RE: no love from DA

["Wright, Cecil" <Cecil.Wright@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I think largest areas of improvement for us will be the ability to get to the free throw line with a PG who knows how to deliver the ball to a player in a scoring area.  Even though Paul led the league in attempts, as a team we were way down the list of FTA.

GS:  2382
Uta: 2349
Ind: 2271
Phi: 2253
NJ:  2195
SA:  2194
LAC: 2177
LAL: 2129
Orl: 2079
Was: 2077
Hou: 2044
Det: 2021
Chi: 2014
Cle: 2012
Atl: 2011

Bos: 1994

I think Banks will increase that number as will a commitment to the boards.  There's a huge difference between running the court knowing that there will likely not be a chance to score off the break, like last year, and running the floor with the hope of receiving a pass if open for a layup.  The players will have that mindset with the ball in his hands.

You've all played pickup ball with a guy who rarely looked ahead to advance the ball and know how frustrating it can be, especially when you are the one ahead of the field and still don't get the pass.  Or cutting off a screen and busting wide open down the lane.  I doubt that will be much of an issue with Banks.  These are among the plays which force the defense to use a foul.

Cecil


Cecil Wright, Nova Scotia Program Officer
National Crime Prevention Centre
Suite 1400 - Duke Tower 
5251 Duke Street
Halifax, NS  B3J 1P3
Tel: (902) 426-5950
Fax: (902) 426-8532
Email: cecil.wright@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Web: www.prevention.gc.ca


-----Original Message-----
From: Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx [mailto:Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]
Sent: August 01, 2003 11:40 AM
To: markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Celtics@xxxxxxxx;
Celticsstuffgroup@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: no love from DA


I agree. The same yo-yos that like Orlando and Detroit this year also liked 
Atlanta, Milwaukee and Miami last year. I didn't like any of them.

 I think Orlando will be slightly improved and Detroit will be the same or 
drop off a little. I laugh at this infatuation with Indy. The Badboys routine 
worked during the start of the last season but once the league caught on, they 
were exposed for a team that didn't have the basketball skills to put the ball 
in the hole. Now they lose a lot of toughness and an all-star in Miller. Yet, 
people say they like their young talent...Tinsley, Harrington, O'Neil, Artest. 
Tinsley is so good that they are looking for a new point guard. Harrington 
comes off the bench and stunk during the playoffs last year. O'Neil is great but 
we will see how good he is with a slighter Pollard backing him instead of 
Miller. I love Artest as a Rodman but he is brain damage.... 

People diss the Cs because of oldtime bias or they like to play the 
contrarion. The playoffs is what matters. The Cs went to the ECFs two years ago and 
semifinals last year with the same core. All it would take is a couple of easy 
baskets every game and you can see a great improvement. The same people who 
pointed out how the Cs will miss Kenny last year now won't give it back when we 
add a point guard. We have added depth which was a reason people discounted the 
Cs last year (rightly so). 

You also got the Baker factor. He has been disrepected and hit bottom. 
Expectations are zero for him. If he does anything, he will be considered as the 
Comeback Player of the Year. 

Bottom line is that the Cs have a lot of ammo in the bag that fuels optimism. 
A core that puts them in the top four in the East minimum, and then the 
uptempo influence of Banks and Jones which puts them in the two spot (which think 
they were last year anyways, playoffwise). Add the X-factor in Baker and the 
excitement begins....

DJessen33

<< While I don't dislike the moves Orlando made, I don't understand how 
 DA can say they are better than the C's or even the Sixers.  If you 
 think our bench was thin look at theirs -- and they lost their 
 sparkplug Darrell Armstrong.  I don't think its a stretch to say 
 Banks may be a better starting PG -- RIGHT NOW -- than Tyronne Lue 
 either. >>