Re: [Celtics' Stuff Re: Way of the Ray vs Way of O'Brien

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

Lance wrote:
> No matter what Pierce says, this team isn't designed to 
>win the Finals, it's designed to go there.  Beat NJ.   


Good post (really). But I'm singling out just the part 
above, because I disagree with it. 

It seems to me that: 

1) NJ is about as close as you'll get to the "West Coast" 
offensive template, apart from the Lakers. 

2) Our Celtics actually swept the Lakers last year behind 
Oh-Behave and his butt-ugly looking offense.

So if Boston's roster is being tailored to beat NJ, then 
it is also just tailored for the Finals: talent being a 
different matter. 

Sac, the Spurs and the Lakers are all much stronger than 
the Nets. Maybe, that's your point?

But as far as game plan and roster philosophy, I feel the 
Celtics are doing what's best for the talent on-hand, 
rather than planning for a particular opponent (NJ) at 
the expense of what's in their best interests.

And I happen to agree it would be a waste of money and 
talent to add a "traditional pointguard" in the 
Strickland and Mark Jackson mold, even if it bought us 
more love from pre-season prognosticators (I'm sure it 
would). 

I think Omar Cook and Chris Herren's problems in Boston 
were also precisely this. Its the wrong fit. I think 
that's been an empirical fact rather than some coach's 
flaky conjecture.

Once Bird became "the BURD", he profited from a DJ style 
point guard more than a Tiny. Hopefully Pierce and Walker 
will evolve in the same direction (e.g. good enough to 
lead a team to the finals). They are two of only a 
handful of players who don't need anyone to set picks for 
them, or pass it to them after dribbling additional 
seconds off the clock. 

Anyway, I agree with the rest of your post. I know you 
must be busy, what with serving as a character witness in 
the Made Men trial etc.  (kidding)

Joe H.

p.s. Incidentally, the NY/NJ papers are reporting that 
Rodney Rogers came to camp out of shape, in Byron Scott's 
opinion. But it sounds like a lovefest between Kidd and 
Rogers, and Rogers is quoted saying he wants to beat the 
Celtics whenever they play us.
 


    








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