Re: Tommy is getting critical

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

I think his lack of a more impressive rebounding statline can be attributed
to the emergence of Adrian Griffin who has done a fine job as a rebounder,
as well as bringing an educated all-round game to the fore.  It appears that
the stat driven will make a case based upon whatever stats they want to use.
Battie, to a small extent, and Pierce when healthy, would also contribute on
the boards.  I don't think this team has gotten crushed on the boards too
many times this year and that is of more importance than personal stats.
You mention Fortson's absence and neglect Pierce's absence, hinting that the
team needs him to rebound more as a result of not having Fort's presence.
He may be trying to bring a more well-rounded game to make up for the
difference of both of them right now.  Pitino mentioned that Toine should be
averaging 8-9 boards per game.  I'd be happy with that, but when Fort suits
up, I'd be happier with a higher fg%.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: <opi@unesco.org>
To: Cecil Wright <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>; <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 9:53 AM
Subject: Re: Tommy is getting critical


> Hi Cecil,  but Antoine's been a perimeter player on offense pretty much
all his
> career (he's actually playing traditional power forward for the first time
this
> year). In fact, he attempted 292 three-pointers in his second season.
>
> He's fallen off 27% in his defensive rebounding this season, and that's
not
> peanuts. Do you see Antoine taking off early for cherry picking season
(like a
> James Worthy)?
>
> I don't. There is a significant drop-off happening, and it overshadows all
the
> things he's doing better this year as a team player. If you could clear
your
> memory banks and just judge Antoine based on this season to say, you'd see
a
> player who maybe many things but certainly not very "selfish" (he passes
off
> once nearly every trip down the court, he sets screen after screen for his
> teammates). The problem is no longer that he can't fit in as a team player
(I
> don't think we should worry for a second about this issue).
>
> The problem is that he's having an horrible shooting year along with a
massive
> dropoff in rebounding production (just when his teammates desperately need
him
> to step it up with Fortson out). To be an apologist about Antoine's play
this
> year is IMHO pretty equivalent to admitting that he's just an average NBA
> forward in the end.
>
> It could well be that Antoine's just an average (6.9 rpg) big guy with a
> substandard shooting touch. But this also means he was just incredibly
"lucky"
> to pile up 836 rebounds a couple of years ago. We SHOULD expect more from
> Antoine. Granted my "Antoine is a girlie-man" thing is totally childish,
but at
> least I insist that Toine be more of a menace on the boards so long as
he'll
> keep putting on the green and white uniform and walking through the
tunnel.
>
> In our 36-win season, I believe we would not have blown the 13-point
> third-quarter lead against the Fakers (Antoine BTW had 5 rebounds and 2
assists
> for that game). I know Antoine did his "best" under the
circumstances...it's
> just so frustrating to lose at home to the Lakers. Los Angeles may be hot
stuff
> right now, but all they achieved on Monday was to narrow the overall
series
> deficit to 107-144, not to mention 2-7 in NBA finals and 0-4 in decisive
7th
> games. I hope those guys had fun beating our undermanned Celts team,
because
> next time we will deliver a lot more bruises and whup-ass cans in a
payback win.
>
> ---------
> Cecil Wright wrote:
>
> > I have been avoiding this conversation on purpose, but I will say this
> > AGAIN.  How can Toine be expected to increase his rebounding from the
> > point/forward position?  He is spending increasing amounts of time in
that
> > spot and some individuals want his rebounding numbers to rise.
Impossible
> > if things stay as they are.  He is making an abvious effort to include
more
> > of his teammates in the plays.  He is playing absent Pierce, Fortson,
VP's
> > playing injured, as is Griffin and McCarty.  WTF!
> >
> > Cecil
>