his greatest
talent is what a pg is supposed to do.  Could have scored much more if he had
wanted to, but ended with a career high 13 assists.  Yes!  maybe we shouldn't
trade him after all.

Travis:  looked lost, although got some of his opportunistic shots, and set
some nice picks.  (Although afterwards I watched the lakers game and saw Shaq
setting picks for Kobe Bryant -- what a frightening combination.)

Dee:  big numbers, and good defense too.  Nothing you haven't seen before.
 Still got 80 percent of his points from out side.  I think he had like 19
going into the fourth quarter.

Dana:  another solid effort.  I thought it was poignant when in an interview
before the game, Dana was asked about his new all around skills.  Willie Maye
said something like "i didn't know you could spell defense," and Dana said
somewhat bittersweetly, "if I had had this kind of coaching earlier in my
career things could have been different."  An excellent ballplayer who just
happens to be little.  

Andrew:  hustle, some good rebounding, and even made a nice hook shot.  I
think he and Antoine are developing some chemistry.  By constantly hustling
around the hoop, he knows antoine can find him, and a lot of his points are
coming that way.  Dived into the stands after a ball.  

Minor:  extended outing, but he doesnt seem to be putting the ball in the
hoop much.  Chauncey hit him for that mid range jumper which used to be his
bread and butter, but he isnt' taking it much.  I suspect nobody knows to get
him the rock there, so rudimentary is our offense.  

Tyus:  short stint, no points, but really showed what a point can do.
 polished passes that bounced just right, where guys knew they were getting
them and got them where they could do somthing.  It's too bad dana is too
small for minutes at two, because Tyus really does a lot for the team's
offense.  Of course we were really in gear when he came in.

Ron:  Okay game for him, nothing new.  Missed some jumpers -- got the flu.
 Looks incredibly smooth and athletic though, with superb body control.  And
such a mature game!  What a find.

Walter:  see first quarter above.

Thomas:  still can't seem to make power moves to the rack.  Bounced in a hook
shot, but unless he is dunking or putting back a la Ken "the animal"
Bannister, he can't help us on offense.  Also picked up some fouls.

OPPOSITION PLAYERS OF NOTE

Bradley:  stinks.  not once but twice he couldn't score down low on dee
brown.  effective shot blocker, but has to be surrounded with big animals at
both forward spots who can score.

Finley:  A truly gifted athlete, a real monster.  Can hit from all over, can
dunk on you, and is a tiger on defense as well.  One of those "snubees" for
the all star team, but really an all pro caliber player.  Better for my money
than a lot of veteran "stars" on better teams.  Played so well that it seemed
at one point that some parquet Oswald had targeted him for assination, but it
turned out to be some mischievous tot with a laser gun.  (note:  what year is
this?)

Martin Muursep:  this "mystery man" the heat drafted when no one had ever
heard of him is very talented.  Tommy kept going on about the umlaut in his
name, and saying that it accounted for his excellence.  Playing in garbage
time didn't hurt either, but this guy is really good.  weird looking, but
good.  he hits his outside shots, drives, can dribble by Antoine Walker, and
looks to ram it home unless fouled.  Then when he's fouled, he hits his free
throws like a guard.  did I mention he's seven feet tall?


COACHING
Rick did something right today, or at least the scheduler did.  The Celts
wanted this badly after losing tuesday night, but they played poorly to start
with, and only Dallas' badness allowed them to get ahead to the point that
they could start gambling on defense, etc.  Probably the best thing I can see
is that he encouraged Billups to think pass first, and that lubricated our O
to the point where we could take advantage of a demoralized squad with only
one legitimate scorer and no bench.  

The celtics play this weekend in the all star rookie game, and in the all
star game.  If the stars are favorable, I could see antoine having a big
game, seeing as how he excels in chaotic, open court play.