Re: Look For A Philly Sweep If Iverson 100 Percent Healthy

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

And we should put faith in anything you say why???  The rest of your
predictions have been so bang on!!!  Hardeeharhar!  If the Celts win the
Philly series, is there any doubt that you will surface again with reasons
why we won't win the next round also?

So sad.

Cecil


----- Original Message -----
From: "Way Of The Ray" <wayray@ix.netcom.com>
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 12:01 PM
Subject: Look For A Philly Sweep If Iverson 100 Percent Healthy


> If Iverson is sufficiently recovered from his injury (as in his capable
> of forty points a
> game - playoff version), Philly should sweep the Celtics out of the post
> season.
> If Iverson isn't at a hundred percent, the Celtics may win a game or
> two, but
> there's too many restricting factors in Philadelphia's favor.
>
> And let's name them:
>
> - Health: Philly spent most of the season saddled with various injuries
> to their
> frontline players. It severely affected their record. The Celtics
> meanwhile, were relatively
> unscathed. Missing players were generally out-performed by those who
> replaced them,
> and Pierce and Walker put together an almost unblemished-by-injury
> season. Now
> both teams are on a more or less even playing field, or perhaps less, if
> you consider
> Vitaly's absence. Edge Philly.
>
> - Experience: There's a wide gulf between Boston and Philadelphia's
> playoff experience. A huge gap. Edge Philly.
>
> - Difference in playoff games versus regular season: Low post,
> half court basketball predominates in the playoffs. Perimeter teams
> generally
> fare poorly. Philly is better geared to playing this style than the
> outside shooting Celtics. Thank Chris Wallace for this. 3 lottery picks
> and one big trade in the last two years and not one quality Big Man
> in the bunch. GMing that bad takes practice. And now with Vitaly
> out, the lack of a quality big person looks even worse. Edge Philly.
>
> - Shaq-Kobe factor: So often playoff games come down to a mano-a-mano
> battle between the best player or players on each team, or what is
> known as the Shaq-Kobe (Bird - Parish - McHale) factor. A healthy
> Iverson and Mutumbo are better than Pierce and Walker. Edge Philly.
>
> Coaching: Not even a close call: LB is a freakin' Coaching Savant. Edge
> Philly.
>
> A prediction: Strangely enough, while it should be a sweep if Iverson
> is healthy, I could see the Celtics winning one game on a miraculous
> or just clutch Pierce shot at the end of the game. Pierce will jab his
> right fist up in the air and the team will celebrate, but in the end it
> won't forestall reality.
>
> Ray