Game 2 YAY!!

[snoopy1@pig.net]

I loved this game, really.  And the oddest reason was because we were down 
over 20 points, as in addition to Celtics mistakes, the Raptors had seven 
guys on the floor, when you include the refs.

Why that reason?  Simple.  This was the kind of game we lost last 
year.  We'd open up slow, settling for bad outside shots and sometimes we'd 
wake up and make it look almost respectable by the end of the game.  This 
time, the Good Guys woke up early and realized that the play of the 1st 
quarter, if continued, would make it a long night.  They started to get it 
together in the 2nd, and poured it on in the 3rd.

Not only that, but they made the comeback by moving the ball upcourt 
quickly, and doing the job inside.  They also faced a much stiffer defense 
than Detroit presented.  They still need a lot of work, but this was 
another test passed.  After all, Toronto faced the prospect of going 0-3, 
not a great start to anyone's season.

The next two games are even more important, as they are on the road.  The 
less said about the C's road record last season, the less likely people 
will get sick to their stomachs.  Frankly, I think tomorrow's game against 
Cleveland may well be tougher, as the 2nd game of a back to back set with 
travel in-between.  If the Celtics play well, I could stand a loss there, 
as it's a challenge I'm not sure they're up to yet.

However, they MUST stop playing lazy offense.  I'm well and truly tired of 
seeing them jog up the floor like they've got an hour to score two 
points.  They need to do a lot more consistent movement upcourt, and PASS 
THE BLASTED BALL!! Normally, I think Tommy Heinsohn  tends to want the C's 
to play a certain way just because that what he personally likes, but he's 
dead-on about the lack of an outlet pass.  the C's could destroy those 
halfcourt defenses with a few fast breaks.

For the moment, they're playing a little above themselves.  That's ok as 
long as they're making a significant effort to gain good habits, and delete 
the bad ones.  I don't think anyone thinks Paul Pierce is "weak" or 
"wimpy", and it's high time he stopped trying to prove it by going 1 on 3 
into traffic, and instead pass the ball out when he's drawing 2+ 
defenders.  They're starting to rebound like they mean it, but they have to 
rebound with an eye to the outlet pass.  They all need to handle the ball 
better, there's been some awfully stupid passes.

Perhaps one of the most important things they need to do is what they did 
the first game and part of tonight, which is not to try to match every 
outside shot the other team takes by launching a bad outside shot of your 
own.  Honestly, they don't have that kind of reliability yet, let them 
practice more.

Finally, they need to stop auditioning for the "Shaq Free Throw  Hall of 
Shame".   These should be "gimmes" every time at this level, and we KNOW 
they CAN make them--they just need to start doing so consistently.

I really like it when I can say "We're undefeated!!  YAY!!!!!!!"  Let's 
cheer them on Saturday night, same Battie time, same Battie channel.  :>)

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle