Celts: past or future?

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yeah, it has been dead on the list, but then I think that reflects what the
team has been putting on the court. Even their last few wins were only wins
by the grace of an overwhelming disparity of talent in our favor. That seems
to be what it takes today, because the schemes implemented by the coach seem
designed to minimize the talent that Danny has assembled.

Ask yourself this: if you are the coach, with a brand-spanking-new three
year contract, do you coach for the past or for the (near) future?

Playing Waltuh 40+ minutes *anywhere* (especially at a power position) is a
bad memory from the Celtics past.

The future is Mihm, Hunter, Perkins--and *maybe* Blount.

"Organizing" the offense around Paul Pierce trying to create 30 feet from
the hoop is a terrible flashback to the past (with Antoine in the starring
role).

The future should involve movement, passing, cutting to the hoop and
inside-out basketball.

Hoping to steal wins by relying on 3-pointers while "grinding it out" on
defense (but not on the boards?!?) is another sorry memory of the past.

The future should involve dominant rebounding and superior athleticism
leading to fast breaks and easy put backs.

This coach is fixated on his "system": the Harter defense (blitzing etc),
fielding four 3pointer shooters to "spread the floor" (i.e. station them
stock still around the arc), slowing the game down, and relying on your star
to create offense 30 feet from the hoop.

He is SO fixated on it that he'll play McCarty 40+ a game.... and why? Cause
he knows how to "blitz" and can shoot the three. But he can't defend (Max
was on about this on the radio concerning the McCarty K Martin "match-up")
he can't rebound, and he can't handle the ball--he's virtually a walking
turnover.

Pierce is not far behind in that respect. There is no way he should be
initiating the offense. He should be posting up, coming off screens, pick
and roles -- ANYTHING -- but not breaking down his man 30 bleeding feet from
the hoop.

I am so sick of this ugly, shortsighted, pigheaded brand of ball.

Does Obie think he's going to pull a Van Gundy and get Ainge fired instead?
I really have to wonder...