Re: Defying Joe's dictum and still pulling one out of the trash bin.

[bird <birdw@mac.com>]

>  From: "Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>
>
> While we still have improvements to make, I will take issue with the "too
> many turnovers and forced shots to be  a playoff team".  Got news for ya 
> JB,
> warts and all, we are a playoff team this year.

Unless I've missed a press conference from David Stern, I believe they 
still pick playoff teams according to record, not how they played the 
games they won.  Still, with that said, I agree with JB's sub-point: too 
many turnovers overall.  The forced shots I'm not as concerned about, as 
the normal flow of this team is to take shots, forced, open, what-have-you,
  they're going to throw the ball up (and with the amount of offensive 
rebounds during this game, who can blame them?), but taking care of the 
ball, while harrying the other team into turning it over is starting to 
become a hallmark for the C's (as opposed to previously, when it was 
talked up quite a bit, but with less actual success).  But, you have to 
love it when that doesn't mean they lose the game -- kinda skews the 
statistics.

> Why is there a need to find fault with every single game?  I just cannot
> understand it.  We hold them to 80 points and that fact hardly merits a
> mention.

Defense, especially down the stretch, won this game.  We had to hold the 
Grizz, because our offense was pushing along like an Amish buggy on a 
highway.  The C's shot 37% (yikes!), but held Memphis to 34%.  Molto bono.
   You don't really have to play well; just better than the competition.

> Recently, Walker had a 9 rebound game.  One of the posts said of his
> performance, "he didn't rebound much".
> Heck, the guy shot 7/15 for 19 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, and he
> still gets knocked for his performance even when we beat Utah.

He had 24, 11, and 4 (albeit with 6 to's) against the Grizz.  Here's the 
thing: it didn't look good.  He got blocked 3-4 times down low (still 
think he should play there constantly?).  He went 3-10 for threes.  There'
s the turnovers.  He shot 8-22.  But you know what?  They won the game.  
Sure, all 11 of his bounds were defensive, but I don't care.  He did what 
was needed to win.  Same with Pierce.  Again with the foul trouble.  But 
he made some key plays when it counted.

I was probably about as frustrated as anybody at points.  I think I threw 
a pillow across the room, and I know for a fact that I yelled at my screen 
a whole bunch of times in the fourth quarter (mostly when I saw the C's 
just give it up too easily to the Grizz (geez, make 'em buy you dinner 
before you just give them the lane, at least), or take a jump shot instead 
of taking it to the hoop), but you can't count these guys out.  When it 
*really* counted (as opposed to when it would have made *me* feel a whole 
lot better) they produced.  Previously, we lose this one.  Without Pierce 
or Walker operating on all cylinders, we lose it.  The keys were T & V 
(dammit, if this keeps up I'm going to have to start believing they really 
*are* adequate), with 16 points, 21 (?!) rebounds, Kenny (starting to 
become a habit) with 4, 7, and 8, EWill's defense and timely  playmaking, 
and JJ's 10 points (5-11 shooting) and 5 rebs.  In other words, what is 
quickly becoming "The Usual".

> With his 24 point, 11 rebound effort tonight, he has led this team in 
> boards
> in 22 of 25 games including one impressive stretch of 8, 10, 10, 17, 10, 
> 9,
> 18, 11, 14, 12 and 11 to start the season.  For someone who is asked to
> shoot from afar as much as he is, this is remarkable.

Name a better power forward in the East.  I dare you.  See?  You can't.  
Sure, Tim Duncan's better.  So may be C-Webb.  But they play in the other 
conference.  There's no one in the East I'd take over Walker at his 
position.  No one.  (Hey, what do I know, I'd take Pierce over Carter, Ray 
Allen, yes, even Iverson (oh, yes), Jerry Stackhouse (please), even 
Spreewell or Houston.  McGrady?  Sure, what the hell's he ever done?  
Pierce is better than all of these guys.)  Anyway, Walker?  Versatile?  
The guy averages 9.4 threes a game, *and* grabs 10.4 rebounds.  When does 
he find the time?  Walker's improving on his career numbers so far this 
year in some key areas, like rebounds (10.4 vs. 9.0), free throws (75% vs.
  67%), and assists (5.1 vs. 3.9), though not FG% (39% vs. 42%).  He's 
"getting it" all right.  And if previous years are any indication, he's 
going to do it for 82 regular season games, and probably how ever many 
playoff games we get to play, too.

Is there anything better than being a Celtic fan in Oregon right now?  The 
whole state's gnashing their teeth over the Blazers, meanwhile the C's are 
starting to make me think of multiple rounds in the playoffs.  Hee hee!

Bird

P.S. Say, JB, I believe "defying Joe's dictum" will cost you some state 
time (especially, in some southern states), but I can't help myself 
(obviously): what dictum are you referring to?  My memory doesn't serve, 
clearly.