Alligator wrestling

[jmc@ptc.com]

Ellie Cutler said:
> Did you all see Potapenko wrestle both the ball and Lorenzen Wright? 
> Tossed him right out of the ring. Our very own Hulk Hogan can also pass,
> shoot free throws (not to mention a decent jump shot), and knows how
> to run the pick&roll. I can't overstate how different things look with him in 
> the middle - the rest of the team is less frenetic and has more breathing
> room 
> to play their own positions. Yes, this was a *good* trade. Kudos to RP for
> getting him without giving up Walker/Pierce/Mercer. 

I agree with you, Ellie.  The thing I like most about Potapenko is how 
the ball never gets ripped from his hands, but he often strips other 
players of the ball.  Sheer fierceness and STRENGTH.  Once the ball's 
in his hands, it's not leaving until he passes or shoots.  The other 
Celtics have gotten stripped of the ball too easily in the paint, so it's 
refreshing to see Potapenko hold on to it like his life depended on it. 

He also has shown a nice shooting touch when taking a balanced shot.  
He often holds the ball high with his back to the defender, then in 
one motion pivots one foot back to face the basket, keeping the ball 
high so that his arms are already in shooting position, then just 
releasing before his defender realizes he was planning to shoot and not 
drive. 

One important effect which Dana Barros mentioned in his interview last 
night is that with Potapenko in there, the team is not double-teaming 
the other team's big man as much or as quickly, which means less scrambling 
and rotating to the open man, and fewer oppotunities for the other team 
to create layups with a couple quick passes.  Folks, this can make a TON 
of difference in conserving the Celtics' energy and playing better defense. 

Pitino said he was waffling on the trade for 2 weeks because he loves 
Andrew DeClerq so much, but finally gave in and made it, and he's glad 
he did, and gave kudos to the scout who has been pushing Pitino for the 
last several months to get Potapenko. 

Jon Mc