Re: Merry Xmas Atlanta

[Sean Giovanello <sgiovanello@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good Lord, Is that Kendrick Perkins music!!!!!

CeltsSteve@xxxxxxx wrote:

> In a message dated 12/23/03 10:26:07 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
> keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>  
>
> > Steve,
> >
> > While I agree with your points regarding Baker and Pierce in tonight's game, 
> > it is up to the coach to put a stop to the three point madness and Pierce's 
> > Walkeresque desires. 
> >
> > What has happened in the last four or so games is a complete return to the 
> > O'Brien offense of seasons past, whether he has designed it to be that way or 
> > not.  Gone is the ball movement to find easy shots 15-18 feet from the basket 
> > and in.  It's either in the post or whip it around the perimeter for a three 
> > point shot.  Very little in between game...those high percentage shots are 
> > becoming less frequent and the result is less assists per made basket and the 
> > lower shooting percentage
> > that became the norm since the Pitino era started.  
> >
> > Maybe the coach doesn't want this.  If so, it's up to him to stop it. Yes 
> > Baker couldn't make a shot tonight but does that mean the only other option is 
> > to fire up threes as if Antoine Walker and JR Bremer were still in green?  - 
> > Ravi
> >    
>
>
>
> Ravi,
>
> While I agree with your observation of the increase in 3 point attempts and 
> your point re: the coach's responsibility, they traded away Williams who was 
> adept in the low post but now other than Baker who do they have? Mihm's game 
> from what I've seen is primarily as a face up jump shooter and McCarty who is now 
> getting the backup "4" minutes never was or will be a post up player. Davis' 
> game is as a slasher not as a post up player. That leaves Pierce and Baker as 
> the primary low post or post up options. Given it is been a mere 8 days since 
> the trade and there have been 4 games sandwiched in with limited practice 
> time, with all due respect it is unrealistic to expect the coaching staff to have 
> integrated 3 more new players into the defensive schemes which is the first 
> priority and then to have reworked the offense to replace Williams' low post 
> contributions as well. Especially since they don't have a PG capable of creating 
> easy offense or better looks for his teammates in the manner you described. 
>
> In Pierce's defense and to his credit he is trying to incorporate others into 
> the offense over that 4 game span as his shot attempts are down (16 FG per 
> game) and way down from the Cavalier game a day and a 1/2 before the trade (25 
> FG attempts). Unfortunately, though, his shooting percentage during those same 
> four games is way down as well -- dropping to 35% (23 for 64).
>
> People lament not going inside to Baker enough but last night he got 11 shot 
> attempts and Blount had 7 and Mihm had 2 so that's 20 FG attempts right there 
> from the bigs. The problem is they only got 77 shot attempts the entire game. 
> Baker just wasn't hitting his shots last night so I can excuse a poor shooting 
> performance since he's been consistently in the Top 3 in FG% all season and 
> Blount had been shooting lights out over the past several games but he was in 
> foul trouble and eventually fouled out last night. What I can't accept or 
> excuse is the fact that Baker logged 30 minutes last night and managed to grab (?)  
> [or did it fall into his hands or did he track down an errant/long shot?] one 
> damn rebound in that entire span. Your team is getting hammered (again) on 
> the boards and you know your shot isn't falling so you try to help the team in 
> other ways. Last night Vin had 0 assists and 0 blocked shots. The lone rebound 
> he managed was on the defensive boards. I'm sorry but that's unacceptable. 
> Completely unacceptable. He mailed it in and maybe it's time for some tough love 
> from O'Brien. Sit his a@@ on the pine and let Perkins take a crack at it.
>
> But I digress. Only managing 77 shot attempts is far too few if you want to 
> be a "running" or up-tempo team. They need to be getting at least 90 shots per 
> game and more like 95 or 100. The problem though as everyone knows is if you 
> can't rebound you can't run. Oh yeah, the C's also don't have a true creating 
> PG that can penetrate and get others easy baskets, either; at least they don't 
> have someone that can do it on a regular basis. 
>
> So we're right back to getting someone who has the desire to rebound because 
> rebounding is all about desire to want to get the damn ball. And were also 
> back to the issue of getting a PG that can create tempo and easy opportunities. 
> And needing some practice time to get everyone in sync until they do get the 
> first two.     
>    
> CeltsSteve 
>
> ``Time, practice, patience, attitude, unselfishness'' - Jim O'Brien