Re: [Celtics' Stuff Howdy Pilgrim - NY Post

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

> ---------- Initial message -----------
> 
> From    : owner-celtics@igtc.com
> To      : Celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com
> Cc      : Celtics List <Celtics@igtc.com>
> Date    : Wed, 20 Nov 2002 06:28:52 -0500
> Subject : Re: [Celtics' Stuff Howdy Pilgrim - NY Post
>  
> My 
> opinion is that this game will be won by the team that 
wants it more. 
> The team that fights for loose balls, rips those 
rebounds out of the 
> sky and if the Celtics have a chance tonight, it will 
be because the 
> captains look for their teammates, early and often  to 
shoulder the 
> scoring load, while they are expanding their energy on 
defense and 
> rebounding.
>

Its very surprising that the team that won (NJ) acts like 
they have the chip on their shoulder. Mainly it is coming 
from the coach, Byron Scott, rather than the players.

I don't think its good for the players to be too fired 
up. Sadly the Nets players seem pretty calm, as they 
ought to be.

If only basketball were more about aggression and run-
through-a-brick-wall-for-me effort, it would be a LOT 
more like football. 

Ultimately players see the court better IMO when they are 
calm, relaxed, have jazz music playing inside their 
heads. 

"There's nothing to fear but fear itself" applies very 
well to basketball I think. The aim for Pierce and Walker 
is to stay composed under pressure, not get pumped up 
like a middle linebacker each time the Nets hit us with a 
solid blow. 

The Celtics just need to tell themselves its only a game. 
They need to know that when they are calm and in the 
flow, they are a 115 point team. 

That's when the 3-point shots start dropping like the rim 
is 4-feet wide. That's when every players peripheral 
court vision is as sharp and clear as it needs to be. 

The Celtics are a great comeback and momentum team 
because they know that exhuberant self-confidence and 
swagger are part of what help turn these snowball moments 
into an avalanche. 

But again, I have to say it surprises me that the Exit 
16W's are behaving like they are the ones with a monkey 
on their backs and letting fly with all this stupid 
bulletin board material.

The Nets destroyed us twice in the pre-season, with our 
starters getting 40 minutes and theirs getting about half 
that. 

They've now beaten us five straight games, while building 
comfortable double digit leads in the first quarter 
probably the last six or seven times we've played.

The Nets have gotten us to tighten up under pressure. We 
think we're playing hard, but we're playing tight. 
They've worn down our confidence and will with all the 
constant uphill battles we've faced. 

Tonight the coaching aim is to have fun, not get pumped 
up. That's why basketball coaches always say "go have fun 
out there". That's why Obie and Phil Jackson try to look 
calm when things are going bad. Its sets a tone.

I've noticed others doing it, so a long time ago I taught 
myself to smile just as I'm releasing a jump shot. Free 
throws, I try to make it more discrete. I feel the shot 
mechanics are smoother when you do that. In my case, 
that's not saying much. But still... 

I'd rather see smiles out there tonight, even in the face 
of adversity, than see a serious, dark look of 
determination. 

Note to team: Boston has a pretty safe, 16-banner lead on 
these wannabes. Bird was always cocky. Antoine's good and 
cocky. Pierce better not get all mopey on us about his 
shooting slump and any tougher than expected Nets 
defense. 

I want Paul Paul smiling from the first to the last three-
point shot he aims at the bottom of the net. 

As a kind of corollary to JB's formula above (whoever 
works harder), the team that works harder at having fun 
and staying composed tonight (no small feat) will more 
likely play up to the level they are capable of and that 
will satisfy them. 

Big game pressure, much less fear of failure, should not 
even be a factor, 1/8th into the season. Enjoy the moment 
and I expect we'll be fine.

Paul's going to be guarded by an admittedly solid second-
year guy who, with just half Paul's stats (13 ppg and 4 
rebounds), everyone seems set on sending to the freaking 
Hall of Fame. RJeff's putting up the same numbers he did 
in college, and we're acting like we missed out on the 
next great superstar. I think he's pretty close to being 
what he is.

Meanwhile, the Nets pointguard is at risk of a self-
inflicted case of salmonela poisoning every time he steps 
up to the free throw line. I watch with morbid 
fascination each time he wipes his ass before each 
potentially fatal kiss.

I think its ridiculous to think the Nets are not the 
superior team (I fear they are), but to the everlasting 
credit of Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, our captains 
would be the last two people standing that you could 
convince of that. I think both captains honestly believe 
that if they had made it to the Finals last year, they 
would have been in a position to win. I appreciate that.

Sadly neither guy is THAT talented at their respective 
positions, but none among their NBA peers have attained 
their elite NBA level through sheer force of will like 
these two continue to do. You can say that about Dave 
Cowens and John Havlicek too. 

Those are really the only "traditional" virtues 
(fearlessness and supreme self-confidence for no readily 
obvious reason) that I'd want out of a current Boston 
Celtics player. I'm nervous about tonight, but I bet 
they're not. 

Joe H.













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