Apology and comments

[Alex Goldblatt]

Hmmm.. OK, my bad then - probably too much cognac while reading your
post... :-))

Re Paul's D: believe it or not, I do not watch too much stats. RJ
burned him badly, even though (have to admit) PP did not lose him as
much as usual on the switch. This basic jab step worked perfectly for
RJ, even though Paul was able to stay in front on his dribble.

Make no mistake, I do not compare him to 'Fatoine and such - he's a
baller. My point is that his IQ is not up to par with KG and Ray. It's
amazing how fast Ray and KG got on the same page - Paul still have to
catch up with them. D included - one of the biggest problems with PP
that he plays "me" ball on both ends.

So, here is the question: can he reverse this trend?!..   Can he
finally get the D basics and the geometry of the zone defense with 2
shotblockers in the paint? Sometimes I just curse OB-ball and this
f***g Harter's D - old habits obviously take over again and again..

AG

On Nov 11, 2007 9:08 PM, Kim Malo <kmalo17 at verizon.net> wrote:
> At 08:08 PM 11/11/2007, Alex Goldblatt wrote:
> >Kim,
> >
> >KG is the major obvious factor - no doubt. But I think Ray is an
> >overlooked team defensive player in your analysis. I totally disagree
> >that he's looking strictly for his own offense - this is a huge
> >mistake on your part.
>
> Might be if I said it, but I didn't .
> I said that was the perception / expectation of him, then I
> complimented him on the D we're seeing contrary to expectations.
>
> >  IMO - he's the second best player on the team,
> >and his almost .600 shooting for the perimeter player is as remarkable
> >as it gets - HE NEVER TAKES A SINGLE DUMB SHOT. Period.
>
> Yup, as they keep calling him - amazingly efficient. Sort of the
> anti-Antoine, who even when effective was rarely efficient : )
>
> >he is as efficient as it gets - and in incredibly quiet fashion. Danny
> >trading for him is one of the best moves in the NBA ever - just Paul
> >and KG would not cut, IMO. He's an ultimate glue guy - on both sides.
>
> Well yes and no. Per KG, the KG deal doesn't happen without the Ray
> deal and IMO Ray on his own not enough (I don't necessarily agree
> with you about KG not being enough, which is not intended as a shot
> at Ray but they do different things), so great move but for different reasons.
>
> >I have a lot of reservations with Paul though. He's not on the same
> >level, at least not yet. Dumb decisions, stupid TO's, well contested
> >shots, gambling in the passing lane, etc, etc. BTW we have yet to see
> >his improved D game he's been bragging about. He moves better - but
> >that's as far at it goes.
>
> NJ was a bad game for him, with too much of old habits on offense.
> But I can see the better D. You may not see it in stats, but his man
> isn't always the one wide open as in past and if he is it's not
> because Pierce didn't even twitch. And I disagree with the overall
> panning, although I can see reason to reserve judgement. But a big
> thing with Paul that has always differentiated him from Antoine, even
> when he looks as pigheaded, is that he's more open to influence and
> not as hard headed for the sake of hardheaded, so I wouldn't give up
> on Garnett's and Allen's beneficent influence.
>
> >I also think that you totally overlooked Rondo
>
> But I wasn't going down the whole roster. For that matter I didn't
> mention TA either. Or BB or.... I mentioned guys we were getting D
> from we didn't expect it from. We EXPECT it from Rondo. How can I
> overlook Rondo, he's at least an inch or two taller than I am (I
> always check that on new Cs PGs <g>)
>
>
> Kim
>
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