NRe: Great Game

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Hi Mishra:

Yes, I also hoped for a timeout from Pitino in the last 30 seconds of the
Indiana game, not only to set a play but to calm everyone down. I had a sure
feeling that even a veteran team would have rushed the shot and blown it (in
this case Antoine getting stuffed by Davis).

Additionally, Antoine could have had an uncontested dunk or layup off that pass
if only he applied his court sense. In a similar situation, both Bird and McHale
would have thrown the head fake and sent Davis flying out of the picture. I
actually think both guys would have instinctively used that fake even back when
they were rookies. I don't know if this is a question of innate "court sense" or
simply a matter of teaching young Walker to employ an occasional head fake. It
makes me wonder, though! Of course, maybe Antoine simply avoids the head fake
out of a (rational) fear that road refs won't EVER call that sort of foul in his
favor, even if the defender comes crashing down on him on his way up.

BTW, I was also upset about Pitino's delay in sending a well-rested Vitaly back
in to defend the Dutchboy in the Paint halfway through the fourth. By the time
Vitaly re-entered the game, Smits was already in a zone from pummeling Eric
Riley throughout that period. Remember that from midway through the first
quarter onwards, Dutchboy was virtually invisible thanks to the Train's
excellent defensive effort entirely without the aid of a double team. Indiana's
shooters IMO really exploited our pathetic double teams in the fourth, caused by
our weak interior defense.

Additionally, I think the Ukraine Train did a good job of boxing out in both the
Detroit and Indiana games. Thus even if the guy never approaches his 10rpg cash
incentives (no reason to think he will), he will still help overall team
rebounding just by consistently sealing off one-third of the paint. Judging by
his hustling attitude so far and his fluid/quick offensive movement (not
necessarily polished), Vitaly may be just as productive (for at least 6 years to
come) at about half the cost of Philly's starting center. In the end, if it's
really a center that we're after then IMO we are better off with Vitaly than a
1999 lottery pick (even assuming the draft is strong at OTHER positions).
Besides, we're going to the playoffs this year.

The one silver lining of the Indiana game is that Bird's boys gave me a clear
impression they can clobber the immature LA Flakers if they meet in the finals.
What a methodical yet devastating fourth quarter comeback! They made it look so
easy and inevitable.

Also, when they zoomed in on AW walking dejectedly off the court, you could see
he looked like he was near tears (am I exaggerating?). That image surprised me
because up to that moment I was kind of satisfied to see that the Celts had at
least made a game of it. That showed me (once again) that this team is NEVER
going to get used to losing. Next year we won't lose games like this one. I'm
sure of it.

****
skmishra wrote:

> I think you are right, and it appears that the team was trying too hard in
> the fourth quarter. They missed some very easy shots. I was wondering with
> 36 seconds left and Indiana up by 2, why didn't Pitino call a time-out to
> put in a set play..were we out of time-outs ? Great game though. - Mishra