Re: Quick game thoughts...

[Ryan W <ubiquitous_am_i@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- "Berry, Mark  S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> You wrote:
> 
> Can you elaborate on Indy's announcers? What were
> they saying?
> 
> --- --- ---
> 
> The play-by-play guy kept going on and on about
> Battie's scoring. He was making sarcastic remarks
> about it being the best night of his career, and
> once when Battie made one of his 15-footers, said
> something about that being way out of his range. He
> clearly thought Battie was a total scrub.
> 
> They were homers as far as the officiating was
> concerned also, but it's hard to say much when the
> comparison is Tommy. 
> 
> They also didn't have many nice things to say about
> the Boston point guards (which would be
> understandable if the Pacer point guards weren't
> Kenny Anderson and Anthony Johnson). They were
> pretty bad in general. Quinn Buckner was the color
> guy. He was far less offensive than the play-by-play
> "talent."

Good points, Mark, I had forgotten about those
moments.  I now remember Alberts referring to our
points as "the festering sores" of our teaml.  Every
Alberts brother should be shot (metaphorically, of
course).

> 
> As for the game...
> 
> Great, great win. Pierce again played awful in the
> first half, but really seemed to "get it" in the
> second half. He made some great passes and was
> making his moves anticipating the defensive reaction
> and aware of where the open man would be. Good
> stuff. When he plays like that, the team is very
> good. 
> 
> The ball movement was crisp in the second half. It
> was obvious Obie had made it a point of emphasis at
> halftime. The defensive intensity also picked up.
> 
> Battie played well, as did Baker and EWill. The
> point guards were bad, until James warmed up down
> the stretch. Lafrentz continues to be wasted. He
> gets his 8-10 ppg on garbage baskets. The only shots
> he's getting in the offense are 3-pointers, and
> that's a shame. He's too good an offensive player to
> not be involved. Jiri really is going to be a good
> player. He's smart and aggressive. When he gets some
> experience, he's going to be good.

Is LaFrentz wasted or your typical white player who
drifts from game-to-game like Keith Van Horn?  I agree
though that their should be more pick-and-rolls
between Paul and Raef and more post-ups.  People
forget that Raef is a really good post-up player...

> 
> The beauty of Kedrick, it seems, is in the eye of
> the beholder. I thought he was lousy for most of the
> game last night. He hit one 3-pointer and made one
> nice steal. If that's all you're looking for, great.
> Personally, I'm ready for some significant Jumaine
> Jones minutes. You have to wonder, though, if they
> aren't running Kedrick out there in an effort to
> trade him. Let's face it, nothing would submarine
> his value more than being buried at the end of the
> bench in his third season in the league.

He was poor on offense last night, but that was in the
first half, when Indiana's defense had its legs and
the entire Celtic team couldn't get a thing to fall
(something like 30 percent shooting).  In the third
quarter, when he hit his only shot, he played better. 
He also showed some great passing (at least 3 great
passes that led to lay-ups).  And he had at least four
offensive rebounds last night.  Come on, Mark, he
wasn't lousy.  And his defense was dynamite last
night.  When watching Kedrick, you have to remember
not to let your expectation of what he should (with
his physical gifts) do interfere with your perception
of what he is doing.   

> 
> Obie made some good adjustments, but he misses some
> obvious things. On the Celtics' final possession,
> when Baker hit the winner, he came out of a time out
> with Blount still in the game. Doesn't that seem
> nuts? It's one possession. If you make the shot,
> Indy calls time out. If you miss, you foul
> immediately. So don't you put Lafrentz in for Baker
> just to force the Pacers to guard him? It worked
> out, but don't you want your best offensive players
> on the floor for that one offensive possession?
> Sure, it's just one possession, but if Baker had
> been doubled or pressured more, and forced to dump
> it off, would you feel more confident with him
> dumping it to Blount or Lafrentz? Plus, Lafrentz is
> the team's best rebounder and definitely the best
> offensive rebounder. Anyway, it didn't bite them
> this time, but that's the stuff that drives me
> crazy. Overall, though, that was a well-coached game
> by Obie. I thought they were a little more creative
> in getting good shots for Pierce and Baker!
>  , and they made some good adjustments at halftime.
> The score was low, but I think the Pacers are just a
> good defensive team - like the Celtics.
> 
> Last thing - the running game is nonexistent. No one
> is running. I think Obie pays lip service to running
> for Ainge's sake, but I don't see any indication
> he's actively coaching it.

Running was non-existent last night...but the passing
was there in the half court.  Reasons why we didn't
run: first half, Indiana shot 50 percent, outrebounded
us by 10 and Marcus was struggling...we're not going
to run when that happens.  Second half, O'Brien
shortened his rotation, people concentrated on defense
to come back from 15 down, and the running game was
benched.  Hopefully, it returns tonight (because it
really helps the young guys--Kedrick, Marcus, and
Jiri--get into the flow).

> 
> Anyway, great win. Extremely tough schedule to open
> the season, and the Celts come out 4-3 and in first
> place in the Atlantic. Now they get a schedule break
> where, if they stay focused, they could make some
> hay.
> 
> Mark


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