some comments from the blind in singapore

[kevin from singapore <bostonceltics17@yahoo.com>]

> Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 11:06:24 +0200
> From: Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>
> Subject: Re: last night's game

> Vitaly last year guarded all the widebody power forwards like Karl
> Malone at least to start each half. If he plays well enough on defense
> to not need the help of a double team for long stretches (not always the
> case obviously), then we probably win these games. 

to all people always wanting to trade V, I think this is why  V is
valuable.  V is the only C who can provide bulk guarding the likes of
Zo, Geiger, Big Z, Brand, oakley, white, etc. Battie, AW, Blount,
Moiso can not  handle these types.


> Boston Globe on yet another 2001 draft center prospect:
> 
> Yao Ming is 7-5, perfectly proportioned with great footwork, agility,
> and talent. He's not Mark Eaton, Manute Bol, or Shawn Bradley. He shoots
> as well as Rik Smits. He has terrific hands. He would have to declare for the 2001 draft as an underage player. If he
> did, there is a unanimous opinion as to where he would go: No. 1.

I think I've him on tv here before. didn't impress me. He has narrow
shoulders like Purdue, will get pushed around easily in the paint by
nba bodies. can not be bulked up cos he's chinese from china (unlike
that ex-patriot eugene chung)  chinese are growned on rice,
carbohydrates,
but if he's eligible for the 2001 draft, i'm sure some sucker gm will
take him in the lottery. speaking of which, have you been following
big jake from the suns? based on preseason play stats, he was a really
big hype, a wasted pick for the suns.


> Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 09:05:32 -0500
> From: "A. M. Noonan" <anoonan@deady.com>
> Subject: Saturday's game
wow, thanks very much for the report, i subscribe celtics lists for
these moments.
 
> Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 11:08:47 -0400
> From: "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
> Subject: Catching up

Mark, thanks for writing celtic notes, great feeling to be reading
such posts.

> Toine is playing great. I'm hoping the outstanding 3-point shooting so far
> isn't fool's gold that encourages him to settle for the jumper too much. 

from the stats, seems like he's the one bombing away. but playing the
power forward position, i prefer him slashing into the paint drawing
the fouls. let Pierce, stith (not waltah pls) and company shoot the 3s
more. hopefully AW playing within the flow of the offense is for
keeps.

> Mark Blount is showing he belongs, and that he may supplant Tony Battie in
> the frontline rotation sooner rather than later.

If Blount, Moiso works out by Feb dateline, I expect Battie (not V) to
be traded. Realgm.com shows Battie to be non-byc.
 
> Biggest disappointment from those games has to be Moiso, who seems to be
> deferring to the veterans too much. He just isn't being aggressive
> offensively. Defensively he seems to be holding his own and is altering or
> blocking some shots, but on the other end he is far too willing to be a
> "spare part." He has some offensive skills and should use them. Let's hope
> he becomes more aggressive as the preseason progresses.

from what Moiso has spoken, he seems to be one who really can listen
to instructions - respectful of coach's decisions type. probably no
plays were designed for him in the offense. Defensively, he's just
doing what comes naturally for him, I think.

 
> Date: Mon, 23 Oct 2000 11:50:15 -0400
> From: Alexander Wang <awang@MIT.EDU>
> Subject: Re: It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

great post alex. this has been bothering me sometime now. seems to me
(and most list people) Pitino haven't been doing a good coaching job
with the C's. From mass substitutions to converting SG (dana/billups)
to PG, it makes me question Pitino's ability. But time and again, you
read people like Red, Russell, Heinson (most of the celtic family,
except the news reporters) endorsing/firmly behind Pitino. seems like
all of them are on the same page.

> I think a frequent question on this list is whether Pitino knows how to
> coach NBA basketball. I remember Tom Murphy (where did he go anyway?) had
> an interesting post on unqualified individuals (such as us) judging the
> performance of technical specialists such as Pitino. I think all of us can
> look at a game or a season and find objective statistics like, "We were
> 36-46" or "We gave up 47% from the field." Some of us make conclusions like
> "Pitino can't coach basketball" or "Pitino's defensive system doesn't
> work." But separating the performance of the coach from the players is very
> difficult.
<snip>