Re: more pack journalism

["Cecil" <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay Lance....in all honesty...do you know for a fact that the USA wasn't
supposed to play a collapse and help defense where you give up the outside
shot to stop the short stuff in the lane?  Or are you judging Pierce, at
least his defensive play, solely because his man hit a few 3s?

Refusing to let a pick stop you?  Have you ever had a big man set a good
screen for you?  Smart players use them well and the only defense is a good
switch which then causes matchup problems.  You could try to fight through
it but with International refs, you get called for a foul every time.

Cecil



----- Original Message -----
From: Lance Jacobson <lancejacob@attbi.com>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2002 10:56 AM
Subject: Re: more pack journalism


> **I may read more into your statements but obviously I am far from being
alone
> in that regard on this or any other list that you have been on.  IMHO, you
> make the mistake of assuming that all it takes to win, is effort.  When in
> reality, in any team sport it takes MUCH more than that.  I mentioned the
need
> for practice, execution, precision, timing, knowledge of teammates
> tendencies, etc.  I'll give an analogy.  In the world of relay races, you
can
> put the 4 fastest sprinters on a relay team yet still lose the race due to
> poor handoffs.  They worked hard, they ran fast.  But the timing wasn't
there
> because they were doing their regular workouts and did not have sufficient
> time to work specifically on the baton transfer.>>Cecil
>
>
> LOOK.  I've said it three times.
>
>  Talent + Teamwork + Effort = Product.
>
> I will never doubt that teamwork is important.  My posts have said that
the
> NBA game is lousy on teamwork, but the plays that ARE run are effective,
as
> guys know where to go and what to do.
>
> The USA team was faced with the prospect of losing this week.  They
couldn't
> increase practice time, they couldn't change players.  All they could do
was
> try harder.
>
> Last night they gave up the 10-pt lead that they EARNED by not playing
"STOP
> THEM" defense.  If each player commits that his man isn't going to get a
shot
> off, the opponent CAN'T shoot.  It works very well.  It's not about not
> letting the guy get by them, it's refusing to let a pick stop you, or on
3pt
> areas, you switch immediately and force a switchback with a second
defender
> coming to block off the passing lane and bringing back the correct
defender.
> The USA, specifically a nicely rested Pierce, let Gurovic get 3 3pt shots
off
> UNCONTESTED.  I mean the guy had shooting room.  You just don't give that
up
> with 3 min in the game.
>
> Sure, O'Neal bricked four free throws.  That will happen when you stink.
But
> he had to play, with Brand out.  No excuse for lack of Defensive effort.
>
> Next team we send will have better players, more motivation, more time
> together, more team attitude AND better understanding of the rules.
> Obviously, all areas need to be improved.  Some can't be done on site.
>
> That is kinda what I mean about the precision of executing plays.  And we
saw
> both Argentina and Yugoslavia run some finely precisioned plays.  Those
teams
> played excellent games and I tip my hat to them.  But the Pierce-bashing
is a
> bit much.
>
> I give credit as well.  But a 10-pt lead against a bigger team with no
fear
> factor and a hot streak should have been held.  Believe me, I like the
Foreign
> style of play better than ours and that's an issue.  But you're not going
to
> agree that most of the comeback points were scored off of Mr. Pierce?  He
had
> an awful +/- and the effect on the team was numbing from the first games
of
> the series.  Numbing, not inspiring.
>
> Decide what you will.  It ain't bashing, it's illuminating the Truth.