Re: thoughts on this list and the Celtics

[Cecil <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Danny boy, I knew you wouldn't let me down!!!!

:-)

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>
To: Ryan W <ubiquitous_am_i@yahoo.com>; <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 9:26 PM
Subject: Re: thoughts on this list and the Celtics


> 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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