Re: a concern

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Take it up with the coach Mark.  I heard Obie commenting that he wanted
Toine to shoot threes during an interview a week or so ago.

Cecil



----- Original Message -----
From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2001 1:54 PM
Subject: a concern


> I don't want to be a killjoy, but is anyone else concerned about Antoine's
> growing reliance on the three-pointer? 12 attempts in Portland, 11 in
Utah,
> 9 in Seattle, 8 in Vancouver, 10 against Milwaukee. You have to go all the
> way back to the win over Phoenix (Jan. 26), to find a game where he
> attempted fewer than 8 three-pointers. That's a nine-game stretch (he
missed
> the game in Detroit) when he's averaging almost 10 threes a game.
>
> I know his percentages have been good. He made 12 of the 23 attempts in
the
> last two games, and his season percentage of .384 is solid (not far from
his
> overall percentage of .417, in fact). If he was a small forward or guard,
I
> wouldn't have the same concerns. But he is, like it or not, this team's
> power forward, and also its best rebounder. Every time he takes a
> three-pointer, he's 24 feet from a rebound. When the team is getting
killed
> on the boards, can we afford this?
>
> There are other problems: You're not going to get to the line much
hoisting
> that many long jumpers. It negates the ball-handling and quickness
> advantages Toine has over other power forwards. Threes rarely are the best
> available shot, and this team's overall terrible shooting suggests they
need
> to try harder to find the best available shot. Missed threes mean long
> rebounds and fast break opportunities for the opponent.
>
> I like the three-pointer as a weapon, and admire Toine for improving his
> shot so much, but I still believe that he has reached the point of
> diminishing returns with his increased reliance on it. This team has
played
> surprisingly well despite his love for the longball lately, so it hasn't
> really hurt. But they're getting killed on the boards again and I'm
> wondering the wins aren't masking some bad habits Toine is falling into.
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Mark
>