Nets scouting

["hironaka@nomade.fr"<hironaka@nomade.fr>]

-The Celtics have scored consistently on Byron Scotts 
team during the regular season. Theyve averaged 100 per 
game, ranging from 92 to 105 points in the four games.

-But Boston was held to .388 in the four-game series, 
which is perhaps a little known fact. By comparison, the 
Celtics are hitting at a relatively solid .439 clip in 
these playoffs despite the undeniable defensive intensity 
of these past two series.

-Antoine Walker (a notorious Nets killer) was effectively 
shut down by the Nets in the regular season, shooting 
just .317 while jacking up a butt-ugly 26 shots per game. 
Add to that an unsightly 16 turnovers and measly 10 
assists (half his regular season assist average). But at 
this point, I think it might surprise even his critics if 
Walker shoots as often or as poorly in this playoff 
series as he did during the regular season. 

-On the plus side, Van Horn was held to a meek .306 
against Boston (19-62) with no double-doubles. Walkers 
two highlight games were a solid-shooting 30 points (10-
21FG) and 8 rebound effort in March and a 25 point 17 
rebound game in December (both wins). He averaged a 
double-double in the Nets series, including 4.2 offensive 
boards per game.

-Paul Pierce made 50 visits to the foul line in the four 
NJ games. Thats 12.5 trips and nearly 10 points per game 
from the line. But he also scored from the perimeter, 
making 21-28 treys.

-In their best sustained defensive performance of the 4-
game regular season series (December 1st), the Nets held 
Pierce to 1-16 from the field and shut down the Celtics 
to just 33 points in the first half. But Pierce scored 46 
points in the second half as the Celts rolled to 105 
points on the road (Exit 16W on the NJ Turnpike).

-The Celtics have won three straight from the Nets since 
the 95-92 loss in October, which was our first loss of 
the season. Do any of you guys recall the deflated mood 
on our list back then, after the Celtics once again gave 
away a game against what was perceived to be a lottery 
team?

-In its local coverage, the Detroit Free Press named 
Kenny Anderson the MVP of the Detroit series. But now 
Kenny moves on to guard the real MVP of this NBA 
season, Jason Kidd. 

(incidentally, local news coverage of the Nets is really 
kind of mediocre. remarkably, no one out there knows how 
to write about basketball in the NY-NJ area these days.)

-As you guys probably already have read, Jason Kidd 
basically averaged a triple-double in this years Boston 
regular season series: with 43 assists and 39 rebounds 
while scoring 20 points or more in ALL four regular 
season games, shooting .390.

-Kenny totalled 29 assists and 6 turnovers in the Nets 
series, scoring 31 points. The backups (including Palacio 
in the first two games) actually outscored him with 32 
total points. But Kenny reinforced his reputation as a 
two-way player, leading the Celtics with 12 steals in the 
series. And hes like a magnet to stray rebounds, even 
more so than Delk.
 
-The positive side of Kidds triple-double efforts is 
that his team still was nearly swept by Boston. Kidd did 
have 17 turnovers, helping the Celtics to an impressive 
+20 turnover differential over the four games (including 
a +4 in steals per games with ten per game).

-Interestingly, Potapenko was never a factor this year 
against New Jersey, scoring just 9 points in four games 
with a lot of pine time. I dont know the status on 
Potapenko, but Id be amazed if the coaching staff risks 
a multi-million investment next season by playing him on 
a torn ACL.

-Aaron Williams actually started one regular season game 
at center versus Boston, so it looks like Rodney Rogers 
can anticipate plenty of floor time again.

-Todd MacCulloch blocked 8 shots and grabbed 25 boards in 
80 minutes of playing time in three games against Boston. 
This guy is to some degree an archetypal Celts killer in 
the Brad Miller mold. But Batties already lived through 
10 straight games of  Mutombo and Ben Wallace (the last 
two NBA defensive MVPs). 

If Ben Wallace played for the Celtics, Id actually pick 
them in four over the Lakers. But Battie is a fired up 
player right now. Its beautiful to see.

-This year TB stepped up against the Nets with a steady 
9.0 rebound average (but while scoring only four baskets 
in his three games). His intensity and effectiveness 
almost seems enough to offset Kenyon Martin on the other 
side. Its been a joy to see.

-All told in the Nets series, the Celtics ripped down a 
solid 48 boards per game while outrebounding the Nets in 
three of the four games. Let's average an even 50.

-This included a 57-48 edge on the offensive boards, 
which also might not be an anomaly. The Nets havent 
found a guy to step up for them on the boards in these 
playoffs. In fact, they are led by Van Horn (7.1), who 
does it mainly on the defensive end. Kenyon Martin has 
not yet shown hes not a natural board man. Thus far in 
the playoffs, hes averaging less than one rebound in 
every six minutes of playing time. For such a tough guy, 
that's pretty girlie. 

