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Re: Up Tempo
Before pushing send, I just read Jimbotron's fine post. Regardless, I will
contradict him and post my own views in sympathy with TJL's earlier post.
I relate to Theresa's post (don't have a heart attack, Greg Ode!). It's
foolhardy for me to say, but this entire 1999 team has unfortunately grown on
me (esp. PP & VP) and I hope they stick together (including KA). To start with,
Kenny Anderson loves being a Boston Celtic and expressing his Celtic Pride. It
doesn't sound phony when Kenny says good things, because it's obvious he wasn't
born a smooth talker. I just wish the 1999-2000 Boston Celtics could turn out
like Jim O'Brien's OSU team this year (who went from last place all the way to
the NCAA Final Four).
If you ever wanted to defend or make excuse for KA, just watch him closely in
games. Point guard is the toughest position to play and the easiest to
criticize. All eyes naturally focus on the dribbler, and see his weaknesses and
mistakes. Every spectator focuses a lot of their time on the point.
Well does Kenny ever slack off on defense? Frankly, no. (His arms and feet are
always on the move). Does Kenny throw ill-advised "hot dog" passes into
traffic? Not when I'm watching. Does Kenny have an indecisive, hopeless
jumpshot? Personally, I'd be willing to trade his overall offensive game for
Tiny Archibalds in 1980-81. It's hard to tell the difference between those two,
if you ignore how much suckier Kenny's teammates are.
Compared to any other league, NBA point guards are mongoose quick. They glide
around like water bugs, and they are cockier then we wish we were in our
dreams. Of course these kids are going to expose your weaknesses/indecision and
toast your sorry ass for it. It's the NBA.
I doubt there is anything much harder for one of us to do than pitching a
perfect game at the point guard position. Even the great ones like Jason Kidd
make errors that KA makes relatively fewer of (foolish school yard passes,
wide-open bricks etc.)
Anyway, I somehow relate very well here to what other Celts fans may have felt
watching the KA interview. If Homer were alive today, he would write the
"Illiad" and "Odyssey" about the NBA. If you've actually tried to ever play
basketball, then you instantly realize these guys we are watching are pretty
much gods clashing against other gods (full at times with hubris and always
relentlessly pursued by the furies).
*****
Theresa Lee wrote:
> I watched a pregame interview with Kenny where he revealed how he felt
> about this season and how he feels about next year. He kept saying that
> playing this year was all about money...for him and for the league. At
> first I couldn't beleive that he was talking that way, but when he related
> it to making money for the league, I understood him better (no wonder Kenny
> keeps sticking his foot in his mouth and being misunderstood!!). He was
> disapointed with the season and how it went. He talked about the lack of
> quality play and how it wasn't until maybe the last 20 games of the season
> that teams looked at all good.
>
> Before the lockout he had been in shape, but then when the lockout came and
> he thought there wouldn't be a season, he cut back. It hurt his game.
>
> When asked about next year and how to improve, he hestitated. He was asked
> if he would be here and he again hesitated. He was reflecting on the fact
> that he had been traded before and nothing was for certain.
>
> He seemed confused about his past (the analysis of it) and his future. It
> was slightly sad, but also confusing. Is he the kind of guy that needs to
> be constantly reassured about his status with the team? Has his moving
> around the NBA produced an uncertain, confused player? Does that attitude
> translate onto the court?
>
> We all know that as KA goes, so go the Celtics. However, I think RP has
> shown another dimension to the team in KA's absence....the point-forward. I
> guess Kenny is thinking about that possibility too.
>
> Theresa
>
> >You know, I never understood why a coach can't just
> >say, "push it upcourt fast," and have the point guard
> >do that. I mean, if he can't do it, as with Billups,
> >that's one thing. But why can't Pitino just tell
> >Kenny, "advance the ball as soon as you see a man up
> >court." I know that Kenny went and asked Cooz what he
> >should do, and Cousy told him to penetrate with an
> >idea to passing. No shit! Why won't Kenny just do
> >these things that any point guard with a tenth of his
> >talent already knows. Why can't Pitino make him do
> >it?
> >
> >Signed,
> >
> >Frustrated
> >
> >
> >--- Way Of The Ray wrote:
> >> Boston Herlad
> >>
> >> Celtics keep up with the Jones
> >> by Mark Cofman
> >> Monday, April 26, 1999
> >> The Celtics announced before yesterday's game
> >> against the Washington
> >> Wizards at the FleetCenter they had re-signed
> >> Damon Jones to a second
> >> 10-day contract. That came as great news to
> >> the 6-foot-3 point guard, who
> >> promptly celebrated his good fortune with 15
> >> points and six assists in the
> >> Celtics' 113-84 victory.
> >> Jones' point and assists were NBA career
> >> highs, not overly significant
> >> when considering his NBA resume consists of
> >> just 19 games. What was
> >> significant was the former University of
> >> Houston star's overall standout
> >> play, the latest in a string of strong
> >> performances to help a team badly
> >> in need of a late-season pick-me-up.
> >> ``My opportunity came as a result of other
> >> people's unlucky breaks,'' said
> >> Jones, referring, of course, to the Celtics'
> >> long list of injuries, most
> >> notably the pulled right hamstring suffered by
> >> fellow point guard Kenny
> >> Anderson.
> >> ``I wouldn't be here if the Celtics hadn't had
> >> this run of injury problems
> >> the last few weeks, but the only thing you can
> >> do in that situation is
> >> make the most of it,'' Jones added.
> >> Jones has done just that, impressing Celtics
> >> coach Rick Pitino during his
> >> eight-game tenure in Boston.
> >> Pitino had signed the former CBA star on the
> >> recommendation of ex-Nets
> >> coach John Calipari, who had brought Jones to
> >> injury-plagued New Jersey
> >> for 11 games earlier this season.
> >> Pitino, juggling his lineup to offset the
> >> injuries, has not been
> >> disappointed.
> >> ``I really like this young man,'' said Pitino.
> >> ``He's playing like he's
> >> hungry and he's doing a lot of things on the
> >> court that I like.
> >> ``He's dribbling with his head up, he's always
> >> looking to pass the ball,
> >> he runs the offense and then he's a very good
> >> shooter to boot. He's got
> >> good size, and he's really hungry to make it
> >> (at the NBA level). So if he
> >> doesn't make it with us, he will make it
> >> somewhere. I think this is a
> >> great experience for him.''
> >> Jones would tell you as much. He talks about
> >> the generous manner in which
> >> his teammates have embraced him, taking him
> >> out to dinner and showing him
> >> around town. He talks about liking the passion
> >> of fans in Boston.
> >> Mostly, though, he talks about making a
> >> lasting impression on an NBA team.
> >> Preferably, the local NBA team.
> >> ``I love playing Coach Pitino's style and I've
> >> enjoyed every minute of my
> >> experience here with the Celtics,'' said
> >> Jones, the CBA's Newcomer of the
> >> Year this season with the Idaho Stampede.
> >> ``(Pitino) tells you that if you
> >> keep hustling and play hungry, good things are
> >> bound to happen.
> >> ``That's the attitude I have to take. That's
> >> really the attitude this team
> >> has to take the rest of the way - like we're
> >> battling for the playoffs.
> >> ``After the season's over, I'll see what's out
> >> there for me. I don't know
> >> what the future will bring, but I'd love to be
> >> back,'' he said.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
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