Re: [Celtics' Stuff Howdy Pilgrim - NY Post

[JB <jimmetz@xxxxxxx>]

	It's over!
	Between the two of us, Joe, we had it nailed. ;>)
	O'Bie's deadpan,  conquered the gunfighter's mentality that Scott 
tried to instill in his guys. This makes the second time this season, 
that the opposing coach left here with a loss (Larry Brown), after 
trying to pump up his team, with incendiary remarks, about the Celtics.
	Did we rebound the ball or what? Did Walker and Pierce let the other 
guys shoot and concentrate on other aspects of the game? Well, to some 
degree, but they took too many shots as it was.
	If they really begin to understand this unselfish thing, we might make 
something out of this season after all.

		JB

	Unchain My Heart !



On Wednesday, November 20, 2002, at 05:22  PM, hironaka@nomade.fr wrote:

>> ---------- 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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