Fw: [Celtics' Stuff "Ain't Nothing Shakin' (But the Leaves on the Trees) "-Patriot Ledger

["Lance Jacobson" <lancejacob@xxxxxxxxx>]

Paul's not evil, Bird, but he's an awful passer. I'm looking forward to you
setting me straight on this. . in December, OK?  Until then let's just see how
well Mr. Testimony performs on this court.  Can you imagine him having to GIVE
UP THE BALL on offense?  Let's see, let's see.
----- Original Message -----
From: Lance Jacobson
To: Celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 4:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Celtics' Stuff "Ain't Nothing Shakin' (But the Leaves on the
Trees) "-Patriot Ledger


Well have more opportunities now because he (OBrien) has basically taken
the point guards out of the break, Antoine Walker said of the revived Boston
attack. If myself or Paul (Pierce) get the ball on the rebound, he told the
point guards to run and let us handle the ball. Sometimes you had to outlet it
and get it to Kenny (Anderson), but now we can get it out ourselves and run
and try to find those guys for shots. Mike Fine/Patriot Ledger

OK, I'm going on record that there will be a whole lot of turnovers when
Pierce is passing from backcourt to frontcourt.  He threw a couple of outlets
early in the FIBA games against teams like Senegal, but the guy doesn't have
the vision to see the defenders cutting down the passing lanes.

Just watch.  And, of course, feel free to tell me that I'm wrong about this.
Paul's not evil, Bird, but he's an awful passer.

----- Original Message -----
  From: JB
  To: Celtics' Stuff
  Sent: Saturday, October 05, 2002 8:04 AM
  Subject: [Celtics' Stuff "Ain't Nothing Shakin' (But the Leaves on the
Trees) "-Patriot Ledger


  Archives for Patriot Ledger

  October 04, 2002

  No point in slowing down: Celtics looking to run, run, run

  By MIKE FINE
  The Patriot Ledger

  WALTHAM - Its no coincidence that Springsteen is in town tonight. Hes got
a lot in common with the Boston Celtics, and its not simply because they both
play at the FleetCenter.

  Both the Boss and the boys, you see, were born to run.

  Weve known that about Bruce for quite some time, but there were times last
season when the Celtics seemed more content to plod down the court, setting up
a halfcourt offense. If Celtics coach Jim OBrien has his way, which he
usually does, youre going to see his team getting back to old-fashioned
Celtics basketball, with a twist.

  Well have more opportunities now because he (OBrien) has basically taken
the point guards out of the break, Antoine Walker said of the revived Boston
attack. If myself or Paul (Pierce) get the ball on the rebound, he told the
point guards to run and let us handle the ball. Sometimes you had to outlet it
and get it to Kenny (Anderson), but now we can get it out ourselves and run
and try to find those guys for shots.

  Thats going to be the difference between this break and traditional fast
break. This isnt Russell hauling down the rebound and outletting to Cousy, or
Kareem to Magic. In this offense, with point guards who arent true point
guards - youll be hearing that a lot - OBrien is fully content to let his
top forwards do some dribbling.

  In reality, if he can pull this thing off, OBrien wont have to watch much
dribbling, anyway. A strong break is dependent on quick passes and foot speed.
He thinks he can do it.

  I think itll be noticeable, he said of the running game. I dont
think we got enough out of our offense last year when you consider we were
third in the league in field goal defense (.425), tops in steals (9.7), fourth
in defensive rebounding percentage (.729), had the best turnover differential
(+2.4). That should translate, hopefully, ideally, into a higher percentage
shot, easier baskets, down the other end. That would be the thing we hope
for.

  Why didnt the Celtics run regularly last year? We didnt practice it,
said OBrien, whos been doing just that through the first five workouts of
training camp.

  The Celtics did start to get the message later in the season, when their
performance began to pick up measurably. In the final 26 games of the season,
for instance, the Celtics topped the 100-point mark offensively 13 times, with
three others of 97, 98 and 99 points. It enabled them to win 18 of those games
and roar into the playoffs, beating the Sixers and Pistons before being
stopped by the Nets - the same Nets who ran them out of the gym.

