Re: thoughts on this list and the Celtics

["Dan Forant" <dforant1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ryan:

To start with, kiss my arss. So you majored in journalism. Join a library.
Some write essays and say nothing. Something like your post here. Re-hashing
your run down of the season has been painful. The most encouraging thing
about this list is the enlightenment of the die hard Celtic fans that
realize they have been had.

After a slight pause and some lunch for strength I read the rest of your
post. It you want to self inflict yourself with the tortuous results of this
season, be my guest.

I tried making this post longer but started gagging.

Yours always,
DanF


----- Original Message -----
From: "Ryan W" <ubiquitous_am_i@yahoo.com>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 1:32 PM
Subject: thoughts on this list and the Celtics


> The most distressing aspect of this season has been
> the loss of sanity it has produced among both players
> and fans.  Per this list, previously fine posters like
> Kestus and Mark Berry have taken their heretofore
> objective slants and made it personal.  Longtime
> thoughtful and sincere posters have left, such as Joe
> H. and Bill Bird, leaving this list with still fewer
> writers of quality.  What are posts of quality?
> That's a tough question.  I'll tell you what is
> not....anything by Dan Forant (Dan, as a side note,
> try writing more than 2 sentences per post; and
> furthermore try making what you write intelligent).
> In the absence of thoughtful posting (and in the
> malaise that is this season) others have filled the
> void miserably.  Posts by Eggy, though well-written,
> are sarcastic and pure mental masturbation (as if this
> list is some substitute for a creative writing class).
>  Only Way has been consistent (that is, consistent to
> what he normally offers); consistent in occasionally
> offering tidbits of information and of offering
> semi-intelligent opinions (and Way, thanks for the
> postings from other places and locales, it is an
> important contribution to the list).  In short, as
> disappointing as this season has been, this list
> itself has been more so.
>
> But enough about how poor this list has become, let's
> talk of the team.  I love the Celtics.  I've watched
> every game (except the Minnesota games, which were
> blacked out in my area) and thus have a reasonable
> ability to comment on their play.  Let's break it down
> by player.
>
> Paul Pierce--best player on the team and the only
> player actually raising his play as the season ends
> (the last five games or so rival what Paul did last
> year for a majority of the year).  This year has been
> a monumental struggle for Paul.  Starting probably
> last year during the Nets' series, Paul just hasn't
> had the breaks.  The breaks from officials, from the
> rim, from USA basketball, from anyone.  In short, his
> rep has taken a killing.  Furthermore he has been
> injured.  The teeth to the back to the knee to almost
> everything.  This is not surprising given the amount
> of punishment that he recieves on a nightly basis.
> This is not to mention that of every superstar in the
> NBA (and I would put Paul in that category) Paul gets
> the least amount of superstar calls, not to mention
> any other call that most any other player would get.
> Some will retort that he leads the league in free
> throw makes and attempts and that, as such, there is
> no great disparity.  That argument is shit.  Watch the
> games.  See how many times Paul drives and is, as
> Tommy likes to put it, knocked off the shot.  It
> happens continually in the fourth quarter.  Meanwhile
> players like Jordan and Iverson get the calls.  Apart
> from any official misconduct, Paul has also been
> leading to his own demise.  Rarely is he loose and
> smiling.  Sometimes, I must admit, he just gives
> up---not because he is a quitter, but because, in my
> opinion, he just becomes so frustrated that he has to
> shut it down.  Nonetheless, I suspect he'll have a
> fine playoff run; his shot is finally looking
> mechanically correct and he appears to be as healthy
> as he has been all season.  I'm expecting a Paul
> Pierce explosion sometime during the Playoffs.
>
> Antoine Walker--the most misunderstood player in the
> world.  People think they know what he can do and what
> is happening in his head and how he should play and
> who he is...  You guys don't know shit.  What makes
> Antione a special player is his ability to rebound
> (Tommy is not having a senior moment when he says that
> Antione is best offensive rebounder in Celtics'
> history).  Beyond that, his skill set is merely above
> average.  The Celtics need to maximize Toine's
> ability.  He needs to get into the post.  He needs to
> be in position to rebound.  And the fact that he
> isn't, isn't some indictment on his character; it is a
> statement to coaching and management.  They must think
