Re: Post scoring?

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

Well, there are certainly successful offenses that don't
run their offense through a post player; most notably those
based on the pick and roll, or on a penetrating point
guard, or multiple screens for a shooter (Philly). 
"Inside-out" is only one way to play basketball. You have 
to tailor your offense to the personnel. Your opinion may
certainly differ but in my eyes, the Celtics personnel isn't
best suited for a steady diet of this sort of offense.

Some post players just aren't meant to have an 
offense run through them; you need a post player that 
has good hands and passes well as well as being a scoring
threat, which is something that all the players you mention 
have (Olajuwon, Sabonis, Mason). Personally, I just don't 
think Vitaly has what it takes to be this sort of player. 

I do think that Vitaly has some nice offensive low post
moves and that he should get the ball a fair share of 
the time. But honestly, I think you'll see him bust out
a low post move in an attempt to score, rather than 
create something with passing, unless they double team.
He's just not a wonderful natural passer or ball handler.
If he proves me wrong, that'll be wonderful. Still, to be
most effective, I feel like the Celtics are going to have
to employ a variety of offensive plays, including having
Kenny penetrate, exploiting individual mismatches with
Paul and Antoine, using Antoine's ability to create facing
the basket, and screening for Paul, as well as giving it
to Vitaly inside. 

Alex

> Well, Alex is smart, but he's wrong on this.  It's a
> mistake to suppose you need an all-star center to run
> an offense through.  That is the essential part of the
> center's role as the game is meant to be played.  Even
> if you center is Acie Earl, you should be moving a
> halfcourt offense through him.  He shouldn't be
> passing only on double teams, and he doesn't have to
> be a dominant scorer.  But he is like the catcher in
> baseball, and controls a major part of the action. 
> Vitaly is wasted just being used as horsemeat/goon
> work.  He needs touches more than most players, and he
> is very unselfish.  Watch how Anthony Mason passes out
> of the post, or Hakeem Olajuwon, and you will see what
> I mean.  If only a Sabonis can pass from the center
> position, then basketball is doomed.