Yiri's got some scrap in him...

[Ryan W <ubiquitous_am_i@xxxxxxxxx>]

Random thoughts on the Detroit game...

They finally called a play in the beginning of the
game for Kedrick (maybe to get his confidence up) like
I called for earlier in the week; he scored on a nice
lean-in.  Of course, true to form, while Kedrick was
having his best game of the season (great D on
Hamilton; 2 steals; even forced a shot!), O'Brien
decides to bench him for almost the entire second half
and play a hobbled Jones in his place.  Nice.  And
this after Jones--in the papers--was lobbying for more
time to heal.  Good job, Obie!

Banks is the ultimate end-of-the-quarter/half player
in the league.  He's like Tyus Edney on roids.  And
his shot was on last night too.  He should have been
given more playing time.  And I agree with Mark; I
think that if he just concentrates on perfecting his
own moves to the hoop, the other, more point guard
related play will come...

Jones, while hobbled, played pretty good.  And he's
got a little scrap in him too.  Wait till he can
actually run and jump (note:  Is there such a thing as
coaching malpractice?  It was absolutely obvious that
Jones was hurting out there.  What does Obie do? 
Plays him the entire 2nd quarter...then waits till the
six minute mark in the fourth before re-inserting him.
 Let me count the ways in which this was stupid:  (1)
Jones hasn't played all season; this is his first
game; let's give him some crunch time play to work off
the rust! (2) He had sat the entire second half until
then.  Do you think his hammys might have been a
little tight? BTW, Jones did nothing in those last 6
minutes besides avoiding injury (zero points, assists,
rebounds, etc...).  Good job Jumaine!  Is not O'Brien
the most short-sighted coach ever?)

Yes, Yiri does have some scrap and he's excellent with
the ball in his hands.  That said, he got played way
too much.  What did he have, like 4 turnovers or so
against the press?  He was very sloppy, though I can
see his promise.  Ainge made a good pickup in Jiri. 
But damn he's slow.  But that can be improved (by
seeing Ben Wallace's "doctor").  But why doesn't
O'Brien give Kedrick the same long leash?  I've never
seen Kedrick make 4 blantant mistakes in a row before
(like Jiri did last night).  Why?  Cause O'Brien pulls
him before he can...   

Lastly, our young players are getting their shit
handed to them by the officials.  Kedrick had two
absolutely minor bumps on Hamilton and got called for
two fouls.  Marcus and James get no respect from the
officials, especially when on the offensive end where
Chauncey would catch a blow now and then by actually
hoping on their backs and riding them.  

Ryan

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