Re: Shaq Quotes etc.

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Although our pressing disrupted the Lakers somewhat, they merely toyed with
us. We killed them the 1st 1-1/2 minutes of the game with a 3-0 lead.
Actually watching these games makes you a believer that the Celts are out
of sync.

At 05:04 PM 12/21/99 +0100, you wrote:
>Below are quotes from Shaq in the Herald. Does anyone know what the heck
>an "outbreak, monkey defense" is? God I hate losing to those Lakers, and
>the fact that they walked all over us on our home court.
>
>"I knew Rick Pitino was going to make them play that outbreak, monkey
>defense,'' he said. ``He's been doing it all his life.'' (....) "They
>were pressing and doubling all the way back in the full court so by them
>doing that I was open and able to beat the double teams a couple of
>times. But my guys look for me. They have been looking for me all year
>and I just have to do the things I do best.''
>
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>
>
>Last night the Celts forced 10 more turnovers than the Lakers had been
>averaging coming into the game and we even held our own on the boards
>overall (thanks to an 11-6 lead on the offensive glass). The Celts even
>hit 83% on freethrows and were +8 in turnovers for 29 points. We had
>Kenny's best game of the season (21 points, 10 assists, 2 blocks, 2
>steals).
>
>You couldn't hope for anything more from our team, yet the Lakers still
>toyed with us. If we were at full strength, I wonder if we could have
>somehow held onto our 13 point lead in the 3rd quarter? We need some
>serious payback on the 25th of February, that's all I have to say.
>
>What a frustrating season. I'm trying to stay positive but if we lose to
>Atlanta in our last 20th century home game tomorrow night (Mutombo had
>28 points and 29 rebounds in a game last week), this losing streak could
>easily double to 13 games or so. Pierce and certainly Fortson might not
>be back for the Clippers road game (read: 1-9 Celts record on the road)
>on the 26th, then you have Sacramento at 8-2 and Denver at 10-3
>respectively at home, followed by Cleveland, New York and Sacramento
>again.
>
>Why do the Celts have to torture all their fans like this during the
>holiday season?
>
>Joe
>
>p.s. I watched a sequence of the win over the Knicks, where Antoine had
>an exceptional first quarter capped by a terrific steal followed by a
>no-wiggle three pointer. In the slow-motion replay of the shot (Couz or
>Heinsohn actually highlighted the "and NO wiggle, either" part), you
>could see a couple of distinguished elderly fans in the front row
>literally grimace in disgust after Walker made his shot and turned
>around to return to the bench (as though they were hoping he'd miss). I
>guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks. It seems like a few fans
>are conditioned to root for Toine to fall flat on his face. Seriously,
>I'd bet even Pavlov's dog would have snapped out of it for that moment
>and given Toine an appreciative paw or a friendly bark or something. I
>know some of this has been Walker's own fault in the past (I hate that
>he steals lunch money from children etc.), but  he seems to be doing
>noticeably less showboating and whining just as the fans are getting
>more confidently vocal and rude this season.
>
>I guess some locals this year are animated by disgust and bewilderment
>that Pitino would actually decide to keep an Antoine-type over a Ron
>Mercer. If the Celts were finally to trade Antoine for a pair of second
>round draft picks, I'd bet fan opinion polls would show a near 50-50
>split in support of the trade. Is that an exaggeration? In any case I
>agree with Mark Berry. The situation is just so untenable here in
>Boston. It is neither good for Antoine's game nor fair to the many fans
>who don't want to hear anti-Toine carping from the audience every time
>they attend a home game. Trade him to Philly and let him try to blossom
>out there. The rivalry hasn't been much fun anyway since Barkley left.
>
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