RE: Orlando game

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

As well, I think O'Brien left Potapenko in much too long in that
decisive Orlando third quarter run.  Potapenko was not handling the
defensive pressure or the speed of the game too well and O'Brien would
have done better to either go to a small lineup with Walker or McCarty
at center or go back to Battie earlier than he did.  Not a good in-game
decision by the coach.  

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com] On Behalf
Of Kestas
Sent: Monday, January 07, 2002 9:02 PM
To: celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Orlando game


I think they've grown a little overconfident with this comeback stuff. I
know they're not trying to fall behind, but perhaps they could apply
that killer defensive pressure in the 3rd, to put the game away when
they're tied or in the lead, not behind by 10 points? 

Also, it's time to find another backup PG, because Strickland, all his
good qualities aside, scares me as a PG. Since this Strickland-as-PG
experiment started, I see him dribbling the ball and say to myself
"Strickland makes bad decisions with the ball in his hands". Typically,
before I'm done saying it, he has committed a turnover. I think Gene
Kirkpatrick put it best - basketball is Strick's second language. He's
OK so long as he's not the main speaker. I think it's time to give
Palacio another try - he's not a PG either, but usually he knows not to
do too much with the ball, just deliver it safely to Walker. I happen to
think that Forte might be the best of our current options, just from
what I've seen of him in the preseason, but Obie obviously disagrees. 

Pierce had a weak 4th quarter, missing shots he has to make for us to
come back, and leaving Miller criminally open. And players like Darrell
Armstrong drive me insane when they play against us - you just want to
squash him like an annoying bug. Pot showed his lack of talent again at
critical junctures, but what can you do about it? He needs a structured
game to do well. Walker still wastes at least half of fast breaks he's
leading because he's just not capable (yet?) of making the right
decision consistently in such situations. JJ, though, showed brilliant
instincts on one fast break, redirecting a pass from Pierce  to Walker
with  a touch pass over his head.  
Let's hope they don't get overpowered by the Spurs on Wednesday. These
power teams are a bad matchup for us. 
Kestas