Re: Thoughts on Knicks/Sixers games (long)

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Well constructed post. The Celts at this point will be facing a negative
attitude. It's psychological problem. Oh sure, on the floor they'll exhibit
the usual ra ra stuff, but down deep they know there will be more losses
than wins. The NBA is a 5 minute or less game. The 1st 43 are for the
ticket holders. Most teams will let you hang around for awhile then turn up
the heat considerably. We need at least for the near future another go to
guy. Someone else has to make a contribution. The failure of Battie to
comply is glaring. Pots just does as best he can with no more room for
improvement. KA, I believe we lose the last few games with no contest. Who
else is left? Moving KA for a front court player (a real one) will help
solve our problems, and at least give us some hope for this season. Then
wait for draft time for a point guard.

Dan

At 10:50 AM 11/13/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I was discouraged Friday night. That's a game the Celtics have to win.
>They're playing at home, the Knicks are without Sprewell, and Walker and
>Pierce combine for 60 points. And they lost. I really was questioning just
>how good this team is. 
>
>I felt better after the Philly game. I agree with everyone who was upset
>with the officiating. The frustrating thing is that was a game the Celts
>deserved to win. They played harder and better than the Sixers (except for
>that brief stretch in the second half when they looked like the Washington
>Generals). They came out aggressively, defended well, and executed pretty
>well offensively against one of the best defensive teams in the league. They
>deserved to win.
>
>I've thought about things since, and while there are arguments both ways, my
>optimism about this team is fading.
>
>They're 2-4 with three 2-point losses. The optimists among us see a team
>close to winning. I hope that's true. But the NBA is a league of two-point
>games. Good teams win them, bad teams don't. You watch games around the
>league and 90 percent of them are in doubt with five minutes to go. Good
>teams finish the job. Bad teams don't. Right now, the Celtics fall in the
>latter category.
>
>Why? They have two talented scorers, but they don't have a go-to guy. A
>go-to guy gets the ball over and over down the stretch and either scores,
>gets fouled, or creates an opportunity for another player. Walker and Pierce
>try, but they aren't that kind of player yet. Pierce is being more
>aggressive this year, which is great to see, but his next pass will be his
>first. When he learns how to pass when the shot isn't there, the team will
>improve. Walker just isn't playing as well as he did in the preseason. He's
>forcing things, rather than letting it happen. That 18-foot jumper he used
>so well in the preseason shows up just once a game. And late in the game,
>he's firing up quick shots instead of smart shots. There was a lot of debate
>on this list when Allan Houston's name came up in trade talk during the
>offseason, but I think we all saw the difference between Houston and our
>"stars" Friday night. Houston is a legit go-to guy down the stretch. He can
>get a shot almost any time he wants. And when he gets it, he usually makes
>it.
>
>The front line remains one of the worst in the league. Tony Battie has been
>at his best so far this season, but comparisons to Camby based on body type
>aren't fair to Camby. Batgirl never has had the impact on a game that Camby
>had on the game Friday night. And Potapenko is what he is. Why Blount
>doesn't see the light of day is a mystery to me.
>
>On an optimistic note: I liked most of what I saw from Herren Saturday. He
>needs to be more assertive when teams turn up the pressure instead of
>deferring to less skilled ballhandlers, but that can be corrected. He will
>shoot better, and when he does, it will open things up for others. The team
>was as energized as I can ever remember it being in the second half of a
>back-to-back. I think Herren brought some of that. I, for one, do not miss
>Kenny Anderson at all. It's easy to say "Kenny's out and we lost three
>straight..." but his absence certainly wasn't the reason.
>
>Summarizing, I'm beginning to see this as a really flawed team that will
>show flashes, but for the most part will remain in that 35-39-win area when
>all is said and done. I hope I'm wrong, as I often am. But I think it's more
>likely that this team gets discouraged by all the tough losses, quits on
>Pitino, who turns one eye toward the job listings by midseason. If that
>happens, it could turn ugly, because this team needs absolute effort to win.
>
>Sorry for the long post. Two tough games over the weekend really got me
>thinking.
>
>Mark
>
>
>