Re[2]: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V6 #62

[mberry@journalink.com (Mark Berry)]

I'll say this on Sprewell: He's a good player. Somewhere along the line, his 
reputation far exceeded his actual ability. He is a player who needs the ball a 
lot to get his points. He's a streaky shooter and used to be a great defender. 
Now he's better than average, but not great. He was abused by Jamal Mashburn 
Sunday, and probably will be by the league's bigger small forwards. I guess it's 
a variation on the idea that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." The longer 
he was away, the better he got. The Knicks aren't nearly the team they were a 
year ago. They will get killed most nights on the boards, and Sprewell's need 
for the ball will hamper their best offensive perimeter player, Allan Houston. 
Also, they are woefully weak at point guard with Charile Ward and Chris Childs. 
But they don't seem to have a lot of tradeable commodoties to improve, either 
(unless they trade Houston). I see an aging, flawed team when I watch the 
Knicks.


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Subject: RE: The Boston Celtics Mailing List Digest V6 #62


From:    Daniel Pelletier <dlp@philabs.research.philips.com> at Internet


Date:    2/8/99  2:56 PM





>>>To compare Spreewell to McCarty is quite a stretch since he is a very
solid defender and has consistently put up 20 per game <<<
I've watched him now through 4 games, certainly not enough to pass final
judgement, but:
1)      He is not a consistent shooter.  He can get hot and he can throw
complete garbage, including airballs and shots that are no more than
prayers.  Overall, I'd say his shot selection was terrible and extremely
ill-advised, given the other players he has on the floor.  20 points and
a .43 shooting average means he's throwing up about 23 shots a game.
Let's see if Walter can't score 20 with that many opportunities.  The
point is he was the best player on a bad team which has a tendency to
pump up one's numbers.  
2)      He is an undisciplined defender.  Yes, I've seen him bounce
around and make quick moves to make some impressive defensive plays.
But fundamentally, I've seen his man get by him time and time again.
This also seems like Walter, if you ask me.  
>>>We may be closer to passing by the Knicks than anyone thinks.<<<
Unless I'm mistaken, they're already in the rear view mirror.  Now all
we have to do is keep them there.

Dan