Celtics scrimmage

[Jamey Rallis <rallis@vgi.com>]

Well, reading the previous reports makes me wonder if I saw the same
practice.

Anyway, here are my views of the practice.  They played 2 15 minute
halves.

Green team started Walker, Pierce, Anderson, Williams, and Blount, with JJ
and Milt subbing in.

White team started Battie, V, Herron, Walter, and Brown?, with McCloud and
Forte subbing in.

2nd half they switched Milt and JJ with McCarty and Forte.

Both halves started the same, the green team dominated with a shutout,
then they stopped running and stood around, the white team made a big
comeback.  The green team had ball movement, passing, shooting, and team
defense, while the white team couldn't move the ball at all.  That's what
you get when Walter is your #2 playmaker.  Walter, Battie, and V on the
floor on the same time is a disaster in half court offense.  If the green
team could play against players of the white team caliber all season,
they'd be undefeated.

Individual reviews (in general, it looked like guys that just started
preseason, ie they were sloppy and not together, but remember when
training camp started):

Pierce: started with an airball 3, a couple more bad shots (not that
anyone seems to remember these) then dominated on offense, defense,
inside, outside, easily the best player out there.

Walker: shot the 3 really badly, passed awesome, took it in traffic
successful (against pathetic defense) at first, then got triple teamed and
forced crappy shots up.  Physically looked better, but 5 minutes into each
half, walked up the court slowly and stood around a lot.  Doesn't hustle
all that much after a few minutes.  Of course, given the competition,
maybe he wanted others to shine.

Williams:  started out unstoppable inside, really active, then didn't
notice him much later.  Did get nailed by using the same spin moves a
couple times, the defense anticipated and got the jump ball.

Kenny: looked good, got hacked a lot, best ballhandler out there.  Didn't
dominate the ball, though.  Shot well I think.  Lots of steals.

Blount:  new turnaround jumper was consistent, otherwise was active but
the same old Blount, stupid plays, stupid reactions, bad hands.  Also
still is skinny and weak for center play.

JJ:  horrible airball 3 with no spin, looked like a chest shotput, later
shot with better form and hit the rim, but didn't really sink shots.
Speed of some others, ie Kenny and Pierce, caught him offguard and lost
the ball.  Otherwise looks like an excellent player once he gets used to
the speed of the game.

Milt: shot well outside, lost the ball a few times to Kenny and Pierce,
looks more comfortable in the half court, otherwise the same as last year.

McCarty: lost on offense, no defense, great energy, shot the ball well
when wide open, sucked when covered (couldn't beat V on the dribble), just
not a high bball IQ.  Had a couple highlight reel plays, but his team
usually got beat badly when he touched the ball.

Battie:  energetic, couldn't hit a shot except dunks, couldn't get his
hand on a block.  Looked like he hasn't played bball in months.

V: slow, get stripped every time he got the ball down low, bends over too
far trying to jump.  Jumping isn't his strength, just stay up and alert.
Blocked Walter, had a couple other moments on D, great pick and pop with
Forte, otherwise stone hands and slow.

Forte:  nice pick and pops with V, dribbles well but his teammates on the
White team don't know anything about spacing, moving without the ball,
catching a pass, or shooting, so he couldn't get anything done.  Didn't
really do much better with the green team, but looked good doing it.
Looked bad shooting outside.  Don't remember him hitting a 3, but others
say he shot well, so I'm confused.

Brown:  Only one besides Pierce and Walter to hit 3 pointers, and maybe
Anderson.  Energetic, highlight reel dunk, got torched on D by Pierce and
JJ, lost on offense.  Looks really talented, and lost.

Herron: Outplayed by Kenny, had no one to pass to other than Forte, his
teammates were so bad it's hard to judge his game.

McCloud:  Lost on defense, lost on offense, hit Pierce hard several times,
sat most of the day, didn't look happy with the refs or the coach who
wouldn't let him play.  

All in all, I'd say the only reason anyone besides Pierce, Walker, and
Kenny looked good, and maybe Willians at times, was the level of the
competition.  Everyone else looked lost, slow, or simply not talented
enough.

-Jamey