on tony

[gene kirkpatrick]

Alex, I'm still not ready or able to respond about whether a winning second half will make Doc a good coach.  It's an enigma.  But I think if we turn it around that Tony will be one of the key reasons.  So, that's one of Doc's good decisions.
   
  Really, I don't know any team that wouldn't want a high energy, slasher who puts up points without many shots and plays the opponents best outside scorer.  I think he's playing at a very high clip, his shooting is a bit better and he's coming off a good defensive game vs. L. James.  Why not start him?   He's defending two or three positions as needed, makes excellent entry passes, rebounds extremely well and pushes the ball with gusto.  Green may need minutes but not at the expense of Tony.  Earlier, when we were bemoaning his woeful play, it was this Tony that we were longing for.  Well, here he is and he looks like a fixture.  And he's one who plays the style of ball most of us love, as opposed to the half-court, let Paul bail us out style.  We may argue about West and Telfair, but I think the grousing about Tony is done.
   
  Look at how many times he causes a turn-over.  There's no stat for that.  He goes for a steal and the guy loses the ball out of bounds.  He forces a bad shot--no stat.  Put those plays in the hopper vs. his turnovers and dribble blunders and he evens out.  Then consider that he's performing at a 20 and 6 clip, keeping the energy flowing for 40 minutes and only taking one of his signature miss-the-rim three shots a game.  I'll stop now; old-timers remember that I'm an original Tony backer.  
   
  I hope for a win vs. Memphis but don't expect us to put it together; Al and Delonte need to rest.  Cheers, Gene

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