Re: blame game?

[Theresa Lee <tjoyce@mit.edu>]

Last night was one of the most frustrating for me as a Celtics fan and I've
watched almost every game for the past four years. It was so frustrating I
am thinking about taking some time off from watching them. I am drawn to
them like a moth to a flame, but my stomach literally can not handle
watching them play lately (it gets all cramped up around the third quarter
and I literally get mad and storm out of the room). I care way too much. I
feel helpless and they look helpless to stop the bleeding. WHY? I've yet to
figure it out completely, but there are a few things to point to.

1. Nagging injuries: Kenny and Paul are both playing on bad wheels. After
Adrian, they are probably two of the "higher b-ball IQs" on the floor.
Pierce gets hammered on drives to the basket and gets a call maybe one out
of two times. Kenny too, but he doesn't get the calls either. 

2. Antoine in the low post. I believe that is THE key to the C's success.
They win when he's down there. Last night Vitally started well, but only
with short and mid range jumpers. He rebounded well, but most of his
offense was jumpers. Then, he was taken out of the game and the team lost
momentum. Antoine couldn't get the ball in the post even though he was
trying. 

3. 100% effort, 100% of the time. It just doesn't happen. They are up to
about 75% right now, maybe 80% which accounts for being unable to put teams
away. Most of the wins come with a combination of a 85% effort of the C's
and an 75% effort by the other team. 

4. Man to man defense. We were told that they would be using this more and
more. It was successful the first few times out of the gate (even in some
losses), but it went to the dogs the past few games. I hate the trapping
because a decent passing team simply swings the ball the other way and a
decent shooting team converts the three. You feel it happening, see it
happening, but from the couch, I am as helpless as the poor defender
running at the guy. They slay me, those plays!

5. Coaching: this is the first time I have ever even thought to be critical
of the coach. Some of his substitutions really confuse me. Usually when a
guy is going well (which means he's giving it an all out effort) he is
taken out shortly thereafter (the exceptions being Paul and Antoine). It's
as if Pitino is rewarding the player with a rest rather than riding them
until they have no more to give. Fortson does need to play more AND he's
getting cheap fouls called on him. I am not an expert in this area and
hesitate to comment, but sometimes....

6. Barros: Anytime that Barros is put in the game.....count on losing the
lead not to mention the ball once or twice. What ever happened to Bing Bang
Boom Barros? Tommy said it best. If Dana is not shooting threes, why else
is he on the floor? To give Kenny a rest. That's it. We are in desperate,
yes desperate need of a legit backup point guard. I used to love Dana, but
I cringe when he goes in the game. Is there a magic force field that keeps
him from penetrating? He ALWAYS pulls up the dribble precisely at the three
point line. 

Don't get me wrong. I love the Celtics which is probably why I am so
frustrated. I begin each game with such hope and lately I've lost it along
with them somewhere late in the third quarter. 

What if they lose to the Clippers? Where will my hope come from? HELP!

Theresa


>How can someone blame Potapenko? The guy only ever gets to play half a game
>(and always draws the tough defensive assignment). He's having a great game
>and leading the team in scoring, so lets take him out and sit him down
>during the crucial 10-15 minute span during the 3rd and 4th quarters?
>
>The same goes for 'Toine and his post defense - it seems to me that the guy
>is doing all he can but he is simply overmatched (this has been a problem
>for him on offense too the last few games). For that matter, it's hard to
>blame any player for lack of defense in the "outbreak" scheme since they're
>all guarding two or three men. Could that be a reason why we are among
>league leaders in fouls and opposition FG%?
>
>And you are so right about Fortson. . . the poor guy's got to be scratching
>his head! Gee, I wonder why he is so "foul-prone" - could it be related to
>playing out of position at center? I thought that that was one of the
>primary reasons he wanted to leave Denver.
>
>And please, anybody, why does Pitino ALWAYS insist on having the smallest
>team on the floor? 
>
>These last few games have made me sicker than the flu has! It's just these
>kind of "inexplicable" losses (TWO career highs for the Grizz last
>night!?!) that can lead to an irrational desire to break up a young,
>talented and balanced core. I like the core of this team (VP, DF, AW, PP,
>KA, and AG) and would hate to see it dismantled simply because it has been
>mishandled or through senseless desperation.
>
>Thanks Joe for the dose of common sense!
>
>-Tom Murphy
>
>----------------
>Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 10:36:21 +0100
>From: opi@unesco.org
>Subject: Re: Griz Maul Celts: Vancouver (?) 111- Boston 103
>
>Bill Cooper wrote:
>
>>        Walker: after a very strong 2 or 3 weeks, Toine seems to be
>> drifting
>> again.  he did get 11 boards tonight, and had at least 3 offensive
>> rebounds for scores.  He also made some nice passes and ended up with
>> 7 assists (all in the first half).  But he didn't post at all, and
>> turned the ball over 7 times, while shooting 7-18.  And for the second
>> game in a row, he got beat up by a true low post player, as Harrington
>> went for 27 on 11-14, as Toine didn't event try to deny him the post.
>
>This could be Walker's fatal flaw as a power forward  (post defense).
>Maybe he's hinting to Coach Pitino that Fortson should finally be in their
>fighting low post guys in the paint. I don't know what Fortson needs to
>prove to finally get quality, extended minutes in Boston (2 fouls and 4
>boards in 9 minutes). If Eric Williams were to join Griffin on the IR,
>then the minutes will no doubt go straight to Waltah. I would strongly
>urge Fortson to get the hell out of Boston once this season ends. The guy
>is starting to rebound like crazy plus he's not shooting bricks (16-21 on
>FG so far). He must be wondering "what the hell else I'm supposed to do to
>get minutes?" We're getting mauled on the boards and he's sitting on the
>bench. He can at least help us as a 6-8 backup center this year, then next
>year go somewhere where he'll be used properly.
>
>> Potapenko: was the focus of a big promotion before the game (Shave
>> your head like Vitaly and get into the game for free).  Anyway, he
>> started the game fired up, and scored 12 points in the first quarter.
>> Naturally the effect wore off as the game went along and Vitaly got
>> into foul trouble.  Still had a more than respectable, 19 points and 8
>> boards in 23 minutes.
>
>8-13 with 8 boards in just 23 minutes is not entirely atypical of him. The
>kid averages just 23.7 mpg and only gets 7.1 shot attempts per game (with
>some strong, unblockable pivot moves and a .510FG%/.738FT%) yet we trash
>him for not putting up flashier numbers. Basically, he was a "ball hog"
>last night. Let's give him the damn ball once in awhile before we trash
>him as a non low-post threat. Potapenko is another young guy who would be
>much better off playing for any of the other 28 NBA coaches who don't play
>a bombs away, headless-chicken outbreak. I know Bird covets him. I wish
>Bird would just come home.
>
>The only positive thing about losing consecutively to a 4-26 and 9-24 team
>is that this speeds up Gaston's decision to buy-out the 6 million-a-year
>coaching contract. The problem is that Bird (and Ainge) most likely won't
>be available next year. Maybe Cowens or Lenny Wilkins (he deserves to
>finally be around good locker room characters instead of the Ike Riders of
>the world) will be available.
>
>I'm just daydreaming though. In the real world, the smooth talking white
>boy will stick it out and some of the key young players (beginning with
>Fortson) will be the one's that go.
>
>Still grumpy despite two great days on the street.
>
>Joe
>
>----------
>