Re: 1st game impressions

["Lance Jacobson" <lancejacob@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks, Kestas.  I really don't hate Pierce, but he's such a lunkhead and  I
constantly wonder what he's thinking.  Sure, he gave up the ball early, then
put on his cape and OOPS, NBA players again, not the soft Euro's.

Let's remember that Delk covers PGs, but isn't one.  He had some hot
"macrowave" moments which are his game, but 1) he doesn't make anyone better
and 2) he can disrupt a flow or prevent one from forming.  In that regard,
he's like Jason Williams.  Count on him coming off the bench, but see more
minutes for Bremer than anticipated unless the Celts need points in a hurry.

Let's leave Walter alone.  He's adjusting to some new guys as well.  He'll
play defense against anybody (you'd rather see Wookie or Sundov?) and will
hustle all day.  But we keep looking for offensive consistency, and it's not
there.  Can we live with that?

Baker's GOT to rebound if he's going to fit in.  Give up some O, buddy, and
work the boards.  You may play fewer minutes here, but Defense comes first,
and that's alright.  Understandable that you came in here hungry to show the
goods, but your game will have to migrate to fit our system.  He can do it.
As our heaviest player, he's got to play bulky, not soft.  There's no Jerome
James here.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kestas" <kkv@dartmouth.edu>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 11:29 PM
Subject: 1st game impressions


> General impression:
> Horrible game. They need to find another way to train the refs and
acquaint
> the players with rule changes. Shaw's games were more watchable than this,
> and that's saying something. I'm not sure why there was anyone left to
> finish the game, they called so many fouls.
>
> The Celtics seemed capable of blowing out the Knicks if they had cared to,
> but Obie obviously wasn't  into that, he was trying different kinds of
> lineups (3 guys over 6-10, two small guards etc.). The D was pretty good
at
> times. They demonstrated more fast-breaking skills than they had all of
> last season, and they didn't even run that much.That's also counting the
> ones Walker and especially Pierce managed to butcher by going 1-on-3. More
> on that later.
>
> Player impressions:
>
> Baker: nice low-post moves, good agility and drives to the hoop,
surprising
> passing ability. Even stole the ball from a guard. I remembered him being
> more stationary, around the basket type of guy. Must be the shape he's
> gotten into. Still seemed soft somehow, avoiding contact whenever he
could.
> Maybe I'm just seeing what I expected to see. Was addressing Tommy "Mr.
> Heinsohn" in the post-game interview, to which Heinsohn said "Tommy is
good
> enough".  Just seems like a very polite, intelligent, sensitive kind of
> guy. I could see how he could be  high-maintenance.
>
> Shammond: pretty quick, good dribbler/penetrator, not much of a defender.
> Didn't show much else of notice.
>
> Shoooondov: Unathletic, but very long and has some offensive skills. Can't
> guard anyone.
>
> Wolkowyski: a cheaper, smarter, softer Potapenko. Maybe it's the way he
looks.
>
> Bremer: seemed eager to give up the ball to Walker or Pierce as quickly as
> he could (smart kid :>).
>
> Walker: same old, although he seems slimmer and, unsurprisingly, even more
> involved in running the team.
>
> Pierce: was doing exactly what Lance has accused him of doing. Even Mike
> and Tommy felt a need to have a discussion about whether he's
> selfishly/stupid basketball. Collected a few assists in the beginning,
then
> drove into crowds of defenders repeatedly, getting stripped, losing the
> ball, committing offensive fouls.
>
> Kedrick: same old, although might've been a bit more assertive. Skyed for
> dunks and rebounds, made a nice-looking three, played pretty decent D.
> Still no midrange game or much basketball sense.
>
> Delk: looked better than last season (although he hardly could've looked
> any worse). Hasn't turned into Jason Kidd or even Jason Williams.
>
> Eric: looked better than last season all around.
>
> Battie: solid play on D and on the boards, had a few nice turnarounds.
>
> McCarty: same old regular season Waltuh