Hubie and the Round Mound on the Celts:

[Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Via the Boston Globe, TBS analysts Charles Barkley and Pitino mentor
Hubie Brown express their opinions on the 2000-01 Celtics:

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Barkley actually had a few kind words to say about the Celtics. ''In all
fairness,'' Barkley said, ''the Celtics are back in the mix, especially
with Alonzo Mourning out this season.''

Barkley said he has been disappointed Antoine Walker hasn't become a
great player yet. ''This is a make-or-break season for him,'' Barkley
said. ''He can post up, shoot, and handle the ball. He has the chance of
being a really good player. So does Paul Pierce.''

But Barkley didn't have too many good things to say about the rest of
the team. ''They don't have any big guys,'' Barkley said. ''You can't
win with little guys shooting jumpers. The only team that did was the
Detroit Pistons. They had Joe Dumars, Vinnie Johnson, and Isiah Thomas.
They were all jump shooters, but they played spectacular defense. I
don't see the Celtics getting a lot of easy baskets. And the press
doesn't work in the NBA. The players are too good. They don't panic when
pressure is put on them.''

Brown agreed with Barkley and said the Celtics are ''on the bubble''
along with New Jersey (before Keith van Horn went down with a broken
leg) and Cleveland.

''The East is so unpredictable, anything can happen,'' Brown said. ''In
order for the Celtics to get it done, they are going to need a better
turnover ratio out of their press and traps and on the other end of the
floor. They are going to need guys who can complete the fast-break
transition game. But again, outside of Walker, who is their post-up
player that is considered dangerous?''

The lack of a big man may not be the end of the world, especially in the
East, where a good power forward can get a team through the regular
season. ''The question is whether the guy can post up and draw a
double-team,'' said Brown. ''If they can't, then a team's 3-point
shooting and cutting game won't open up because they don't have a
dominant guy down low.''

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