RE: 3 major weaknesses

["John Lyell" <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

It is a common concept when trailing to try to get the lead down under
double digits with a quarter to go, it gives you somewhat of a psychological
victory. Once again tonight the second unit stunk it up big time gives up a
big lead. We have to make some moves, they have no offensive threats. I will
take a guy like Rider who can put the ball in the hoop , but might be weak
at defense before this group. I do not think they can do either.  Any chance
on getting Jeff Sheppard back from Europe ? At least he can shoot.


Last two games we have been outscored 61-31 in the 4th ! We really have to
work on our ball movement, and teach people to take advantage of mismatches,
but with this second team maybe we don't have any. Anderson is the only
guard that seems to know how to penetrate and kick the ball out to the open
man. Hey, but at least we got the youth going for us, whatever that is worth
!

I thought Pervis played a decent game, VP pretty invisible, but Mutombo  put
up big rebound numbers again, and Rider was open a lot, but hit some tough
shots also.







-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
Dan Forant
Sent: Saturday, November 27, 1999 9:57 AM
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Re: 3 major weaknesses


You got my vote for coach. We have some bench players that would have a
hard time starting in the CBA. No one in the NBA wants them unless we
package them with someone worthwhile and we're not willing to do that.(yet)
What other team out there do you see the coach throw weak players en masse
to the wolves? Carl said he was confident last nite, I can understand why.
Our coaching staff doesn't know what the hell it's doing. No regular
working plan and we're 13 games into the season.

At 11:25 AM 11/27/99 EST, you wrote:
>The Celtics have 3 major weaknesses. One is immediately correctable and one
>is correctable over time. Because Pitino hasn't recognized one weakness, he
>has lost us some games:
>
>1) 2nd unit. Pitino continues to attempt to play 10 players. Dana, Cheaney,
>Williams, Walter and Battie. This has been his style and uses it as a
>pressing team. This unit is built for the press and defense. However, this
>unit hasn't played or pressed much. Why? Because they have no offense. They
>either have to build their offense off steals off the press or they have
>nothing. They stand around until Dana or Walter takes a three. Erik
Williams
>is hit or miss and they don't use him as a designated option. Cheaney makes
>you wonder if he ever had a shot. Why is Overton good enough to play with
the
>first unit and not the second? I don't like him shooting so much but he is
10
>times better than Dana in running an offense. Pitino has to make a choice.
>Either get Dana out of there or cut back on your rotation and melt your
>second team in with your first. When Fortson comes back, things will change
>again but that is still a month away. We have watched Dana fail at point
>guard for 4 years now. When is Pitino going to get it!
>2) Defense among the starters.  Other than Griffen, no one is a good
>defensive player. Actually, Walker, Anderson and Pierce are poor defensive
>players. We will always be hurt defensively against teams that are strong
in
>the frontcourt while Walker is playing the four. We are also hurt when we
>play teams that have more than one weapon at the 1-3. The Bucks weapons
have
>weapons at the 1, 2 and 3. I don't know what a person can do about making a
>person a better defensive player if they just don't have skills. However,
>Pierce should be better than he is with those long arms. I don't know if
>Fortson will help defensively in the frontcourt but he will help immensely
on
>offensive rebounding, something we haven't had much of since he got hurt.
>Getting an offensive rebound when things aren't going your way can really
>give your team a boost. However, overall this is something we will have to
>live with.
>3) Taking what the defense gives you. This is something both Pierce and
>Walker have to learn. If a team if doubling you, someone else is open. Both
>players feel that they can or have to score when doubled. You can't let
>yourself get into this mentality. You have to be thinking what you are
going
>to do when the double comes. You have to trust your teammates that they are
>going to make the open shot. YOU HAVE TO FORGET THAT YOU HAVE ONLY SCORED
SIX
>POINTS SO FAR IN THE GAME. It's the next level on the way of being a
>championship player. This is correctable over time but the player has to
want
>to do it. I think both Pierce and Walker want to but we will suffer along
>with them until they understand it fully...
>
>DJessen33
>
>
>
>