Re: [Celtic_Pride] C's-Griz

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

On another note, the Sonics just fired Paul Westphal, naming Nate McMillan
as interim coach.

Cecil


----- Original Message -----
From: "Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: <Celtic_Pride@egroups.com>; "Boston Celtics" <celtics@igloo.igtc.com>
Sent: Monday, November 27, 2000 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Celtic_Pride] C's-Griz


> 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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> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> >
>
>
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