Re: Up Tempo

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

Hi Josh

I thought the problem was that KA's definition of "up tempo" is
dribbling the ball to the key himself whenever possible, rather than
pass off earlier and let someone ahead of him run the break. KA is a
"dribble hog". Watching the Celts makes you really learn to appreciate
the value of great forward lob passers (remember Sherman Douglas?).
Sure, Dana Barros dribbles it up with impressive quickness but we all
know that isn't the fastest way to run the break (via the dribble).

Once it gets into a halfcourt offense, I find it very hard to nitpick
with Kenny's game as much as I've tried -- for example by seeing if
there is any obvious correlation between Kenny Anderson and the
disappointingly poor shot percentages of our big three scorers. I don't
KA blowing obvious pass opportunities, forcing bad passes into traffic,
or even forcing more jumpshots than is necessary to keep a defense
honest. Obviously, this guy really is remarkable at dribbling out of any
mess he's temporarily in. To say KA's having a career shooting
percentage year (.450) is almost an understatement. This is the only
reason you might say he has any trade value, although his 8 million
salary and lower scoring average negate this.

I wonder if the Celts would get more value in return if they agreed to
pay his full salary for an additional year, like Portland did. I assume
this is allowed.

Joe




_______________________________
Josh Ozersky wrote:

> You know, I never understood why a coach can't just
> say, "push it upcourt fast," and have the point guard
> do that.  I mean, if he can't do it, as with Billups,
> that's one thing.  But why can't Pitino just tell
> Kenny, "advance the ball as soon as you see a man up
> court."  I know that Kenny went and asked Cooz what he
> should do, and Cousy told him to penetrate with an
> idea to passing.  No shit!  Why won't Kenny just do
> these things that any point guard with a tenth of his
> talent already knows.  Why can't Pitino make him do
> it?
>
> Signed,
>
> Frustrated
>
> --- Way Of The Ray  wrote:
> >       Boston Herlad
> >
> >       Celtics keep up with the Jones
> >       by Mark Cofman
> >       Monday, April 26, 1999
> >       The Celtics announced before yesterday's game
> > against the Washington
> >       Wizards at the FleetCenter they had re-signed
> > Damon Jones to a second
> >       10-day contract. That came as great news to
> > the 6-foot-3 point guard, who
> >       promptly celebrated his good fortune with 15
> > points and six assists in the
> >       Celtics' 113-84 victory.
> >       Jones' point and assists were NBA career
> > highs, not overly significant
> >       when considering his NBA resume consists of
> > just 19 games. What was
> >       significant was the former University of
> > Houston star's overall standout
> >       play, the latest in a string of strong
> > performances to help a team badly
> >       in need of a late-season pick-me-up.
> >       ``My opportunity came as a result of other
> > people's unlucky breaks,'' said
> >       Jones, referring, of course, to the Celtics'
> > long list of injuries, most
> >       notably the pulled right hamstring suffered by
> > fellow point guard Kenny
> >       Anderson.
> >       ``I wouldn't be here if the Celtics hadn't had
> > this run of injury problems
> >       the last few weeks, but the only thing you can
> > do in that situation is
> >       make the most of it,'' Jones added.
> >       Jones has done just that, impressing Celtics
> > coach Rick Pitino during his
> >       eight-game tenure in Boston.
> >       Pitino had signed the former CBA star on the
> > recommendation of ex-Nets
> >       coach John Calipari, who had brought Jones to
> > injury-plagued New Jersey
> >       for 11 games earlier this season.
> >       Pitino, juggling his lineup to offset the
> > injuries, has not been
> >       disappointed.
> >       ``I really like this young man,'' said Pitino.
> > ``He's playing like he's
> >       hungry and he's doing a lot of things on the
> > court that I like.
> >       ``He's dribbling with his head up, he's always
> > looking to pass the ball,
> >       he runs the offense and then he's a very good
> > shooter to boot. He's got
> >       good size, and he's really hungry to make it
> > (at the NBA level). So if he
> >       doesn't make it with us, he will make it
> > somewhere. I think this is a
> >       great experience for him.''
> >       Jones would tell you as much. He talks about
> > the generous manner in which
> >       his teammates have embraced him, taking him
> > out to dinner and showing him
> >       around town. He talks about liking the passion
> > of fans in Boston.
> >       Mostly, though, he talks about making a
> > lasting impression on an NBA team.
> >       Preferably, the local NBA team.
> >       ``I love playing Coach Pitino's style and I've
> > enjoyed every minute of my
> >       experience here with the Celtics,'' said
> > Jones, the CBA's Newcomer of the
> >       Year this season with the Idaho Stampede.
> > ``(Pitino) tells you that if you
> >       keep hustling and play hungry, good things are
> > bound to happen.
> >       ``That's the attitude I have to take. That's
> > really the attitude this team
> >       has to take the rest of the way - like we're
> > battling for the playoffs.
> >       ``After the season's over, I'll see what's out
> > there for me. I don't know
> >       what the future will bring, but I'd love to be
> > back,'' he said.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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