<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BigDave31:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, wats the deal wit Blount? 6 TO? damn man, didnt he get 8 last game? We cant afford that, look, i know he has improved, and he is trying now, but, how can u turn the ball over that much when your not even the focal point on the offense? also, only 1 board as well? i hope these categories get better, we dont need another full-fledged scorer....id love to see him start cleaning up the boards, and I would also love to see Big Al stay on the court for a long amount of time before getting in foul trouble.... But anyway, greatttt win, made my day at work a lot better ;-)</div> I think the TO's are a result of Blount suddenly finding himself in a passing role. He has been passing into the post regularly, and as a result, mucho TO's, he's just not used to the role. I think because of his tendency to settle for the outside shot, he denies himself the opportunity to grab a lot of boards. And you're right, as usual, Al's sitting because of Ticky-Tack fouls, the refs need to let the guy get away with one or two, or he's headed the way of Marcus Banks.
Ricky and Paul. Tommy said that when Ricky and Paul run plays off picks and screens, they're unstoppable. The way Paul's been playing lately, he doesn't even need the picks and screens. The lack of turnovers has been a real plus from Pierce. His line for last night's game is ridiculous, Big O style. I agree with Mike, the old Pierce would have let that play go under the backboard, and it would have been ugly. Blount's Turnovers seem to come not only from the high low game, but from the point's inability to move the ball up the floor. Twice last night Blount got stuck having to dribble. Unless he's in the post, the center shouldn't ever have to dribble at all. West is slowly getting better. I just want him to get confident in his jumper like he was last year. His ball protection and movement is improving every game. Put those two players together, and let the tentativeness run out, and you have an honest to god point guard. Dan Dickau's charge last night was nice, but it only happened because the ref's had given almost every call to the Grizz. They thought they could get away with it. Dickau is a bad defender. There is no point in the league he can defend, which is why we need Tony Allen back. Too bad. He was better last night though. If he starts taking smart shots (we know he eventually will) he's going to be useful on the second unit. The bullfighter defense is going to keep result in Al and Perk getting bad fouls on slow rotations. Neither of them is good at it yet. In fact, not a single member of the second unit makes good rotations. Justin Reed's a mystery to me. He can score, he's got the instincts, but someone's told him that he's not allowed, or he's scared. He's gonna get in guy's heads on D though. Gomes isn't notably better, so I think that Doc is just playing Reed for his defense and difference in experience. Reed's shooting eighty percent on free throws, for whoever said that. It would make more of a difference if he wasn't so passive. Scalabrine was ok, for him. That's the greatest comment I can offer. Nothing else really. That buzzer three would have been nice, but he's a step slow on everything else, so I didn't really expect it. He puts a ton of stress on the defense when he's out there. If he hits every single jumper he takes, he could be useful for short stretches. Otherwise he's worthless. He couldn't defend the three, four or five in a high school game. If he learns the system really well, and he's with a unit that's willing to play a zone, he'd be ok. We don't have either of those things. Al was fun to watch. His substitution patterns are a bit of a mystery. Because Raef isn't physical, and doesn't run much, Al's man is rarely going to be that worn down unless the fast break has been working. I'm not sure that Doc knows what to do with Jefferson yet. Perk will hopefull come around. He gets no breaks. I hope that changes this season. All in all, another great game to watch. The comeback was great to see. This time has heart, and it seems that Paul does, too. When they run with Ricky and Paul, there's not really any stopping them (as long as Ricky doesn't start the break). Next: The spurs. Time to get the 8,000,000 lb gorilla that is Tim Duncan off our backs. The pistons defense ain't nothing next to San Antonio. PS: Did anyone see the Pacers game last night? When they cut to Dick Bavetta telling Udonis Haslem, "We're cool man, we're cool." I laughed till I remembered how much I hated Dick Bavetta.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting postpoint:</div><div class="quote_post">PS: Did anyone see the Pacers game last night? When they cut to Dick Bavetta telling Udonis Haslem, "We're cool man, we're cool." I laughed till I remembered how much I hated Dick Bavetta.</div> I did, and did you recall how many godawful calls he made? That man isn't cool with anyone on any team. The only player that knows he's safe from Bavetta is Yao Ming. Yao could cut Ron Artests' leg off and sit at half court eating it with chopsticks, and Bavetta would whistle Artest for an isolation violation. I remember the big conspiracy with JVG last year about the refs and Yao, but next time you get the chance, watch a Rockets game that Bavetta officiates, you'll see what I mean. Bavetta has brought shame to the NBA time and again, and I hope his crusty behind rots for it. I guess you could say I'm a little tired of the guy.
Wow, real great win for the Celtics. When I saw Pierce drive underneath the basket with less than three seconds on the clock I started to worry, but he made the right choice and passed it out to the wide open Ricky Davis. And just think, had the ball been knocked away by one of the many defenders collapsing on Pierce. It was a risky pass but he didn't have many other choices once he decided to drive the baseline. I'm very optimistic about this team but I'm going to have a heart attack by the end of the season if the wins keep coming like this. Big Al is looking more and more like Tim Duncan everytime I see him play, but he just needs to work on that jumper and perhaps make him more versatile. He has the soft hands of a tight end (whatever, I know it's called JustBBall but can't I get a football reference in here and there?) and never gives up on the boards which is why this guy is quickly turning into one of my favorite players. Brian Scalabrine...ugh. I was looking forward to seeing Justin Reed and Perk play this season but I haven't seen much good come out of Reed. Perk has been a delight to watch though, leading the league in rebounds per 48 minutes and second in offensive rebounds per 48. The offense will come with time but he's not really a scorer and I don't think we're looking for him to be a scorer. Delonte West is looking great this season but he has a great shot and can't be afraid to shoot it when he has the open shot.
I certainly dont give Paul too much props. Howver in this case PP made a great pass to a wide open Ricky D. Great pass equals great shot.
