Re: Not good

[opi@unesco.org]

Mike Dynon wrote:

> Pierce out at least two weeks
>
> (Associated Press)
>
> NEW YORK -- Paul Pierce's ankle swelled up overnight after he ignored a
> doctor's order to keep it wrapped, and coach Rick Pitino said Sunday
> that Boston's leading scorer would be sidelined at least two weeks.
>
> Pierce sprained the ankle at practice Saturday, and was originally
> listed as day-to-day. But after he removed a wrap that would have
> controlled the swelling, the injury worsened.

Hi Mike, geez I'm a bit curious how and why this info had to be leaked this
way. It seems to really put the blame squarely on Paul Pierce's shoulders.
It's not as if he removed the wrap in order to sabatoge the team and extend
his x-mas shopping time.

Assuming Pierce misses two full weeks, he'll be out for 7 games. Last year
Antoine missed 8 games spanning 13 days with what sounded like a very severe
sprain, then rushed back for the last two games with uneven results (13-37
shooting with 16 boards and 8 assists). Hopefully Pierce will return the day
after X-mas for the start of three Left Coast road games against the
Clippers, Sacramento and Denver. As you all know, the Celts are 1-6 (.167)
thus far on the road and may be 1-9 by the time Paul returns.

The Fakers game at the Fleet Center on the 20th is looking really bad right
now, unless Walker miraculously replicates the greatest 7 game stretch of
his career.

There was one period early in his second season when he led the Celts in
both rebounding and scoring an impressive 14 times in 15 games. A month
later in that season, he led the team in rebounding 25 times in 27 games,
including one stretch of 15 straight games leading or tied for the team lead
on the boards. Steady was the word in those days: Twon had "only" five games
with 15 or more rebounds (10 more with 13+) yet he managed to lead the
Celtics in rebounding 65 times overall in that 36-win season.

> On Monday, the Celtics will sign Jamel Thomas, the leading scorer in the
> CBA this season with a 20.0 average for Quad Cities. Thomas, undrafted
> last summer out of Providence, is shooing 54 percent from 3-point range.
> Another roster move will have to be made Monday to make room for him,
> Pitino said.

As I recall, Jamel Thomas was a disappointment in the one or both of the
pre-draft camps, for whatever reason. He is listed at 6-6 180 and had a
highly productive Reggie Lewis type 4-year New England college career.
Hopefully, lightning can strike twice with a second undrafted Big East
swingman and CBA star (after Griffin). The impressive thing is his 3-point
shooting, which was supposedly a weakness of his in college. The following
pre-draft scouting report that I'm pasting below comes from George Rodecker
for CBS SportsLine (who FYI was very positive in general in nearly all of
his player evaluations):

"Thomas was the picture of consistency throughout his college career. Even
when the team was without any legitimate chance to win games, Thomas rallied
the team and provided enthusiastic leadership through example. A fantastic
open floor runner with
thunderous interior finishing moves, Thomas has the ability to bring the
ball inside and create his own special brand of chaos. His ball handling is
average for a small forward and his perimeter game is not without room for
improvement. But it is in the overall package that Thomas jumps out at you.
He is a feisty competitor without any quit in him. He constantly battles for
loose balls and rebounds and never seems to tire. Some pro teams see a
project, while others see a solid bench player now - and an eventual key
contributor down the road. Not all that highly sought after, Thomas will
fill the niche of some team that snares him. A possible mid second round
selection who may pass all the way through the draft"

Go you Celts!

Joe


p.s. The Celtics need to beat Cleveland or Utah this week, but how is the
big question. And boy do they need a road win to break that 6 game losing
streak. Do you want to hear an interesting stat? The Celts are 0-6 thus far
on Saturdays and Sundays. Frankly, I think all of you guys out there aren't
concentrating enough worldwide positive vibes on our Celts once the weekend
rolls around. :-) I guess we expend all our focus and energy on those big
Friday night games (Miami, NY, Charlotte etc), where we are 5-1 so far. I
think we need to start pacing ourselves a little better. At least the San
Antonio rematch will fall on a Friday. :-)

p.p.s. For the record, I'm not quite as down and out on Antoinette Walker as
Jim Mennino or others may conclude. I've also seen Walker clank away at 30%
or only manage 5 boards in a game, yet at the same time pose many threats
and have a big impact on games. We Celts fans may dwell on the fact that
Toine can't seem to guard top power forwards, but, as Hubie Brown said in
one TNT telecast last year, it is conversely an even greater nightmare for
opposing power forwards to have to guard someone who does what he does. So
while I may be disillusioned and baffled by Antoine's 14 straight games (and
counting) without double-figure rebounding, I still laughed out loud at the
following line in Boston Sports Guy's otherwise thought-provoking article:

"Whatever. I say trade him. Now. Before it's too late. Get Toni Kukoc, get
Mo Taylor, get Theo Ratliff, get Chicago's #1... just get SOMETHING before
this thing spirals out of control."

I'm sure he just said it for effect. I'd call that a "slight" over-reaction
(where did he come up with Kukoc?), as well as an overestimation of the
talent on the rest of our roster relative to NBA playoff-caliber teams as a
whole. It seems to me that BSG reaches this conclusion not because Antoine
has peaked or lacks ability and desire, but because the Boston fans hate him
and will always hate him, for the time-being himself included. That's not
quite a winning argument.

****