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

["Ravi Singh" <kelticsfan@attbi.com>]

Any talk in Boston of getting another big man out of the minors for the
first series?  Thomas Hamilton could take out Mutombo, Iverson and
Coleman with one trip across the lane...

Ravi

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com] On Behalf
Of Boston Sports Fan
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 12:35 PM
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: RE: Look For A Philly Sweep If Iverson 100 Percent Healthy


Of course, Iverson *isn't* and *won't* be 100% healthy for any of the
series. Nice "Way" to cover yourself Ray. If the Celtics win, you have
that to fall back on. 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com] On Behalf
Of Way Of The Ray
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 3:02 PM
To: celtics@igtc.com
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