> that he can't fight down low (or that he wouldn't be
> successful).  And that is a glaring misrepresentation
> of the situation.  Toine is a banger.
>
> Tony Battie--the most important player on the team.
> Battie needs to get healthy.   When he is healthy, he
> is beyond serviceable; he becomes a force and, in my
> opinion, the best defensive player the Celtic's
> have....  That said, he needs to be used in better
> manner than he is currently (but I'll get to that at
> the end).
>
> Eric Williams--no left eye vision, huh?  The sad part
> about that is that I wasn't surprised to hear it.
> Williams has been described as the best defensive
> player on the Celtics.  Hardly.  That is not to say
> that Eric isn't important.  He can score on the box.
> But we hardly go to him.  He can hit the three
> pointer, though we wouldn't ever draw up a play for
> him.  Basically, he is a garbage player, picking up
> baskets where available.  And his defense...well, he
> is great as a system guy.  He is usually in the right
> place at the right time.  But as a one-on-one
> defender?  Nope, he can't do it anymore.  I'm tired of
> seeing Stackhouse, Jordan, Iverson, and anyone else
> drive around him.  It happens so much, that he has
> "perfected" the slap around move to poke to ball loose
> (after he is beaten, that is).  That is not a good
> thing.
>
> Tony Delk--Tony is a good guy.  But as a point guard
> and a starter, he has left many parts lacking.  Early
> in the season, when he was averaging double figures,
> it seemed that O'Brien's wet-dream of an offense was
> working; Delk could just sit around and shoot.  Aye,
> but that only works when Delk is making his shot.
> However, get him a little injured and he can't make a
> thing (he said as much in the papers earlier this
> week).  He is simply one of those player who, when he
> is making his shot is great, but when he isn't, is a
> liability.  These kinds of players should never be
> courted; get a team full of them and you have trouble
> (and/or this year's Celtics team)
>
> Mark Blount--Wow, he has been good...good for Mark
> Blount.  Finally, he is somewhat able to control his
> body to make it do good.  He rebounds and blocks
> shots, he is strong, occasionally he'll get some
> points.  In short, the perfect back up center.
>
> Walter--Up and down year for Walt.  That is not to say
> it hasn't been Walt's best year ever.  It has.  What
> is distressing is that just like Walker, Walter is
> being misused.  He should be back up center and
> nothing else.  But I'll get to that later as well.
>
> Grant Long--would somebody please tell me why this guy
> ever got so many minutes this year?  Plain and simple,
> he sucks.  Other than playing the five minutes that
> Antione sits out, he should never play (and I don't
> even think he should be playing those minutes, Walter,
> Williams, Blount, or Battie would all be better).  He
> rebounds alright and he'll make defensive plays
> (offensive fouls, steals, etc...), but on offense he
> sucks.  And on offense, this teams sucks.  So it is
> not a good combo.  Plus he is slow.  The less of
> Grant, the better; although I bet that he makes a
> couple of important plays down the stretch and in the
> playoffs.  The only thing that makes him somewhat
> valuable is that he is a veteran and can sometimes use
> that to sucker other players into something stupid.
>
> Kedrick Brown--his non-role on this team will spell
> its ultimate doom.  Would somebody free Kedrick Brown?
>  What does a nigger have to do to get some PT up in
> this motherfucker?  The reasons to play Brown are
> numerous; he's a great individual defender (Pierce has
> said it, Walker too; O'Brien admitted it last week and
> then immediately quit giving him playing time--classic
> Obie), he rebounds (the single greatest weakness on
> this team) and he runs.  Furthermore, give the guy a
> chance on offense.  Try running a play for the guy.
> The amount of times I've seen Kedrick being
> "froze-out" is ridiculous.  Even in garbage time, the
> guy doesn't get the ball.  This is the fault of both
> the players and the coaching staff.  Furthermore,
> Kedrick is exciting and, as Ainge pointed out last
> night, the fans need to see that so they can find a
> reason to cheer (it certainly won't come from how the
> Celtics play offense).
>
> J.R. Bremer--in the beginning, J.R. sucked.  Then he
> started getting playing time, started to get confident
> and then started to hit his shot.  And then, he kept
> shooting so much and became the left-handed version of
> Antione--all three pointers, all the time...  And so,
> once again, we have a Delk situation---if he's not
> hitting his shot, he sucks.  Both are point guards are
> like that---and that is bad.
>
> Ok, enough with the player profiles.  This is what the
> Celtics need to do to go far in the playoffs.
>
> Number one--start Blount.  Blount has been playing
