RE: Thoughts on Knicks/Sixers games (long)

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

Absolutely, if the Celts can be competitive with this front court and point
guard situation, we can only get better with a trade or two. Yes the Celts
could have won the last 2 games. History shows the better team will win,
either by executing or with help from the refs. I don't think the Celts get
their share of calls. These last 2 games were a case of the both. I haven't
seen a sport yet where the top players don't get the calls consistently.

Dan

At 02:02 PM 11/13/00 -0500, you wrote:
>that sounds like a pretty good plan to me.  I would point out,
>thought, that these last three games could easily have gone the
>other way.  The team is as fragile, but if they can get a little win
>streak going over the next two weeks, they may get to the point
>where they can execute over the last minute or so.  That has been 
>a big exercise in practice, and I think it will improve with game-time
>experience and better conditioning.  FWIW, if they are not doubling
>him, I want Paul Pierce to have the ball with the game on the line.
>
>Josh Ozersky	
>Marketing Communications Specialist 
>Corning Museum of Glass
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From:	Dan Forant [SMTP:dforant1@nycap.rr.com]
>> Sent:	Monday, November 13, 2000 12:49 PM
>> To:	celtics@igloo.igtc.com
>> Subject:	Re: Thoughts on Knicks/Sixers games (long)
>> 
>> 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
>> >
>> >
>> >
>