Re: How much Jazz is left Utah? -Is Oscar beating on Baker's drum?

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kiss of death here but we win. We have some confidence going.

DanF

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "JB" <jimmetz@mac.com>
To: "Celtics List" <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2002 12:27 PM
Subject: How much Jazz is left Utah? -Is Oscar beating on Baker's drum?


>     I'm concerned that we are not going to beat a disciplined, veteran 
> team, no matter how long of tooth (on Veteran's day, no less), like the 
> Jazz, firing threes, as the main offensive weapon. The downside to 
> Walker hitting 9-13 (the rest of the team hit 5-18) threes on Saturday 
> night, is the possibility that he shoots 2-12 tonight and so do the 
> others.
> Will this game be Baker's coming out party at the (new) Garden? He has 
> surely had plenty of experience guarding Karl Malone and I suspect we 
> will need a more balanced offense than we have seen in the last week, 
> to beat these guys.
> Imho, we should try to beat them down the floor, get the ball inside, 
> early and often, before their defense gets set and use the three, when 
> the break, or the  play inside, breaks down, but what do I know? 
> O'Brien has a plan, he's sticking with it and  there seem to be 
> "otherworldly" forces at work.
> Better minds than mine (yes, you; Ray), have accused Jimmy O'Brien of 
> being in league with the "netherworld," as the Celtics continue to play 
> teams hobbled with injuries. Considering that neither L.A., without 
> Shaquille, nor Minessotta, without Sczerbiak, Brandon, or Joe Smith, 
> are   playoff teams, we haven't played one, yet, this season.
> While Utah's "Over the Hill Gang," may not make the playoffs either, 
> they will play smart and should provide a steady, heady, counterpoint, 
> to "Jimmy0's" brand of motionless, bombs away, offense.
>     Defense and pitching wins in baseball, but on the hardwood, it's 
> usually defense and easy baskets. While the Celtics are capable of 
> shutting down most of the NBA offenses, Utah usually comes at us with a 
> big front line that dominates the glass and smothers the one on one, 
> into traffic drives, that our Captains have a penchant for.
>      Where are the easy baskets going to come from for the Celtics? 
> Either we commit to the fast break and learn how to feed Baker in the 
> post, or I just don't see us competing with the best in the East, this 
> season. That is, unless Leo Pappile's striking resemblance to 
> Mephistopholes is more than just a resemblance.
> 
> 
> JB
> 
> Unchain My Heart !