FW: [Celtics' Stuff "They have mistaken the garnish for the steak ."-Herald

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Most of you probably have seen this Michael Gee column from the Herald. He
does a pretty good job of addressing the same concerns many of us, including
myself, still have about this style of play. He and I and the other critics
may well be wrong, but I'd love to see his proposed experiment take place.
The one thing he doesn't really address that I'd add: I don't have a problem
with the number of 3-pointers exactly. But the quality of those 3-pointers
is a real problem. A good, open 3-pointer is one thing. Many of the Celtics'
attempts are challenged, early heaves. Simply saying 23 3-pointers is too
many is a little simplistic. But10 challenged 3-pointers-and the Celtics
probably average that many-definitely are too many.
Anyway, here you go:
 
http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/sports_columnists/gee03212002.htm

For C's, 3's a crowd: Too many long shots are a big shortcoming 


by Michael Gee 

Thursday, March 21, 2002




It was a typical performance for the Celtics' enigmatic superstar, the one
who'll shoot them right out of the playoffs come April.

He led all scorers with 33 points in Boston's 96-70 rout of the forlorn
Cavaliers last night. He was also the Celts' single-most dangerous problem.

No, not Antoine Walker. We're talking about Try A. Three, the malignant imp
who possesses every Celtic when they come within 23 feet, 9 inches of the
basket.

Three (``3'' to his friends) has responded to Boston's playoff run in the
classic fashion of all egocentric NBA talents. He's taking over the offense
and damn the consequences.

When Three missed 10 shots in a row in the first half to keep the
offensively challenged Cavs close, he didn't stop heaving them up. In fact,
coach Jim O'Brien didn't want him to.

``We told our guys to keep on firing,'' O'Brien said.

Three's flesh and blood teammates won the game with stout defense, holding
the Cavs to 29 second-half points. That point guard Andre Miller averages
more than 10 assists a game with this bunch is more amazing than Wilt
Chamberlain averaging 50 points a game in 1962.

So don't let that leading-scorer distinction fool you. Three didn't lead the
Celts last night, he held them back. Every coach in the NBA has a benchmark
for defending a great scorer. If their team can make the guy take one shot
for every point he scores, their defense should be good enough to win.

Three took 31 shots for his 33 points against the Cavs. He's attempted 1,606
shots this season, 169 more than any other team. Break it down, and Three is
averaging eight baskets on 23 shots per game.

That's not efficient enough for Three to be Boston's first option. If he cut
his shots in half, Three would score almost as much himself and the Celts
would score more than their 96.4 points per game.

Of course, Three's not real, even as a creature of the spirit world. I made
him up. If Three were a real player, Celtics fans would've ridden the
selfish gunner out of town on a rail long ago.

The 3-point shot is a legitimate part of the NBA game. But it's just a part.
What should be a diversionary tactic has become the Celtics' weapon of
choice. They have mistaken the garnish for the steak.

Boston took 81 shots of all sorts against the Cavs. That means 38 percent of
their attempts were 3's. Call me old-fashioned, but I don't care for an
offense that prefers the lowest-percentage shot above all others. In a
multiple-choice exam, why repeatedly mark down the answer most likely to be
wrong?

Increased dependence on the 3 is why the Celts seldom go to the line as
often as their opponents and one reason why they so often get outrebounded.
It also makes for a deadly dull game, whether or not the shots go in. The
only 3 that was fun to watch last night was Paul Pierce's 65-footer at the
first-half buzzer.

``Just a lucky shot,'' O'Brien said.

All 3's involve some luck. That's why it's risky to get too fond of them.
Basically, the 3-pointer is a tool of the weak, a means to let lesser clubs
stay in games against their betters.

The Celtics used to be weak, but that's no longer the case. Walker and
Pierce can score down low. They should be taking fewer 3's, not more, as
their club drives toward the postseason.

O'Brien disagrees. Violently. So I have a little wager for the coach.

The next time you have a home game against an NBA feeb (and the Warriors are
coming soon), limit your club to no more than 10 3-pointers. I'll bet you
win big. And I'll bet you score more than 100, too.


           
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