Back to sitting on the bandwagon

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

Another preseason game, another blowout loss. You would think would have 
jumped off the bandwagon by now, especially since I was in the launch position and 
you guys nearly trampled me in your effort to get off. However, I actually 
see some breaks in the clouds. I am back to a sitting position on the bandwagon. 
Still alert, however. 

We had many encouraging developments tonight inspite of the loss. The reasons 
for optimism:

Good things
1) Kudos to Obie for not going back to the grind it out offense this game. We 
aren't going to see the track meet some hope for. I believe we will get some 
layups on steals, something we couldn't manage last year. I think this is as 
uptempo as it is going to get other than a few Banks to Kedrick connections. 
But this should help. I think the Cs are still struggling with a new, REAL 
offense and how their roles and spacing will be in  non-isolation. Obie let it run, 
we did ok. (It was the defense that killed us in this game. However, I have 
confidence Obie will get that back in shape.) We will have to spend a lot of 
practices and early losses learning the offense and fastbreaking, making up for 
the lack of REAL offense and fastbreaking in the last couple of years. It is 
encouraging that Obie stuck with it with the exception of a third quarter PP 
isolation tear.

2) Banks looks like he is really starting to settle in. He is playing much 
more confidently and is finally breaking down the offense in a Tim 
Hardaway/Kevin Johnson fashion. He is also learning a great deal about how to finish 
against NBA competition. He will have to start using his body to guard the ball 
after making his great penetration and separation. He is making progress and 
getting the kinks out at a time when games don't count. You know your player is 
feeling comfortable when he is juking a player after he brings down the ball, 
looking for an openning instead of waiting for the center to come to down so you 
can start the offense. But he was recognizing the defense and breaking them 
down at will.

3) Kedrick showed he could put up the numbers when asked to. I am kind of 
thinking he may look better in the second unit so he doesn't get lost in the 
PP/Twan show. He did disappoint me when he just blended into instead of attempting 
to dominate when he and the rookies finished up. He needs to bring his game 
at all times, especially when he is the best player of his team on the floor. 
That is a head/effort thing.

4)Kendrick again showed nice footwook in the offensive post. I like his 
workman-like attitude. I thought he looked more familar and improved on defense. 
For the second game in a row, he reached across his body attempting to block a 
shot from a penetrator. This turns his body to the side making it a lot 
skinnier and easier to drive by. He needs to learn either to block shots with his 
left hand also or to just move over and take the charge. I also liked watching 
him get ahead of, accelerate and beat Darko down the court like the Chief used 
to do (Banks made a nice pass to reward him). The kid has a lot of basketball 
sense for a youngster. His body is really different. I can't think of anyone he 
reminds me of.

5)Hunter always seems to dominate on the boards when given the chance to 
play. You got to think that would help the team and that Obie has to find some 
minutes for him (and Perkins). Nice posterization on a dunk over Darko.

6)Walker really played within the offense. Newsflash! He looked for Banks 
after garnering a rebound twice. I don't know if he took a bad shot. This was 
quite encouraging. Unfortunately, he only seems to do this (not forcing his 
offense) when he makes a couple of threes early and I don't think that is always 
going to happen.

7)I think this is the first time in two decades where we actually have some 
young talent to develop to finish up blowouts (Brown, Banks, Perkins, Hunter). 
It has been that long, folks. Things are looking good long term.

8)Baker again showed great improvement in his defensive movement, rebounding 
and finishing. Last year, all of the centers, even the stiffs, would just 
dribble past Baker. Not anymore. It sure seems strange that Obie hasn't figure a 
way to design a few plays for him. They seem to want him to play backup power 
forward. However, I think he is so much better than Battie and Blount. Perhaps 
he doesn't want the pounding. I like Baker with the second unit. But I think 
he has to get more time, likely at center.

I am adjusting my win total down. However, it we can continue to get Obie to 
look long term, I think we will still make the playoffs, go on a second half 
of the season tear and have a terrific team at playoff time.

Bad things
1)The bloom is off the rose on James. I like the way he is willing to pass 
the ball up the court but his shooting is really disappointing. He is definitely 
the backup behind Banks on openning night.

2)PP was in foul trouble a lot and seemed a little disinterested. He was able 
to make it a little interesting in the third when he went on a isolation 
tear. Unfortunately, the Pistons caught on and soon it was 1 on 5. That didn't 
dissuade Paul and he made a few of the St Paul haters sleep well tonight. 

3)Battie just isn't impressing. He hasn't yet pulled down a rebound in 
traffic. He is beginning to remind me of Blount. I still don't know what the coach 
sees in Blount. Brown played Campbell and Wallace together and it just doesn't 
seem like we can handle the beef. Does it seem like a slender Battie and a 
slimmer Walker can battle Campbell and monster Wallace even up to you?

4)Doesn't Okur remind you of Bill Lambier with his smirk?

5)I really think that a large reason why I liked the substitution so well was 
that Delk and Walter weren't available. Can we make that permanent?....

DJessen33