looking for a reason to behave--er, believe

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

Hi there.

Ah, the reminders of last season, when several people referred to that 
selfish player who never gave up the ball.

Paul Pierce bashers 2001, meet the Antoine Walker bashers 2002.

Ok, I looked up through my favorite Celtics-related site--mine, at 
http://users.mfi.net/fluteaphrael/celticsbeagle/celtics.html. (Come by for 
a visit, bring your friends). I found that, ok, Paul has never recorded 
more than 9 assists in an NBA game.  Perhaps that's because aside from 
Walker, he had to shoulder most of the scoring burden.  That's what happens 
when you're one of only two consistent scoring opportunities and your team 
offense is built around shooting the three pointer.

But I don't think that's Paul's fault.  If the C's get a few guys who can 
shoot with consistency, that'll open up a lot of assist 
opportunities.  Those of you fixated on the recent World Championships 
might want to remember that Pierce was one of the few people on the US team 
who not only seemed to be taking the game more seriously than, say a 
scrimmage against the local Boys Club--he was often the only one hitting 
his shots.  Without his--what was it, again--hogging the ball?  Without 
that, the US team would have lost an additional two games.

It always happens this time of year.  Some people are convinced that the 
C's have turned into Charlie Brown's All-Stars.  We lost that nightmare 
when Rick "Nobody's walking through that door" Pitino left.

Coach O'Brien is not an idiot, people.  He knew that last season the 
Celtics defense and fast-shooting threes was going to be the only way for a 
chance to go the distance.  And he very nearly did it, but for some 
questionable competence on the part of NBA refs and some help from the Nets 
making improbably shots under pressure.

I'm convinced--and fully aware that there are those who disagree with me, 
nyahh, nyahh--that this season he'll have the Good Guys work on their shot 
selection and getting to the open man.  Said open man will hopefully have a 
shooting percentage better than most of the guys last year.  Yes, Wallace 
blew up the roster.  But it's done.  The coach's job is to make it work, 
and as fans, OUR job is to support the TEAM.  Even if we're nervous, or 
pessimistic.  Even if we think Wallace and Gaston should take a long walk 
off a short pier into a hungry alligator pit.

I'm still thinking good thoughts about the Boston Celtics.  We survived 
Rick Pitiful, we can handle anything.  I, for one, am ready to rock and roll.

Disparaging our guys?  Don't like the guys who carried the team to the 
brink of the Eastern Conference championship and a showdown for the 
Title?  Think that we should take potshots at them for doing WHAT THEIR 
COACH TOLD THEM TO DO?

Then go root for the Fakers, and stop annoying the Celtics 
fans.  Plllllbbbttttt.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the Celtics Beagle website at 
http://users.mfi.net/fluteaphrael/celticsbeagle/celtics.html