Thoughts on Our Great Win vs. The Bucks

[Josh Ozersky <josh_ozersky@yahoo.com>]

Wednesday night's victory vs. Milwaukee was a major
turning point for the Celtics.  They manufactured a
win when the streak was over, with the pressure on,
and against a team that I now think is the cream of
the Eastern conference.  Three things I loved about
this win.

1)  Antoine kept feeding Pierce on the crucial final
possesions, despite Pierce's having struggled for the
whole game.  Tommy and Smithers were remarking on how
much Paul had struggled with his shot; it just looked
like great defense to me, with constant trapping and a
man constantly in his face.  I missed the first half,
but I don't think I saw Pierce miss (or get) an easy
shot in the second.  Yet Twon fed him, and Paul
produced:  that is the stuff great teams grow out of. 
Remember, in today's NBA, two great players and a crew
of tough, defensive-minded role players can get you
far.

2)  We were absolutely raped by the officials for the
whole game.  Watching this contest was like being
projected "The Cell"-style, into Johnny Most or Tom
Heinsohn's mind.  Antoine was constantly brutalized,
and Celtics whistled for touch or phantom fouls on the
other end.  The most spectacular defensive play in the
game (and a sure turning point) was not called,
thankfully:  Paul Pierces clean block on Glenn
Robinson's three point attempt in the 4th quarter.

3)  I think it's clear that Milwaukee is a better
team.  They have more manpower than we do on both ends
of the floor.  When you see the ball rotate all the
way around to Eric Williams in the corner, and he gets
blocked, you know you are in for a tough time.  That
we managed to manufacture a win is much better in the
long run that a blowout sparked by freak three point
shooting, or a cameo appearance by the old Kenny
Anderson.

Which brings up my last point, one thing I absolutely
HATED about this game:

4)  Why did Kenny Anderson play a minute?  He's worse
than useless at this point, although I will say that
he didn't get burned by Sam Cassell as much as I
thought he did.  But amazingly, Jim O'Brien is subbing
him in for Milt Palacio for OFFENSE.  This is amazing,
and my first serious quarrel with Obie.  Kenny hurts
us even more on offense than he does on defense.  He
couldn't even hit an open jump shot tonight; why was
he in?  Palacio is a better offensive point guard,
period.  His drive on Sam Cassell helped turn the game
around, and he seems to be the only one willing to
push the ball upcourt, putting pressure on the other
team's D and getting us easy baskets.  That he is an
immeasurably better defensive player than Kenny isn't
even arguable by Kenny's most loyal partisans, if
there are any.  So why was Kenny in there, dragging
the ball upcourt, standing around, loping, and
spreading his languor and malaria to everyone else? 
He's got to go; he should be Milt Palacio's backup at
this stage of his career.  I'm sorry to say it, but
that's how it is.  Kenny should only have gotten spot
minutes tonight.  And when Chris Herren and Randy
Brown come back, he should sit on the IR or be bought
out.  The guy just isnt part of what's happening with
the Celtics now.  

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