Every season a young team or two makes an exciting dash toward respectability in the season's final months, even with their postseason status (or lack thereof) assured. The Mavericks got their act together toward the end of 1999-00, the Clippers made up for lost time in the two seasons following, while the Bulls ('02-03), Cavs ('03-04) and Warriors (last season) all followed suit.
Admirable those efforts may have been, they often didn't foretell much. Of all the teams listed above, only the Mavericks made the playoffs the following season. Such efforts, however, make for a solid night out -- or in my case, a solid night in front of the tube, with my eyes glued to the fits and flailings of a 22-win team even as the Pistons and Spurs dominated some three channels away
On the Celtics, he observes
The Boston Celtics have won four of seven since the All-Star break, hardly the stuff that memories are made of, but they've developed into a fascinating watch. Paul Pierce is next to unstoppable at this point, only falling short of the Kobe-LeBron-AI scoring troika because his team's offensive philosophy (if one can call it that) doesn't boast the singular focus that his counterparts in Los Angeles, Cleveland and Philadelphia do.
Pierce takes 28.1 Boston possessions for every 40 minutes he plays, the ninth most in the NBA, and a step below the comparative work of Mssrs. Bryant (35.3), Iverson (32.8) and James (31.1). Qualify it however you want. Blame Pierce's teammates, Doc Rivers' offensive "schemes," or the fact that the Truth is a wee bit slower than the league's three leading scorers. But from this laptop, Pierce's career year deserves some recognition. He shouldn't be penalized for falling short of that vaunted 30 points per game mark (a number Pierce has hit in 12 of his last 13 games).
It is the group and contributions surrounding Pierce that is worrisome.
Al Jefferson was supposed to act as the team's bedrock in the low post, and while his 8.3 points per game and 5.3 rebounds (in 18 minutes) are OK, he hasn't looked comfortable all season. Two dodgy ankles will do that.
Kendrick Perkins has turned a corner in averaging 4.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and nearly three fouls in the same amount of time, but he's also been on the shelf for close to a month with a bum left shoulder.
Rookie Orien Greene couldn't put together 20 points a night if he were locked in an empty gym with an eight-foot hoop and Steve Nash passing him the ball, but his name sounds like a sweet jazz-fusion group (where three of the members have mustaches, and two own guitars), and he makes the passing lanes his own. This guy will lead the league in deflections around the same year the NBA starts to make this an official stat.
Tony Allen has not been himself all season: he's lost athleticism due to a knee injury and seems over-eager to please in the wake of offseason difficulties.
At least Ryan Gomes has been a revelation. Afforded big minutes over the last three weeks, he's averaged 13.4 points and 8.9 boards in his last nine games. Yes, we thought him capable of this sort of play coming out of Providence, but this was in a best-case-scenario.
And finally, Delonte West is simply one of the finest young point guards out there. Hopefully his body will hold up to repeated attempts at pinning each of his opponents shots to the backboard.
If you're curious about his opinions of Toronto, Orlando, Golden State and others feel free to click through the whole piece.
No comments:
Post a Comment