  The Celtics topped 50 percent shooting four times in those 26 games and 45
percent five other times. Thats not exactly earth-shattering news, but they
shot only 42 percent for the season.

  Over the last 24 games of the season we shot a much higher percentage,
OBrien said. We averaged close to 100 points (99.0, compared to 96.4 for
the entire season) a game. Its not that we didnt take advantage of the
defense. When it did get better toward the end of the season, we started
scoring more points. So that started to come a little bit last year.

  Its tough to play great team defense, especially when youre playing two
guys (Walker, Pierce) 40 minutes and then ask them to run all the time, also.
Over the course of a 100-game season thats a little tough and if anybody
needs a blow Id rather see them take it on the offensive end when were
fast-breaking. You cant take it on the defensive end.

  The Celtics gave themselves a nifty head start for their running goals by
coming into camp Tuesday well prepared, too. OBrien couldnt be happier in
his players conditioning, which enables them to run themselves ragged.

  At this time of the year, since Ive been with the Celtics (six years),
were in the best condition by far of the people who are under contract, he
said. If theres one thing Im pleased with, its the conditioning of our
players. During the summer thats all on them. You can jump up and down until
youre blue in the face and talk about being in shape, but its up to them.

  The best indication Ive seen is theyve come in in very, very good shape.
That helps their skill development because youre going to push them in
training camp with the fundamentals, and if theyre in great shape, they can
do that as well as practice 5-on-5.

  It helped that practically every Celtic was on the court, not just in the
weight room, during the summer.

  Our guys played a lot of basketball this summer, to a man, OBrien said.
Ruben (newcomer Wolkowyski) did because he was in the World Games and Paul
did. Paul and Antoine play every day no matter what is happening. Shammond
(Williams), Tony Delk and JR (Bremer) are gym rats. Shammond practiced in
Seattle in the morning and would go and play pickup ball at the University of
Washington in the afternoon.

  Eric Williams worked harder this summer than probably any other time in
his pro career. And he looks it. Tony Battie worked out with the 76ers a lot.
Bruno (newcomer Sundov) is very hungry because he was not happy with his
playing time (in Indiana). He came in in really good shape and great
condition. Walter (McCarty) is Walter. He can run all day.

  Were in great condition, which will help our ability to play the game.

  So, even though the Celts picked up big Vin Baker for his inside work, and
even though OBrien is enthused with the progress of Battie under the glass,
running will be the thing.

  That would be the ideal thing, but were bigger now, said Walker.
Weve got a lot of size now. With Bruno, Vin and Ruben we have size inside
now for the first time. We got guys who can get inside banging, so thats
going to be a different look, as well. We can go big on teams now and thats a
luxury we didnt have in the past.

  If we control the glass and get out ... thats the emphasis right now, to
get out and get easy baskets, guys sprinting the floor and not really having a
set play ... just getting to the basket on the break. So thats going to be up
to our wing guys, Paul and Eric, to get out and run ... and attack the
basket.

  And make no mistake about it, theyd love to run.

  Who wouldnt? said Walker. Wed love to run and get easy
opportunities. Thats what every team dreams of. And we saw the New Jersey
Nets live off that. We have to take that type of mentality, but also have the
type of mentality where we got to clean up the glass, too.

  ---

  By design, the Celts practiced only once yesterday, going about three hours.
Theyll go back to two-a-days for two days and work out just once again Sunday
.. This from New Jerseys training camp, where ex-Celtic Rodney Rogers is
still settling in and trying to get over the sting of Bostons inability to
re-sign him: Its over with, but I just felt for what I did and what I
brought to that team, they would try to do the best they could to re-sign me.
Now when we play Boston, Im going to want to beat them. Its nothing against
their players or the coaching staff. They tried to do everything they could.
The general manager, too. It was the owner. I guess he had other plans - which
was selling the team.. ... Red Auerbach attended yesterdays workout.

  Mike Fine may be reached at mikefine@ledger.com.

  Copyright 2002 The Patriot Ledger
  Transmitted Friday, October 04, 2002