Tale of Two Teams, Two Very Different Philosophies

The opening minutes of tonight’s Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics game told the tale of two teams, two styles, two philosophies. The Raptors, who took to the parquet floor of Boston’s TD Garden with six international players, tore the leather off the cover of the official NBA Spalding basketball with 18 points in just under seven minutes of non-stop, offensive action. Toronto’s repertoire ranged from the workman-like inside moves of 6-10 (American) power-forward Chris Bosh to rainbow three-pointers by 6-10 (Turkish) swingman Hedo Turkoglu to a driving lay-up by 6-3 (Spanish) point guard Jose Calderon.

The Raptors shot the lights out early, hitting for better than 64-percent from the field. Not bad, you would think?

The problem? Let me count the ways and list the lay-ups and dunks from the first quarter play-by-play sheet:

9:45 - Ray Allen lay-up
9:16 - Rajon Rondo lay-up
8:48 – Paul Pierce lay-up
8:25 – Kendrick Perkins lay-up
7:51 – Kevin Garnett dunk
7:25 – Paul Pierce lay-up
6:25 – Kevin Garnett dunk
5:57 – Paul Pierce lay-up

It wasn’t until the 4:34 mark of the first quarter when Celtics forward Ray Allen settled for a jump shot off a Rondo pass when the Raptors let up a bucket other than a lay-up or dunk. That resulted in the Celtics shooting 12-for-13 over the opening stanza of the game, a torrid 92-percent from field goal range. After trading a few baskets and actually missing a shot or two, the quarter ended with another Rondo driving lay-up, a buzzer buzzer-beater to give the home team a 33-27 lead on 15-of-18 shooting (83-percent) with nine assists coming from the 15 field goals.

Not to be overlooked, the Raptors were raining down jump shots and scoring at a clip that would result in a full 18 points over the 90.8 points per game (ppg) that the Bostonians hold their visitors to on a nightly basis.

“We were having a feel good game at that point,” said Celtics Coach Doc Rivers. “You know, you score, you pat them on the back and they score.”

It was another Friday night fight for the Celtics on their home court, an unpleasant scenario for Rivers’ all-night video-tape sessions as his club held a entered the game with a dismal 1-3 mark within their friendly confines.

Of course, the Celtics took to the court without a single international player on their roster. The 2008 NBA champions fashion a large part of their game on the defensive end of the court, anchored by Kevin Garnett, one of the league’s best interior defenders. Danny Ainge, the popular team GM and executive director of basketball, together with Rivers, a proven veteran coach who stresses strong team defense with ball movement and unselfish play on the offensive end, orchestrated one of the NBA’s boldest series of off-season moves prior to their 2008 championship. They added to the player personnel file this past summer when free agent forward Rasheed Wallace and free agent guard Marquis Daniels were acquired to strengthen the team’s second unit and provide added interior defense alongside KG.

“Defense wins championships and offense sells tickets,” said Wallace in a recent Boston WEEI-Radio interview, echoing a statement he made frequently when he was on the Detroit Pistons’ NBA title team of 2004. Wallace’s quote, however, was really a paraphrase of famed Alabama college football coaching legend Paul “Bear” Bryant who was quoted as coining a similar, “offense wins games, but defense wins championships” line.

So the Toronto Raptors, hailing from a diverse and truly international metropolis, come to play games in the NBA with six international players, a Canadian coach in Jay Triano, an Italian Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel director in Maurizio Gherardini and the worldly viewpoint of team president Bryan Colangelo, who once orchestrated the high-octane offense of the Phoenix Suns and now wooing global talent to his new, cosmopolitan city.

The problem? Guarding.

“The Raptors can not guard anyone,” said one veteran NBA scout who has as much global experience as anyone in the game. “Bosh is not a very good defender. (Anrdea) Bargnani poses match-up problems but just can’t guard and Calderon can’t guard anyone.”

When it comes to tough, seven game series basketball in the playoffs, the Raptors must hit their shots. Otherwise, they will fall victim to teams like the Celtics who dialed up their defensive pressure in the third quarter to outscore Toronto 25-4 to put this particular game, played over the American Thanksgiving weekend, out of reach.

So, a look at the two teams and two very different philosophies tell the tale. The theory of tough defensive pressure and team defensive dominance seems to triumph over high-powered offensive might. A 25-4 run will prove the point every time.

Yet, high scoring, spread the defense and hit three-pointer style offense has doomed the Celtics on a number of occasions earlier this season. The Phoenix Suns’ 110-103 victory over the Celtics on November 3 provided a blue print of Boston’s vulnerabilities for the rest of the NBA. The question for Celtics’ opponents to ponder is simple. Can you consistently hit shots? Can you play 48-minutes of high-octane offense against a team that has superior defensive capabilities?

