FW: [Celtics' Stuff John Amaechi

[JB <james.metz@verizon.net>]

----------
From: JB <james.metz@verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 08:09:47 -0400
To: <Celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Celtics' Stuff John Amaechi


on 4/16/02 6:05 AM, lancejacob@aol.com at lancejacob@aol.com wrote:

In a message dated 4/15/02 7:45:14 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
james.metz@verizon.net writes:



Even though we won 3 of 5 (I think?), with Kenny sidelined, last month, it
was ugly and everyone held their breath until he was recovered. Pierce
particularly, commented on how much better the offense runs with Kenny on
the floor. 
     JB

Again, for those who think I'm just a displaced New Yorker, it's not just a
Kenny-thing, it's a PG thing.
  Lance

  I believe this thread started, as a query, as to whether we could
afford/find minutes, for both Delk and Strickland. Do we need a "true point
gaurd,. or can we continue along with the idea that Walker will initiate, so
just keep throwing a jump shooter, who defends, out there, to get the ball
over half court and into Walker's hands?
  When it was considered that as long as Walker initiates the offense, Delk
can play the point guard position, I objected, that the concept of the point
guard just getting over half court and feeding Antoine, has already been
recognized ineffective, both by the coach, who pushed Anderson for many more
minutes than most elder, banged up point guards should play, and by my
notion that Strickland was more effective than Delk or Palacio, spelling
Anderson, exactly because he initiates some offense, by pushing the ball up
the floor and not looking to hand off to Antoine.
  If there was a more perfect example of this than last night's game, I
don't remember one.
  While Kenny played, he got everyone involved. They have now incorporated
Pierce into Kenny's distributorship and Paul (who is now passing, early in
the game to find that gives him some room later, as teams must respect the
passing option) joined the others (except Antoine) at moving without the
ball and finding open spots on the floor, as Kenny ran the offense as
masterfully as one could want a point guard to do. We shot 50%, primarily
because of this and a marked decrease in the isolation, one-on-one, format
that Walker initiates, which was almost non-existent last night.
  Coach played Kenny for 40 minutes, underlining his; "watch what I do, not
as I say," mentality, which is the big reason I'm touting him as coach of
the year. 
  Last night, we went into an enemy arena, played a Western conf. playoff
team, with homecourt/superstar ref. treatment and out played them. We got
better possessions, played better defense, and looked like a poised veteran
team, who could shut them down and work for our best options, as needed. If
it wasn't for the ref's spurious  incursion into a well played game, we win
by 10-15. We were that much better, for most of the night.
  Can you believe O'Brien has got the team to evolve into the fluid, every
player getting involved, offense, we've seen in the last two games, but
particularly, last night? Now, if Antoine will start moving without the ball
and crossing under the basket, Kenny can get him involved and some easy
baskets also. So, we will have come 180 degrees, from the training camp
concept; "we don't need a true point guard, just a jump shooter, who can
defend and get the ball over half court.
  I saw it didn't work at Shaw's. I saw it didn't work, during the season
and I'm finally and totally convinced, that O'Brien has seen it the same
way, but has taken his time and patiently watched this offense evolve, into
the type of unselfish, find the open man style, that can, coupled with a
great defense, which we've seen all season, but is now becoming;
unconscious, a five man effort (did you believe Antoine bodying Garnet, all
night long?), a thing of beauty,  to get us out of the Eastern conference.
  Rodney Rogers played a man's game last night. This guy is a keeper. I
presume Delk is going to be a big help, now, also, when healthy and in his
accustomed role. 
I'd hate to start next season without Strickland, or McCarty also, but, as
O'Brien was not satisfied with Strickland at the point, last night, I would
not be satisfied, to go into another season, expecting Anderson to play 40
minutes, a game, just to keep our offense flowing. The point guard position
needs to be addressed and, as I see it, Delk, or Strickland, will have to
go, if Kedrick Brown and/or Joe Forte are even on the roster, let alone
getting playing time, next fall, unless, I suppose, a very young point
guard, who wont play much, comes in, but, then there is the danger of an
injury to Anderson and the reality, that his contract is up, after next
season and someone may offer him some serious money, just when we plan to
use his money for an inside player..
        JB

Link to current standings:
http://archive.sportserver.com/newsroom/sports/bkb/1995/nba/nba/stat/2000-01
confstands_lo.html



               Unchain My Heart !