RE: Nice Bulpett Article

["Sampath, Venkatesh" <Venkatesh.Sampath@microcell.ca>]

Joe, Bulpett hasn't really said anything that the members on this list don't really know. The reason we have lost so many games in the fourth quarter is that we've been outsmarted mentally time and again. Putting a game away isn't as simple as it sounds - especially when you are leading. You lose your concentration, your arrogance builds up, you think you've *shown* enough to win (when you still have a whole quarter to go), etc., etc. This team has a tendency to start playing for the video highlights at the beginning of the fourth quarter when they should actually be playing conservatively to keep their lead and shut the opponents out. 
Impatience is something everyone is guilty of - the players, the fans (including those of us on this list who keep calling for trades without waiting for this team to gel) and myself. We all want this team to get somewhere in a hurry but have somehow forgotten that the Celtics sucked for years - even before Reggie Lewis's tragic demise. When you think about it, who did we try to draft or trade for to get replacements for the Big Three (and I'm not suggesting we should have traded for them)? Bird and McHale, not even close. For Parish, we drafted Acie Earl and Eric Montross!!! In any case, that's a road down which it's pointless trying to go. Thank goodness we've turned things around a bit with the drafting of Walker (and that too, was luck, because if you remember, Carr was bemoaning not being high enough in the draft to get Camby!!). Our getting Paul Pierce was equally lucky, but hell, after Bias and Lewis, it was high time the luck changed. 
So the team might have blow-outs this year, just as they might have spectacular wins. But for once, at least on paper, I can sound confident about going into a game with just about any team except perhaps the top five. Which means that this year is going to be a roller-coaster ride with profound frustration at seemingly inexplicable losses combined with some exhilirating wins. Hopefully, next year at least, our getting into the playoffs will be taken for granted. 

venkat



-----Original Message-----
From: opi@unesco.org [mailto:opi@unesco.org]
Sent: 06 January 2000 05:26
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Nice Bulpett Article


C's need a head of steam
Celtics Notebook/by Steve Bulpett
Thursday, January 6, 2000

If the Celtics didn't have the talent and simple physical ability to be
better than 13 wins in their first 30 games, we wouldn't even be having
this conversation. But after watching them struggle and lose  to poor
teams (Chicago and the Clippers) and fail to keep their last-quarter
wits in New York on Tuesday, it is clear that the main Celtics problems
reside above the shoulders.

And while they are still well within a win streak or two of the playoff
race, one can expect the frustration to grow if defeats like the one to
the Knicks are repeated. It was there in slices in the visitors'
dressing room at Madison Square Garden.

``We're playing against a team ready to be beat, and we couldn't see
that,'' Kenny Anderson said after toughing out the second half on a
strained left hamstring.

``We're a young team, but we can't just keep using that as an excuse.
How long are we going to use that? It's getting ridiculous. At a certain
point, you have to just go out and do the things that win you games.''

That certain point is now, but there is room to wonder whether the Celts
are aware.

It was Rick Pitino who said he told his team ``they have the best
attitude of any losing team I've ever seen.''

Or maybe the Celtics don't know enough to have a bad attitude, for their
judgment must certainly be called into question. To watch them go away
from their passing game is to watch a collective basketball suicide. It
is not a sight for the young and impressionable, and one can easily
imagine parents covering the eyes of their children when the Other Celts
appear.

This is not three years ago when the Celtics were overmatched against
most teams. There are players here now, all with decent lists under the
``positives'' heading. But each, it seems, has a flip side that
manifests itself at the most inopportune of times. And we're not just
talking about Antoine Walker here.

Paul Pierce has a wonderful game at both ends of the floor, but he
can't leave the offense to fire up a quick jumper just because the ball
hasn't come his way in a while.

Adrian Griffin has been the NBA find of the year, but he needs to look
for his own shot a little more to keep defenses honest.

Vitaly Potapenko has a delectable dagger in that short jumper from the
baseline, but he has to stop putting the ball on the floor in traffic
(and he has cut down on this of late).

Anderson is having a terrific year, but he has to understand that
possession of the ball is nine-tenths of NBA law. If a mate is straying,
tell him he's not going to see the ball.

Tony Battie can be an even better force than Marcus Camby, but he has to
be satisfied with rebounding and defense on nights when his shot is off
or he's not getting the ball.

And then there is Walker. He has capabilities that should make him a
special player, but his lack of patience results in silly jumpers and
drives into heavy traffic. (Referees don't give calls when it bails a
player out of an out-of-control move.) The Celtic world would be a
better place if Walker would adhere to the rules of the position he is
playing at a given time. If he's at power forward, he needs to pass the
rock and get inside to wait for either a feed or an offensive rebound.
If he's playing small forward, then he can be more liberal with his
jumper - with Danny Fortson or Battie there to forgive some of his
errant attempts.

After watching Walker go for 32 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in
Monday's victory over Cleveland, Pitino said, ``Antoine is not only
getting himself into great shape and playing terrific basketball, but
he's a very, very bright man. That's why when he does some things that
you don't consider looking good, it's hard for me to fathom because he
is so bright.''

The fathoming was difficult, indeed, when Walker went 13 points
(0-for-5 on treys), six boards and one assist in an eight-point loss the
next evening.

The bottom line is that the Celtics still have their playoff hope in
their hands. The question is whether they can bring themselves to do the
right thing with it.



 Celtic legend and general cool guy Bob Cousy is behind a Jan. 23
fundraiser to help build a memorial for the Worcester firefighters who
died recently.

On that date, the Holy Cross men's and women's basketball teams will
play in a doubleheader on campus, with each $15 ticket going toward the
fund.

In addition, there will be a reception at which fans can mingle with the
Cooz and other sports celebrities such as Jim Lonborg. Tickets for the
latter are $100.