Re: [Celtics' Stuff Re: Where do we go from here? - RealGM

[JB <JBMetzEA@yahoo.com>]

on 2/17/02 11:25 PM, MrSports9@aol.com at MrSports9@aol.com wrote:

.... Bring in a point guard who can push the ball (maybe Khalid?) and let
him and the rooks have some time together on the floor and try to set some
uptempo pace. Maybe we would get as Lance says, some EASY BASKETS.  Then if
we could only find a rebounder (Oakley, Foster?) who could get the ball off
the glass and into said point guard's hands.  Hmmmm......Of course we would
then be reliant on Obieone playing Khalid (or whoever) and the rookies. But
what an opportunity that they're wasting. A chance to get easy points and
rest your two point machines so they could have some legs for the fourth
quarter. Wow! What a concept!  Best fast break team I ever saw was the 77-78
Portland team. 

Brian    
            *************
       What gets me about this, is that it was all out there, for everyone
to see, at Shaw's this summer.
       The team started out, unable to score, with Palacio at the point. As
soon as El-Amin got the starting job; the team, especially Joe Johnson,
started to flow. They became a joy to watch and started winning.
       Khalid was called "a special player," by "Curley" Papille. "Larry"
O'Brien said he preferred him to Jacques Vaughn (in a discussion of free
agent point guards), because of his offense. All thought he would be signed,
until "Moe" Wallace, spoke up, that they wouldn't offer him a guaranteed
deal. Dallas did. 
       I can understand that a bit, but after Dallas let him go, what was
their reason for not bringing him back? At this point, what it would cost
them, to sign him for the rest of the season ? I think it's in the 100,000
range.
      Some of you may think I'm just on another El-Amin rant and I know that
I've been shrill and relentless on this aspect, but for those of you who
were at Shaw's, or even watched a game with him and one without him, will
know what I am talking about. Any true point guard, who could run the team
that way, would do, but we've already seen Khalid be successful. He's had
two years NBA experience and he's out there, waiting like a ripe pear
(comical illusion to his Bagleyesque body shape?),  to be plucked.
       Winning or losing; my view, all season, is that this team needs to
pass the ball to be successful.  It's also become apparent that the rookies
need some open floor and an up-tempo game and that our top seven rotation
players are playing too many minutes. I know management sees this.
       They were all there, at Shaw's. The solution may be within arms
length. 
       Brian mentions the other need, for an inside player with strength and
agility. Did I mention that Cleveland has put Brian Skinner on the disabled
list, for no apparent reason? Skinner can play power forward, but may be
even better suited to the middle. He is a strong rebounder and a shot
blocker. His contract is not a huge one, but it does run a few years. Anyone
out there care to check Patricia's site for the exact terms? Would you mind
passing on the link? I've lost it.
        JB

   Ps. I'm sorry (sort of) to have reverted to the three stooges reference
to our brain trust. I know I'm up, high as a kite, after a win and down, in
the dumps, after a loss. They are giving us the best season since Pitino's
first and the way the other teams are and will continue to beat each other,
it looks like the playoffs are coming into focus. I have to accede credit to
them all, for this.
   

                  Unchain My Heart !