Re: Assists

[David A Wickerham <aw623@freenet.buffalo.edu>]

On Fri, 30 Mar 2001, Jim Meninno wrote:

I think Gene is undervalueing the assists that Antoine gets.  I've noticed
that Brian Stith is a great stand still shooter when he gets the pass at
his shoulders and can go right into his motion.  When he has to reach for
the ball, his shooting percentage drops like a rock.  Antoine makes that
pass as well as anyone in the league.  He has also done a great job of
making the lob entry pass, which is one of the most difficult manoeuvers
in the game.  The only guy he can't seem to set up, is V.  On the other
hand, Milt had just 4 assists in last night's game, but at leasat 3 of
them were to vitaly.

Antoine is not Duncan, but he is a unique talent in the league.  Its
amazing that he can drop a 20-10-10 game and still have people question
his value.

****dave


> 
> Damn right an assist is an assist.  You people are talking as if Antoine's
> the only player in the league that gets an assist for passing to an open
> jump shooter.  And, as long as we're on the subject, he loses a lot of
> assists because he plays with centers who drop passes that should be layups
> and a team full of shooters who can't shoot.  That's just how it works.
> 
> Antoine has more assists than any forward in the league other than Jalen
> Rose because he handles the ball more.  He handles the ball more because he
> does it better.  His size lets him make passes that many point guards can't
> and he has the ability to create opportunities for others by penetrating.
> Note: I'm not talking hypothetically about things that he can do, but
> doesn't.  These are things he's been doing all year.  Hence that fact that
> he's second in  the league in assists among forwards.
> 
> > My trouble with Walker is merely shot selection.  Last night, Palacio
> > and Blount and Vitaly all shot very well.  Couldn't Antoine have taken
> > a dribble or two and set one of them up?
> 
> He had 11 assists for God's sake.  Do you really think he didn't set people
> up?   It's certainly true that Antoine takes a lot of low percentage shots,
> but I just don't see the alternative.  Paul Pierce is scoring 40 a night
> right now, and they still need as much offense as they can get from Antoine.
> Certainly Vitaly could put up a few more hooks and short jumpers but, apart
> from that, who else on this team do you want shooting the ball more?  I'm
> very happy that Palacio and Blount had one game where they shot the ball
> well.  In truth all that happened was that they made their layups, which, I
> suppose, is an improvement.
> 
> > In the glory days at Kentucky, Antoine average 14 points.  He has the
> > all around game; he has the winner's desire; just limit his wasteful
> > outside shots and the team is better off.
> 
> Didn't that team have more genuine scoring options than the Celtics do now?
> Isn't it possible that Antoine would "throw up" fewer shots if someone else
> on the team other than he and Pierce had the ability to score?
> 
> Jim
> 
> 

-----------------------------------------------------------------
	  Dave Wickerham
	  aw623@freenet.buffalo.edu
	  Saratoga Springs, NY