Re: Spurs-Celts

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Good point. I've thought all along we have better talent than a coach so
far. Rickies pattern of subs and pressing will not get up past the better
teams. Is he sparing the starters embarrassment from getting creamed or
what? Leave them out there more and let them feel the heat, it's called
experience. 

cut
>
>As mentioned above, another consequence of Pitino's particular Bball
>philosophy is a reliance upon the bench. Rick didn't deviate from this last
>night as McCarty, Cheaney, Battie, Barros and Williams all went for big
>minutes in the first half long before the game was obviously lost for good.
>Many of them came away from the game with good stats (Eric W in particular)
>but this is skewed by the fact that the Bomb Squad also got the bulk of the
>garbage time minutes against the Spur's flunkies. Now although I can
>understand the logic behind Pitino's playing the bench extensive minutes, I
>am still amazed that ANY pro coach would insert a player of such marginal
>quality as McCarty (my latest whipping boy, as my wife well knows. . . )
>into a game 3/4ths through the FIRST quarter when the game is still within
>reach but rapidly spinning out of control. Bball is a very psychological
>game (Shaq at the FT line. . .) and the difference between playing 20-24
>minutes and being down perhaps 10-12 at the half versus only playing 12-14
>minutes and being down 24 seem pretty significant to me from a
>psychological standpoint. Resting starters for the stretch run only makes
>sense if there is going to be a stretch run rather than garbage time. But
>beyond the issue of resting starters, Pitino obviously feels that he has to
>take his best players out in any case because otherwise the players on the
>floor would not have the energy to be able to continue to implement his
>defense schemes. So once again a difference in philosophy dictates certain
>decisions - playing our scrubs significant minutes and playing them - in
>this case - when the game is on the line, that is to say, when the deficit
>was threatening to become psychologically crippling (not just for us but
>also for the refs, remember). These same considerations - and not
>necessarily the lack of a "killer instinct" - are what have prevented the
>Celts from completely blowing out - psychologically - opponents like
>Chicago early in games.
>
>A final comment on why last night's game does not "prove" that our
>frontcourt is in need of revamping. For one thing, for my money it was not
>the twin towers that beat us but the fact that the Spurs as a team and
>particularly the more marginal players stepped up to the challenge of
>passing the ball and making open shots. Secondly, our primary frontcourt
>players did not really play all that much, and not because they were
>limited by foul trouble: Pervis - 10 min 1 PF, Vitaly - 26 min 2 PF, Tony -
>20 min 0 PF!! Once again coaching decisions played a larger role than
>player shortcomings in determining the minutes and the final numbers, and
>even the numbers were not too bad considering the competition: combined our
>three centers shot 12-19 for 25 pts along with 12 rebs. Obviously, I'm
>overlooking a key problem: the Walker/McCarty vs Duncan/Rose match-up. But,
>once again, the blame for this match-up should not be laid at either
>players' feet since match-ups are a coach's decision - that's why Pitino
>gets the big bucks! I'll refrain from any further comment on Pitino's
>decisions concerning the PF spot since I've already flogged it to death in
>previous posts. ;>)
>
>So, in conclusion, the dimensions of our loss to SA are not necessarily due
>to the lack of competent frontcourt personnel but lie rooted in the very
>nature of Pitino's coaching philosophy. Pitino's philosophy can result in
>amazing successes, as demonstrated by his track record, but when not
>properly adapted to circumstances it can lead to blowouts and blown
>opportunities (Chicago). Whatever Pitino's philosophy, however, the Cs are
>still above .500 and Fortson's arrival should provide a good shot in the
>arm while alleviating some of the difficulties at PF.
>
>Best wishes, particularly to those traveling this holiday!
>
>-Tom Murphy
>
>PS: Why DID we sign Marty Conlon anyway? for practices? Because he's Irish?
>Maybe he can replace Lucky? ;>)
>
>