> good and he plays better when he starts.  But this
> move is more predicated on two other factors; Walter
> and Battie.  For Battie, this season is almost lost.
> He is very close to just finally breaking (all these
> nagging injuries he's been receiving lately--the
> ankle, the hand--are just symptoms of the bad knee--he
> is overcompensating and it has been injuring him).  To
> best use Battie, I would use him in high energy 4
> minute intervals, twice in the first half and twice in
> the second.  Make Battie a sort of secret weapon;
> bring him in to start runs and improve the defense in
> short spurts.  This conserves Battie and maximizes his
> contributions.  Plus, if this plan is carried out, he
> is always fresh and available down the stretch of the
> game--where we need him.  Furthermore, we have Walter.
>  Hasn't everyone noticed that his best games are when
> he plays center for the majority of the game?  The
> reason for this is, just like Rodney last year, Walt,
> by playing the center spot. is able to get his 3 point
> shot whenever he wants it.  This is huge.  It is very
> relevant to the confindence factor that someone know
> they can always get their shot when they want it.  It
> takes off a lot of pressure.  Plus, with the guarantee
> of open three pointers, our offense immediately gets
> better since we, like last night, usually go thru a
> couple of stretches where we can't even get open
> shots.  This needs to stop.
>
> Number Two--Free Kedrick.  We've already went over
> this.  Kedrick needs to play and he needs to play
> alot.  Start Kedrick, play him thirty and watch how
> much more fresh and effective both Delk and Williams
> become.
>
> Number Three--for Christ's Sake, substitute like you
> mean it.  Pierce is playing too much and Walker is
> about to collapse.  Use combo's of Kedrick, Williams,
> McCarty, Blount, and Bremer to rest these two....how
> about bringing back some sort of press, just to mix it
> up?  Just to fuck with the other team...how many times
> has a change in defensive scheme just fucked up our
> offensive flow?  Give them their own medicine.  That
> is one of the faults of our defense.  It's always the
> same.  Not only does that help the mentality of the
> other team (they know that if they break the defense,
> they don't have to worry about adjustments), it hurts
> the mentality of the Celtics (if the defense is
> getting beat--and sometimes it is, no matter the
> defensive effort--they know their our no other
> alternatives--and that is bad).  We need some
> motherfucking innovation.
>
> This of course all comes back to the coach.  Like
> everyone else on this list, I too can see his
> shortcomings.  He just doesn't seem so bright.  He
> found a couple things that work and instead of looking
> for more, he seems intent of using those couple things
> forever.  This is not a sign of a good coach.
> Adaptability is...and O'Brien hasn't shown it.  Even
> Pitino would have found a way to use Baker and
> Kedrick....O'Brien hasn't or doesn't know how.  This
> is bad.  As for Wallace.  Yeah, lets kill that guy
> (not literally of course).  The Baker trade was bad
> from the beginning.  The drafting strategy is worse.
> Both should be fired (though I'm not hoping for a
> short playoff run like some of you; this is my team
> and I want them to win every game, no matter the
> ineptness of certain players, coaches or members of
> management).
>
>
> One final note;  since the draft is coming and it soon
> may become the only thing to look forward to
> (basketball-wise), I thought I'd mention a few
> prospects.
>
> Keith Langford--lost in all the mutual masturbation
> that was the mindless praising of the seniors of the
> Kansas team (how many times did the Packer and Nantz
> mention that Collison and Hinrich were playing their
> last game during the Championship game? It was
> infinity more times than they mentioned the same thing
> about Keuth Duany--though the same applied to him) was
> the play of Langford.  Maybe Tam can fill us in, but
> where is the praise for this guy?  He was the most
> important player on that Kansas team and would be
> great for the Celtics.  All he does is shoot layups.
> I want this guy.
>
> T.J. Ford--great point guard, but if he came to the
> Celtics, he would either be released or traded within
> 3 years, if O'Brien was still coach.  We seem to be
> the only team in the league that doesn't appreciate
> what a point guard can do.
>
> Dwayne Wade--this is one guy I would like the Celtics
> to draft, if available.  He passed, rebounds, scores
> and is smart.  He did exactly what Pierce should do
> every night....use his scoring prowess to make his
> teammates better.  He would fit great on the Celtics.
>
> That's it.  This was long.  I even appreciate more the
> long posts the rest of you write.
>
> Ryan
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