Re: Shaw game review

["Josh Farber" <nbaj2k@home.com>]

I  think Clack is a great defensive player!  he really showed his stuff with
a block or two and a bunch of steals.

I agree with you about Bergeson, but he didn't seem to play much.

Moiso seems too dependant on his left hand. The one time he went right, he
got stripped.  He had a lot of nice blocks though

I agree totally about Pepe Sanchez.  He looks so smooth and at the minimum,
he's a real steal.  We've got to try to get him.  He's probably only playing
with Philly because Temple is in Pennsylvania!

I really wanted to see Rush play.

I liked how Jerome Aleen pushed the ball, but he really started shooting too
much!

Mills seemed awkward to me.

The game was way too slow with all the fouls.  It really wasn't pretty.

What's someone else's take on the game?

Josh Farber

----- Original Message -----
From: Joshua Ozersky
To: celtics
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2000 11:00 PM
Subject: Shaw game review


Well, I just got done watching the one Shaw game most of us will see.  I am
seething because
the power-mad worthless referees decided to turn the affair into a free
throw shooting contest.
There was literally a foul on every possession for both teams.  What a
horrible game to have as
your one offseason treat.  Even a goodly supply of Kozy Shack pudding and
beer couldn't make
it better.  OK, with that off my chest, here are my impressions of the
players.

I read the very positive things that were said about Jerome Allen and David
Vanterpool coming in,
but both guys are flatout scrubs.  I'm sorry, but there's no other way to
put it.  Neither could penetrate
or distribute; both held up at the top of the key, waiting to be relieved of
the ball on each possession.
Neither could hit anything, and both were unimpressive defenders.  I won't
lose any sleep on either of
them being missed.  In fact, I'll be glad to see the back of them.

Jerome Moiso is the real deal, however.  He is a truly dangerous shot
blocker, incredibly quick off his
feet, and a truly fluid and natural scorer on the other end.  He wasn't able
to go to his right hand at all,
but then every time he got the ball he or someone else was immediately
fouled, so this was not conclusive.
But you can see how wrong we all were to think of this guy as a wasted pick.
I am definitely impressed.
Mark Blount was also a genuine NBA talent, a must-have as a free agent
reserve.  The bush league announcers
ESPN dug up to cover the game obviously didn't know a thing about any of the
players, and spent most of the
game rehashing rumor and received wisdom from last month's NBA columnists;
so they passed along the info
that Mark Blount was 6 foot 10.  But he has grown since he was drafted out
of Pitt, and is clearly now around
7'1", or that's what Leo Papile says -- and I believe him.  This guy can
block shots.  He's a better shot blocker
than Moiso, at least at this level, and an aggressive rebounder as well.  He
also has some touch around the basket,
and he's no stringbean either.  He's a real he-man, and the idea of him
playing alongside Moiso and/or Battie is
VERY appealing.

Kris Klack is strong and can jump high, but doesn't look like much of a
player to me.  His shot is shaky, and he
didn't seem to be making much of an impact on defense.  The swingman who
really impressed me is Roberto Bergersen.
This guy is big, fast, and has a lot of finesse talent.  He's very
aggressive, a good shooter, and I don't see much difference
between him and Tariq Olivier St Jean, to tell you the truth.  Maybe his
flaws would be more apparent on closer viewing,
but he really strikes me as a player.  He's like a more athletic Rick Fox; I
like him a lot.  Silas Mills has some nice skills,
is aggressive, and knows how to play, but Bergersen made much more of an
impression.  Nobody else stood out.  Oh,
JaRon Rush didn't play, another gift of Celtic good fortune for viewers.

Oppostion player of note:  Pepe Sanchez is unreal.  The guy dominated on
offense and defense nearly every minute he was
in.  In his first six minutes, he had three steals and three assists.  I
don't care if never shoots a basket, he is a true point guard
of the kind that are born and not made, and we need him in Green tomorrow.
Philly is booked up at the one spot, and some
lucky team is going to get this guy for the minimum.  He is a major talent.
He's not stone cold, either; he hit an open 20 foot
jumper.  I think it's madness that he's looking for a job.  The whole game I
felt that familiar constipated feeling, the pain of watching
halfcourt basketball leading to isolation contested jumpshots.  Basketball
is meant to be all about passing, and that dimension
of the game is held hostage to the selfishness and incomptence of modern
point guards.  Sanchez is a throwback, a Cousy/Stockton/Cheeks type player
who also happens to be a hard-nosed big defender.  Seriously.  If Vanterpool
or Allen get a job ahead of him, I have to figure he has AIDS or something.

OK, over and out.  What did you guys think?  I know you all watched it.  How
much did you want to kill Ronnie Nunn?