RE: The Golden State win

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Oh, I don't think anyone twisted Antoine's arm or is twisting Walter's. Obie's just proving to be a willing accomplice. I just wish he'd look past his stat sheet and see the effect Walter's increased minutes are having on the offense. 

Mark

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Sean Giovanello [mailto:sgiovanello@xxxxxxxxxxxx] 
Sent:	Tuesday, December 30, 2003 9:35 AM
To:	Berry, Mark  S
Cc:	celtics@xxxxxxxx
Subject:	Re: The Golden State win

***

General observation... Obie clearly prefers a power forward who can hit the three to one who can post up. He values that over rebounding. He values blitzing the pick-and-roll over rebounding at the center position. The Celtics are going to get killed on the boards as long as this is the case, and they'll never be much more than a .500 team if they can't hold their own on the boards. 
***

Yet, OB never wanted to play that way.  It was all Evil Antoine's fault that the PF shot 3's all night.  I hate OB...



Berry, Mark S wrote:

>>From the lack of posts, I'm guessing not many stayed up for the game. Here are some nuggets...
>
>1.	Walter started at center and Chris Mihm registered a DNP-CD. I can't talk about this too much or I'll get angry. Walter and Blount both played well last night. The threes were falling for Walter (4-for-6, 16 points), and Blount took six shots and made them all (12 points). The team gets outrebounded by 20, 12 and (gulp) 35 in its last three games, and Obie's answer is to bench the team's best rebounder (Mihm) and start Walter. By the way, when Obie was asked about Mihm's play against the Lakers (I think we'd all agree he played very well), he said Mihm didn't do anything memorable. I think I'm going to lose what little is left of my hair over this. The team's best center is getting DNP-CDs, the second-best center is on the injured list (they IL'd Kendrick and activated Hunter, who, of course, registered a DNP-CD last night), and Mark Blount and Walter McCarty are playing all the center minutes. See... I talked about it and now I'm angry.
>
>2.	Vin Baker got off to another strong start. He had, I think, eight quick points before Obie, as usual, benched him and forgot about him. He finished with 18 minutes and 10 points and 4 rebounds. He only had two fouls, so that wasn't it. He had his hands full trying to guard Dampier, but he shouldn't have been guarding Dampier anyway-Mihm or Blount should have. But since Walter started at center, they stuck Walter on Cliff Robinson and Vin on Dampier. I guess the starting lineup was designed to shut down that world-beater Uncle Cliffy. Whatever. Brilliant coaching maneuver.
>
>3.	Jiri bounced back nicely. He had 15 points and, after missing a few jumpers early, found his rhythm and started mixing up his offense. He's at his best when he's driving, dishing and taking the open jumpers. He gets in trouble when he turns into a stationary, spot-up shooter. Of course, Obie turns everyone into stationary, spot-up shooters.
>
>4.	Ricky Davis had another nice game. He ended up with 12 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 25 minutes. He was 5-for-13, but I think most of those misses came late when he tried to attack the basket and didn't get the foul calls. He's a player. He's extremely active out there. When he's on the floor, he's doing something. He's the anti-Kedrick.
>
>5.	Neither point guard distinguished himself. Mike James is in a shooting slump - he seems to be a streaky guy, and when that three-point shot isn't falling, he doesn't help much. Marcus Banks took too many quick shots. I was surprised Obie put up with it as long as he did. I continue to hope Banks will turn into a point guard, but was a little chilled watching Speedy Claxton last night. Who's to say that isn't Banks' upside? 
>
>6.	As I mentioned, Brandon Hunter was activated and Kendrick was placed on the IL. You'd assume this was done because of the glaring need for rebounding from the power forward spot, but Hunter still registered a DNP-CD. Meanwhile, Jumaine Jones was 0-for-3 with 1 rebound and 2 turnovers in 17 minutes as the backup power forward last night. 
>
>7.	General observation... Obie clearly prefers a power forward who can hit the three to one who can post up. He values that over rebounding. He values blitzing the pick-and-roll over rebounding at the center position. The Celtics are going to get killed on the boards as long as this is the case, and they'll never be much more than a .500 team if they can't hold their own on the boards. 
>
>8.	Despite all the coaching moves that drive me crazy (maybe because of them?... nah... ) the Celts played well last night. It was the second game of a back-to-back and third game in four nights (would have been nice to have another big body to give them some fresh legs... someone like... oh, I don't know... Chris Mihm!). They moved the ball well, especially in the first half (20 of their 28 assists were in the first half). Pierce didn't play well and the team didn't miss a beat offensively. They're playing too much Obieball - drive and kick out for threes - but at least they played it well last night. It was a great road trip. Now they need to avoid the traditional Celtic turkey in the homecoming game. Seems like they always lose that one to give back what they gained out West.
>
>9.	Good news... Wyc Grousbeck was quoted in the paper today as saying the mid-level exception is available this summer. I was among those who wasn't sure that would be the case after the Ricky Davis trade. Time to start looking at power forwards and point guards.
>
>10.	Today's "What Team is Tommy Heinsohn Watching?" note... They were talking about the rebounding last night, and Tommy said they're doing fine on the defensive boards, but not getting anything on the offensive boards. He said this could be solved by... (three guesses)... running more. Is he watching the games? It's hard to listen to Tommy when he says stuff like that. The defensive boards are killing this team. And they can't run because they can't rebound. Danny was quoted in the papers today as saying they need more rebounding from the guards and small forwards, but it's hard to expect much more than what you're getting from Pierce, Welsch and Davis. Those guys probably are the three best rebounders among the guys in the rotation. But running more will solve everything. Thanks, Tommy.
>
>Mark