would you like to talk about it?

[mark at 10thumbs.org]

wow.

surprised by the general lack of enthusiasm over our best team in 15
years. it was their first game together playing a very good opponent from
last year and we got the win. My 2 cents:


* Passing --- I suppose those looking for donut holes would say the
overpassing was a negative, but I thought it showed a real willingness of
El Nuevo Grande Tres to make the extra pass, to get the ball to the open
man. That can produce nothing but positive results. We looked like the
Spurs out there a few times. I thought Pierce especially was looking to
make a quick additional pass --- something I think he did more than he got
credit for in years past.

* Rondo --- Rondo did a good job of getting the ball and pushing it up
court after each miss.  There were only a handful of possessions where
he'd walk it up. Like the passing i think Rondo's pushing the ball will be
infectious and the vets will be there to get easy baskets. I thought he
did a good job of slicing through the lane too. And he looked more
confident in his shot --  or at least willing to take it. That look's Ray
Allen's influence.

* KG & Pierce --- looked in midseason form. And they're gonna get better.

* Spacing --- this will be an issue for the first 1/4 of the season i
think.  I think the biggest problem is that Allen and Pierce are used to
playing the same way, with the same spacing.

* Ray Allen ---- key source of "the sky is falling" fears.  I don't think
it was his legs, I think Ray was trying to be too accomodating --- again
something that eventually will be an infectious positive like passing and
pushing the ball.  I thought Allen was looking to (a) get KG and Rondo
good shots, (b) bail the team out a few times when things broke down and
(c) act as the glue on offense.  Mark B.'s suggestion of bringing Ray
Allen off the bench is an interesting one. Though i think I'd start Tony
Allen and leave Perk in there.

* Tony Allen --- great to see him attack the basket, though I agree with
Egg that he shouldn't be out there at all at this stage in his recovery.
It was nice to know he's that far along, but why risk it --- with the "it"
be the rest of his career.

* Eddie House --- I don't think this was an abberation. He'll get good
open looks like that all year when he's in with KG and one of Allen or
Pierce.  And I thought he was fine as a 15 mpg backup PG. His defense is
poor, but if he's eventually playng with T. Allen, i think that gets
masked a little.

* Perkins --- just keep plugging big fella.  I'd like to see him avg. a
double-double, but 8 & 7 was a good start. I think Perk has a harder time
with the more athletic bigs like Bosh and Bargnani.  I also think that
with generally better perimeter defense + KG, fouls will be less of an
issue (not that it showed on Satrday.


* Doc --- the one thing i don't understand is why Rivers plays 11 guys in
the 1st quarter.  7,8, 9 maybe, but it felt that added to the spacing  and
meshing problems. I would really like to see Rivers use a 9-10 man
rotation in the regular season, but only have 7-8 players play in that
first quarter.

well i got interupted by a work meeting, but I was encouraged by the win.
mmm... donuts.

(the other) mark