Re: Tape of Celtics/Bucks game--PLEASE????

[Kestas <kkv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 12:25 AM 1/19/2003 -0500, you wrote:
> I'm really annoyed that my third-rate cable provider chose not to show this
> game (and God Help them on Monday when I talk to them--because they'll NEED
> help.)
I didn't think to tape it, but don't they usually show it again the next 
day or so?
Anyway, I really feel for all you guys who didn't get to watch the game. 
It's super annoying. I hate to miss a game - I once climbed on the roof of 
my house at night, in a hellacious icestorm, to install a dish so that I 
could watch a Celtics game later that night (as it turned out, they got 
pasted by the Sixers that time).

And this was a helluva game to miss. Bremer, Baker, and Kedrick all playing 
well in the same game. Walker continuing his hot shooting. The Celtics, 
despite missing two starters and a struggling Paul Pierce, running up a 
lead on the team which seems to always blow them out in that building, then 
holding the Bucks off thanks to herculean efforts by new heroes (Kedrick, 
Bremer) and old standbys (EWIll, Waltuh) alike. Pierce, missing a ton of 
shots, yet nailing a crucial J down the stretch. Baker going 5-5 in the 1st 
half and adding 3 blocks. Like Greg Dickerson (whom I liked as a color 
commentator, btw) said, could we move the Bradley Center to Boston, to 
permanently revitalize Baker's game?

A week ago, the Celtics seemed to be running on fumes and out of options. 
Walker and Pierce looked tired, Battie was chronically injured, Baker was 
crying, Shammond was struggling (at least one thing hasn't changed), and 
the bench was useless. Then we suddenly find a serviceable point guard in 
JR Bremer, come close to defeating 2 of the 3 Texas teams, and run off 
three solid wins, two of them against traditionally tough opponents, while 
discovering that Kedrick can play a little.

The best thing about this game is of course Kedrick's emergence. He showed 
exactly what he could be, without extrapolating his current abilities too 
much. He can play a decent-enough D and be very effective, because the 
player he's guarding is painfully aware that Kedrick is always capable of 
recovering on a play and blocking or challenging his shot thanks to KB's 
amazing athleticism. It seemed to me that Kedrick's mere presence in front 
of a player was enough to alter his normal shooting routine. And Kedrick 
can just sky for rebounds, even when he doesn't have a good rebounding 
position. His shooting is still shaky, but he can score 8-10 points a game 
running the wings and on moves around the basket, both of which he showed 
last night. He also showed good court awareness, throwing a nice pass right 
over the retreating defense on a fast break. There were also some pesky 
steals and "Tommy points" for stepping in front of a player for a charge, 
and digging out a ball that seemed irretrievably headed out of bounds. I 
have to say Delk's injury and Pierce's struggles have been a blessing in 
disguise.

Another feel-good story is Bremer. I think he's for real. Despite not 
shooting well, he finds a way to contribute passing the ball, playing tough 
D, rebounding, and sharing ball-handling responsibilities with Toine. He 
also commits very few turnovers and has hit a clutch 3 in the last 2 games. 
How many of those of you who could watch the game last night thought (or 
screamed) to yourself, as I did, "put Bremer back in!", when Sam Cassell 
was abusing Shammond in the 4th and Obie called a timeout to stop the 
Bucks' run?

As for Vinnie, while his performance and body language were encouraging 
signs, I'd have to see more to believe he's returning to his old form. The 
conditions definitely were right for him last night. We'll see if that 
transfers to other venues against other teams.

Walker has played two straight smart games. It's not a coincidence that 
he's shooting over 50% in those games. I've come to appeciate McCarty more 
and more this season. I hate to give the BDT any credit anymore, but it was 
a good signing, even though Obie was probably the impetus behind it. EWill 
was his old usual self, doing all the little things that a team needs to 
win. He got some tough, tough rebounds in the crunchtime.

Wow, this has gotten long, I better stop now.
Kestas