-As you may have read, there is talk that Kenyon Martin 
will be guarding Paul Pierce. Lets hope this never gets 
ugly. (Jerry Stackhouse was a surprisingly dirty player 
last series).

-On the bench, the Nets effectively use three middle-
income NBA performers in Richard Jefferson, Aaron 
Williams and Lucious Harris (the guy with the mask). 
Jason Collins and Anthony Johnson get mop-up and foul 
trouble minutes behind Jason Kidd and the Nets big men. 

-On the Celts bench, it should be highlighted that Waltah 
scored 9 points and Erick Strickland had 14 off the bench 
in the most recent meeting (the 12-point Celts victory on 
April 7th). Relative to their overall regular season 
production, those were productive outings.

-As for Microwave Jr, Tony Delk, he was a DNP-CD on April 
7th after starting the previous Nets game and shooting 2-
8 from the field.  

-So well see if Strickland or Delk get the key minutes 
in this series. Strickland is averaging just 8.0 minutes 
in the playoffs, but Delk is also down in playing time. 
Waltah is one deserving beneficiary, averaging over 16 
mpg (.538FG%), after 26 DNPs during the year.

-In light of the Tuesday to Saturday layoff between game 
2 in NJ and game 3 in Boston, plus the remaining days 
until this Sundays tipoff, so adjustments and practice 
preparation may play a significant role. Both Obie and 
Byron Scott have outcoached their opponents so far in the 
series.

-BTW, have you guys noticed the nice Celtics wallpaper 
(for you PC desktop) at:
http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/celtics_wallpaper.html

-Obviously a split in games 1-2 would make the Tuesday-to-
Saturday layoff a little less stressful for players and 
fans. And the Nets know the Celts swept them in the Exit 
16W games this year, so theyll be very mindful of the 
importance of the first two games. 

-I personally believe the Nets are going to make their 
share of clutch plays in the final minutes of games (not 
that Boston cant respond too, given they have two of the 
three best players on the court). It seems obvious that 
the Celtics benefited a lot from the crunchtime play of 
Jerry Skank-house and Mrs Robinson in the Detroit series.

-Having said that, Charlotte really did seem to play 
lackadaisical, regular season level defense in the Nets 
series (as did the Nets frankly, apart from the 4th 
quarters). Both teams were mostly saving their energy for 
offense. This was night and day from the intensity that 
Boston has brought to the playoffs so far.

-One big key is that Byron Scott and Jason Kidd will have 
the next few days to scout and prepare for Bostons 
confounding defense, particularly the double teams on 
high pick & rolls that we've seen every time. Kidd is a 
great point guard and leader after all, even if he's an 
average shot.

-Its very clear IMHO that the Nets have yet to experience 
the Bostons's Patriots-esque defensive intensity, in 
terms of consistent huge plays from a no-name defense and 
inelegant but inevitable-seeming clutch offense when it 
matters. 

-For instance, the great Kenny recovery steal (Kenny 
stole the ball!!) was certainly the biggest Celtics 
defensive play in a decade.  And well still all be 
watching the Paul Pierce three-point blocks ten years 
from now on his Hall of Fame or retirement highlight 
video. Those were rare kinds of blocks, apart from their 
timeliness and psychological impact on the opponent. 

-This may kind of be a non-sequitar, but I remember 
having mixed feelings about last winter's Pittsburgh 
Steelers NFL playoff game, thinking that what the New 
England Patriots were in the process of achieving was 
fantastic and well-deserved while also sensing how 
humiliating it will be to end another successful with a 
Super Bowl wipeout against a more explosive team from the 
more dominant conference. 

-Obviously, all eyes will be on Boston if this Lottery-to-
FinalFour, impossible-dream Celtics organization get that 
far behind our equally big play defense and clutch 
offense.

-Of course Id kill myself if Boston plays and loses to 
the Lakers (for the third straight time).

-There is this sense of too much happening too soon, like 
a multi-talented boxer being rushed into a championship 
fight before hes ready. 

-To hell with misgivings. Now I'm just mad that 
Sacramento has coopted our "Beat LA" chant. Compared to 
that Pats team, the Celtics are far more talented on 
offense than rivals in the East, and their playoff 
defense is just as brilliantly effective and game-
turning. Even my wife is actually watching entire games 
on TV next to me (thanks to Paul Pierce). She's actually 
semi-excited about spectator sports. That's something 
she'll snap out of fast, but its still been an amazing 
year. Go Celts.

Joe H.

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