Re: The Antoine and Paul Era

[JB <jbmetzea@yahoo.com>]

on 11/30/01 10:48 PM, Josh Ozersky at josh_ozersky@yahoo.com wrote:

I think some of you guys are being a little hard on
Paul and Antoine, who are playing very hard on both
ends of the floor. 
       ************

   There is greater frustration with the coach and the style of play.
   I greatly appreciate the desire to win, as shown by our two captains.
Until the losing streak, both were accelerating the other aspects of their
game, besides scoring. Antoine, of course was rebounding, but he was also
looking to pass first and was accumulating many more assists than he has
since. Paul was rebounding more and his assist totals were up also.
   Something happened to the style of play after the Indiana game. It looked
to many of us, that the pair of captains had started firing away, with
little regard for open team mates, or even rebounding. The tendency hit it's
peak, with Paul's seven turnovers against Miami, even though we won. I did
notice some improvement against Orlando and was encouraged by the 16 assists
shared by Anderson and Strickland.
   Most observers, reading O'Brien's quotes, tended to blame him. My take is
not so clear. I saw the team get selfish and lazy. If they want to hide
behind Jimmy's penchant for the open three, so be it, but he made it clear
after the Miami game, that he wants to see pentration, ball movement and
take the three, if that's the best shot. He has repeated his mantra, that
it's effort that determines the wannabees from the contenders and has
challenged the team to measure up.
   We have watched this team for years. They have often flown quickly out of
the gate, only to mire in egos and laziness as the season progresses. We saw
the four game losing streak and cried;"here we go again." Now they've won
two road games and the ears pick up. There's the scent in the air. Will
these dogs run?

                 

              JB
                   
     
                   

                           Unchain My Heart!







on 11/30/01 10:48 PM, Josh Ozersky at josh_ozersky@yahoo.com wrote:

I think some of you guys are being a little hard on
Paul and Antoine, who are playing very hard on both
ends of the floor.  I mean, to listen to what Mark
Berry is writing, you would think Antoine was average
six rebounds a game, rather than being the seventh
leading rebounder in the NBA, less than a point behind
Shaquille O'Neal and Dikembe Mutumbo.  He shoots a lot
of threes, but he shoots 40% from there, an incredibly
accurate percentage even for a specialist who takes
three or four a game, let alone a guy who leads league
history in attempts.  And he's busting his ass on
defense.  The guy deserves SOME respect.  Look.  We
aren't in a position to content for a title now, but
we have one of the best forwards in the NBA in
Antoine, and an MVP-caliber scorer in Pierce.  Now,
Robert Parish might not be walking through the door,
but I know we can get some easy baskets, some fast
breaks and dunks off turnovers, some cutting and
slashing and one-on-one mismatches -- particularly if
we can get Joe Johnson firing on all cylinders again,
and Kedrick Brown somehow plugged in.  I just know we
can.  The Knicks got to the NBA finals a few years ago
with two all-star swingmen and a lanky 4/5;
Philadelphia got there last year with only one money
scorer, and half the roster playing with bum wheels.
We're not that far.

Even when I hate seeing the team play bad basketball,
I don't think this team needs a Tim Duncan to be
competitive.  Bring back the flow; the future will follow.
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              JB
                   
     
                   

                           Unchain My Heart!