re: Back to sitting on the bandwagon

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Jessen,
How do you not get dizzy with all this spinning?
Ray


> ** Original Subject: Back to sitting on the bandwagon
> ** Original Sender: Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx
> ** Original Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 04:39:23 -0700 (PDT)

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> 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

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