Re: [Celtic_Pride] C's-Griz

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Hi Mark,

Some may call me overly optimistic.  I see many of the same negatives as
many of these lists but I don't choose to focus on them since there are so
many who take great delight in that as it is.

That is why I focused on that 3 minute stretch where they cut a 12 point
lead to 2 against a team that, though they had lost 7 straight, has some
talented players in Bibby and Shareef.  That stretch of play is reason, in
itself, to be cause for optimism, if I were the coach.  They did it with
defense.  Playing a guy 42 minutes who was home playing with the kids and
dog last week.

You don't see the assists from Toine as a positive, focusing on the times he
may force his shots, which I agree are foolish.  But there are good signs in
his game this year.  Obviously, his 3 point shooting has improved, whether
we like it or not.  His rebounding, though not spectacular, has been very
good lately.  He is among the best passing forwards in the game when he
exercises that option.  I think he is willing to do this and hopefully we'll
see it as the season continues.

Paul needs to be more consistent in all aspects of his game in my opinion.
There are times when he is brilliant and I can see why we may want to
isolate him against whomever is guarding him, but he also needs to learn to
pass out of the doubleteam, as does Toine, more often.  Battie had 2 dunks
yesterday off feeds from Toine and Pierce.  His defense will improve.  He
did have 5 steals yesterday, so it's not like he sucks completely but I can
see where the hustle needs improvement on missed shots.

I still believe that this team will suffer most due to a frustrating
inability to cash in at the free throw line.  Shooting %69 ain't gonna cut
it.

Cecil





----- Original Message -----
From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <Celtic_Pride@egroups.com>; "Boston Celtics" <celtics@igloo.igtc.com>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: [Celtic_Pride] C's-Griz


> Cecil, I love your optimism. Not many of us could find a positive in a
> double-digit home loss to the Grizzlies, who had lost seven in a row.
>
> Personally, I can't believe how discouraged I am with this team and its
> direction. This is the first time I remember feeling like we're playing
out
> the string a month into the season. Pitino is leaving, and he seems
> determined to avoid any drastic roster overhaul so the next guy can make
his
> own decisions. The result is a lost season, and a lost opportunity to make
> any midseason deals that might help for the future.
>
> Pierce and Walker are in it for themselves at this point. Even during his
> 41-point game Friday, I was screaming at Pierce to pass the damn ball.
> Pitino talks all the time about reversing the ball, and yet Pierce looks
for
> his shot against two or three defenders all the time. Friday, he made a
lot
> of tough shots. He doesn't usually--no one makes a high percentage against
> double or triple teams. With Pierce and Walker, it's just a question of
who
> touches it first... that's who will shoot it. It's awful basketball. Just
> awful.
>
> As a contrast Sunday, I flipped back and forth between the Grizz game and
> Bird's 60-pointer against the Hawks in 85. He scored 60, but not until he
> reached the 50-point mark did it look like he was forcing shots (and then
he
> did it with the help of the team). Atlanta wanted to double him, but he
put
> up the shot so quickly, the double didn't have time to get there. None of
> this facing-up, dribble-dribble-dribble, spin, double pump and shoot stuff
> for Bird. I know it's unfair to compare anyone to Larry, but is it that
> tough to realize that if you really want to score when you're being double
> teamed, shoot the ball before the extra defender gets there? Do you have
to
> be a basketball genius to figure that out?
>
> Anyway, I'm one discouraged Celtics fan.
>
> Mark
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cecil Wright [mailto:cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca]
> Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 4:20 PM
> To: Boston Celtics; Celt's
> Subject: [Celtic_Pride] C's-Griz
>
>
> Had an opportunity to see the game yesterday and though I am unhappy that
we
> lost, I liked something that I saw.
>
> With the score 86-74 for the Griz with 6:40 remaining, we went into the
> headless chicken defense as some call it.  It led to:
>
> 2 free throws,  Overton: 86-76
> Bad pass turnover = layup Pierce: 86-78
> Loose ball foul, Othella = 2 free throws, Williams: 86-80
> Steal, Williams = Dunk, Battie, nice assist Toine: 86-82
> Steal, Pierce = layup, Pierce: 86-84 with 4:27 remaining
>
> Then came the quickest 3 second call in history on Pierce who was trying
to
> post up Edwards in the key.  I have watched it over 10 times and cannot
> believe the refs, not only didn't whistle Edwards for holding Pierce, but
> called such a quick violation after witnessing other players throughout
the
> league pitching a tent in the lane on a regular basis.
>
> The Griz didn't score until Grant Long hit a jumper from the top of the
> circle with 3:20 remaining.  So not only did we hold them off the
scoreboard
> for exactly 3:20, but we ran off 10 consecutive points in a defense
> Vancouver had to have expected.
>
> Yes we went on to lose the game but that particular defense met with some
> success and it should be noted.  Shareef had a great game and Bibby must
> love playing in Boston, but Long saved their bacon thanks to his new-found
> success with the jumper.  Then we ran outta gas at the end.  Overton made
> some costly turnovers but I would wager this was his first time having to
> play 42 minutes.
>
> Is Randy returning for the Cleveland game?
>
> Cecil
>
>
>
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