Tanking? HELL NO!!

[R Howe <regmanw6@xxxxxxxxx>]

Great win last nite. I tuned in because after watching the Celts regroup and come together to string 4 wins in a row against teams that were hurting or worse than us, I wanted to see how we would look against one of the best in the league. I did not think our previous wins would translate to Victory against the Wolves. I was pleasently surprised and have officially switched over from tank to get a chance at the Ping Pong tourney to going for as many wins and the best playoff seed possible. If Carrol and the C's do not want to throw in the towel then good for them and I am all for it.
 
The game started out like our C's were going to be wolf food, but they hung around and adjusted. If you told me that Pierce would hoist up as many clanks as he did last nite, and that we would be outrebounded as badly as we did (Thanks Waltah) while in the wolves den and still come out with the Win..... NO WAY, just one of those nites, But the C's are finding ways how to win in the last qtr during this streak, a very good sign. 
 
A note about Carrol, He has shown me something, he is making in game adjustments with better substitutions and calling time outs better than I had ever saw from OBIE, small sample to be sure but he seems to be getting his in-game coaching legs under him while in a do or die scenario for him. Not Bad. In my mind he has gone from a true "Interim Coach" to a wait and see coach. Also he has done this while changing the Harter Defense, and installing an assemblance of a running attack and changes to a more motion, setting picks half court offense as well. 
 
My only citisism of Carrol is that he still plays Waltah too much, as I have expressed before I do not think that Waltah should see any PF playing time, Blount, Mihm, Hunter should form the C/PF rotation with Perkins getting some spot Mins. If he wants to use Waltah use him at limited mins at the 3 spot where he might cause some matchup problems for certain small forwards.
 
Back to the C's, last nite I think Jiri had his best game, He definitely was the difference maker and key to last nites victory. Mihm had one of his better games also. As soon as Waltah went to the bench in favor of a Bount/Mihm Pierce front court, the defense picked up and we scored some crucial points via the break. I think or at least hope Carrol has taken notice. I dont know why Hunter was banished during the secound half as he seemed to play pretty good D on Garnett when he was in the first half.  Oh well, It was a good win regardless.
 
As far as tanking, I thought they should have before the streak started, they were at the 6th  lottery spot with a chance to get to the 5th spot, But I am now in favor of going as far as they can go, Develop momentum into the draft and into next season with the young core group on hand. Sort of like devloping a young college squad in the NIT (EC playoffs equiv) to make a push for the next season. And if you make the Playoffs who knows anything can happen. GO Celts, lets get on the bandwagon (tricycle at this point) and ride it into the Playoffs!   
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