odds & ends

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

> If the C's are so offensively-challenged these days (w/out Pierce), why
the
> heck is Jamel Thomas getting DNPs?  If the team, down so many players, is
> going to have a hard time picking up a W, why not just put Thomas in and
> leave him there for a game or two?  It's not like Williams and McCarty
etc
> are suddenly gelling and we don't want to disrupt their flow.
> 
> comments from folks who've been watching the past few games?
> 
>  --Ellie

Despite watching the games I've got no good answer for this. You're not
alone in finding this a bit mystifying/frustrating. Even though Conlon was
(and is) a stiff he could at least have helped out against someone like
Kelvin Cato when Vitaly was down. The suggestion made by Mark Berry (Pitino
sees enough of Jamel Thomas in practice) sounds as good as anything I could
think up. 

> Having had a chance to catch up on some of my Celts game videos, my
> frank impression is that big things are still missing from Antoine's
> game but overall it is shocking how good he still looks to me at times,
> even if the stats clearly don't support this view. . . 
> 
> Joe

Thank goodness! Now you can put your considerable literary talents to less
"negative" use and get off Twon's case! ;) 

Personally, I think that this is the best year that Twon has had in the
league - he's playing much more in control and contributes to the team in
ways that simply cannot be captured by a comparison of stats from year to
year (in my opinion Jim M's post is the last word on the subject of Twon's
"disappearing rebounds" - well done! A similar argument could be made for
Kenny's "disappearing" assists).

Also, your comments on Twon's abilities to handle the ball highlight not
only what an asset he is to the team but also why I think he's so much
better suited to play SF where his open court skills would be maximized. I
find it hard to believe that Twon's talents are best utilized playing
wrestle-mania under the hoop on every shot. It's a shame we've had to wait
two months and until we played the team with the league's best record
before we got to see Vitaly, Battie and Twon out there together - and then
only fleetingly. I'd love to see them develop some on the court chemistry.
Perhaps this is another case where Pitino sees all he needs to see in
practice?

- Tom Murphy