Our little secret is starting to get around

["Jim Meninno" <jim_meninno@hotmail.com>]

I went to on-hoops to see if the registration is open for fantasy hoops yet 
(it's not.  Isn't it the second week of the season down under?), and noticed 
the two most recent articles.  One was about how the Raptors are much 
improved (didn't we just kick their asses?) and the other was about Adrian 
Griffin.  Of course we already knew it here, but it's nice to see him 
getting some (inter)national attention.

Jim


  The Man's Name is Adrian Griffin

November 9, 1999, Greg.

Chuck's Note: This is Greg's orgasmic ode to the newest Celtic find, the 
NBA's answer to Kurt Warner...
The Celtics are going to make the playoffs.

No, I'm not high and I'm not a homer who would say that even if a ham 
sandwich were in their starting five (something M.L. Carr considered during 
his tenure). I'm saying that because the Celtics made what might be the most 
significant roster move of the offseason:

They found Adrian Griffin.

Last year's Player of the Year (CBA player of the year), Seton Hall product 
Griffin had two years of minor league hoops and a cup of coffee with Miami 
last year before sticking with the C's this summer. He's now the starting 
small forward and believe me, he's worth moving Antoine Walker to Power 
Forward and Paul Pierce to Shooting Guard and keeping them there. He's that 
good.

Here's his statline from the Celtic's 103-100 win over Charlotte:

Minutes: 40
FG: 3-7
FT: 2-2
Rebounds: 10 (3 Offensive)
Assists 6
Pts: 8
Steals 5

The stats are mind boggling. He scored eight points and completely dominated 
the game on both ends, creating easy shots for his team, getting steals, 
leading everyone in rebounds, and generally being in exactly the right place 
at exactly the right time. After four games his name is now a cliche for the 
game announcers: "Guess who made that steal/rebound/pass." In the Charlotte 
game's final play, Griffin stripped Eddie Jones who was posting him up for 
what would have been the winning score. Oh, and for the hell of it, he also 
took Eddie off the dribble for a layup when the half court offense broke 
down.

Griffin led all players in minutes played, playing forty minutes in this 
game. That's seven more minutes than Paul Pierce and eleven more than 
Antoine Walker. Remember, both of those guys play small forward as well as 
they play anywhere else. The Celtics also have Walter McCarty (six 3's in 
the Toronto game) and Eric Williams (20 points in 18 minutes in the 
Washington game) who play the small forward slot. Griffin isn't playing 
because coach Rick Pitino has no choice. Griffin is playing because he's 
giving Pitino no other logical choice. Griffin's stats in the Charlotte game 
is no fluke. He's done it in every game he's played. He's played against 
Vince Carter, Eddie Jones, Jalen Rose and Mitch Ritchmond so far and has not 
been outscored yet.

The Celtic's fans are now blessed. Get ready for endless Griffin highlights 
on Sportscenter (CN: Please God, no. We like Vince Carter better). Not 360 
tomahawk dunks or alley-oops or off balance three pointers. Griffin's 
highlight reel will consist of wrestling rebounds from the tall people, 
taking the ball away from shifty point guards, and making the pass which 
leads to the pass which gets Antoine a dunk.

Adrian Griffin is as smart a basketball player as I've ever seen and I'm 
absolutely loving the game right now. It's beautiful basketball. Not a New 
York Knicks 73-67 thugfest, but the free flowing, intelligent game that 
David Stern has been dreaming about. When they write the definitive book on 
how to play basketball, put Adrian Griffin on the cover.

President and CEO, Adrian Griffin Fan Club,

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