Re: Celtics Mailbag: Mike Gorman Answers more questions

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've heard--quite clearly, in fact, given his vocal stamina--Obie exhort 
his team to run on offense and cover people on defense.  He has made a 
point of frequent substitutions to ensure fresh legs.  There's just not a 
whole lot of options of several players play below expectations--sooner or 
later, they all go back on the court.  When the starters stank up the place 
in Phoenix, the bench came in--on two different occasions--to shore things 
up.  I know that we're probably in for a few more stinkeroos before things 
settle down, and Obie will be the happiest guy in the NBA when the trading 
deadline passes.

I agree with you in that I'd like to see the C's play more 
consistently.  By that, I mean they need to run until their sneakers 
smoulder (and someone please wipe off Jiri's sneaks before he slips again 
and kills someone?); they need to learn once and for all that the proper 
way to beat the press is to pass the flamin' ball upcourt; and if they 
really want to draw the defense away from Pierce, they need to hit shots.

Individually, I think Vin Baker may be hitting a wall.  It's been years 
since he put out this kind of sustained effort and I think it's beginning 
to tell.  Pierce is still dribbling into trouble way too many times.  He's 
not as god a ballhandler as he seems to think he is.  Even so, his 
teammates need to stop handing him the ball at midcourt with 7 seconds on 
the shot clock.  Mike James needs to unleash that speed and go for broke to 
the hoop.  Jiri Welsch may actually be the best PG on the team.  Ricky 
Davis should not get the ball unless he is less than three seconds away 
from putting up a shot, and he needs to get into the defense.  There just 
isn't any time for him to take it slowly, he'll have to hit the floor 
running--as should his teammates.

Tonight's game against the ^&#((^(@)^)& should be a constant display of the 
running game.  If we don't run, we better pray the threes fall, because 
Shaq will destroy any halfcourt trip into the hoop.  the $^)^@()&(!*~( 
don't react well to playing from behind.  The key is not to stop Shaq and 
Kobe--that plays into their game.  Channel them into tougher shots, and run 
them ragged.  The $%^#$^%& bench is a joke.  If the C's play smart--and 
run--they have a chance to come out with a win.  Let's hope for the best.

At 05:49 PM 12/28/2003, Dan Forant wrote:

>It's what he doesn't get out of  the Celts that have given us losses like
>the Hawks and Bulls. You're marveled at OB's slight of hand.
>
>DanF
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Snoopy the Celtics Beagle" <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>cut
> > I question the "top five", but have
> > consistently marveled at how much he gets out of what--on paper--is not a
> > high quality team overall.  Consider that despite the near universally
> > disparaging remarks made about the EC, Boston has been kicking some
>serious
> > WC butt this season.  If only they played as consistently against teams
> > like the Hawks and the Bulls, Boston would have blown the doors off the EC
> > this season.

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the <http://www.celticsbeagle.net/>Celtics Beagle Website