Do you want to play the run, shoot and score, international style or the rock ‘em, sock ‘em, shake down street NBA championship style defense?

Need Stuffing? Well, You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up...

"Who knew you needed to go down to the loading dock to ask questions in the land of the free and the home of the brave?"


-- Marg Delahunty, by Mary Walsh, one of Canada's most entertaining comedians.

I don't even need to write a word of set-up to this one. Just read it and weep with the fact that this person was actually nominated to be the VP of the United States of America:

The headline to the story read:

Palin tells Marg Delahunty Canada should reform its public health-care system


But, it should have read:
PALIN A DISGRACE to the Citizens of the USA:

By Lee-Anne Goodman, The Canadian Press

WASHINGTON - Marg Delahunty has braved the wilds of the American Midwest to come face-to-face with Sarah Palin.

Comedian Mary Walsh's beloved character button-holed the former Alaska governor at a recent book-signing in Columbus, Ohio, only to be strong-armed away from Palin by a cabal of security guards.

The action was documented on Tuesday night's "This Hour Has 22 Minutes," but four days later, Walsh was still marvelling at her close encounter with one of the most controversial politicians on the planet.

"We told her we're from Canada, and we're just looking for a few words of encouragement for the Canadian conservatives who have worked so tirelessly to destroy the socialized medicare that we have," Walsh recalled Tuesday from St. John's.

"Four huge big burly guys started pushing, and I pushed back, but I got her attention, and she told us to keep the faith, something like that, and said we're all trying for the same thing."

After being kicked out of the book-signing, Walsh and her crew then waited outside at a loading dock close to where Palin's bus was parked. When Palin emerged from the Borders bookstore, Walsh said, Delahunty - dressed in a more toned-down version of her trademark warrior princess costume - called out to her.

"Hey, remember us, we're the Canadians! We came all the way here from Canada!" Delahunty yelled. "When we asked you that question, we didn't hear your answer."

Palin strolled over, looking down on Walsh and her crew to tell them that "Canada needs to reform its public health-care system and allow private enterprise to get involved and turn a profit."

"Basically, she said government should stop doing the work that private enterprise should do," Walsh said.

In addition to those comments, Walsh said, she found it equally bizarre that no one was allowed to ask Palin any questions at the book-signing.

"It was great fun, but also very strange," Walsh recalled.

"We're in a bookstore, at a public event, in a place one would think was a bastion of free speech. And no one was allowed to ask questions. What are they afraid of?"

***

This is pretty scary... see: HERE

***

For the direct link to this story, please note the letters/phrase in the URL and see: http://tinyurl.com/palindimwit


It doesn't get any worse than this:

If you retire AI's #3, it better go up with Velcro ...

The major news report this evening came from Philadelphia where former NBA columnist Stephen A. Smith released a statement from former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson, announcing Iverson's plans to retire from the NBA. The 10-year NBA All-Star guard, who made stops in Denver and Detroit before playing only three road games for Memphis this season, walked away from his contract with the Grizzlies and was later waived by the team.

I will believe that AI is "officially retired" when he is still un-signed come the "dog days" of the NBA season this January or early February, a few weeks after the 10-days contracts are open season. Instead, I would predict that Iverson signs up with an NBA team desperate for help in the scoring and attendance columns.

It's been all downhill for the former 76ers star since he forced a December, 2006 trade to the Denver Nuggets. In that deal, the 76ers acquired guard Andre Miller and forward Joe Smith, along with two first-round draft picks used in the 2007 NBA Draft. Surprisingly, the two draft picks were for marginal players acquired and quickly shipped out during draft day deals where one provided Philadelphia with forward Jason Smith. Smith, the only player left standing from the blockbuster Iverson trade, started his first game on November 25 when the Sixers had two veteran starters sidelined and Smith filled in for power forward Elton Brand.

After the move to the NBA's Western conference outpost in the State of Colorado, Iverson failed to meld with Denver's offense which was full of motion schemes favored by Coach George Karl. The Nuggets figured to be a perfect match for Iverson's high-octane, jump-shooting skills but he joined the team immediately after suspensions to Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, then never found the chemistry necessary to blend in with Karl's offensive sets. Then, after the unsuccessful stint in the Mile High city, Iverson was shipped to Detroit.

In a surprising move in November, 2008, Detroit's Joe Dumars sent forward Antonio McDyess and guard Chauncey Billups to Denver is a deal that plotted some $20-$22 million in cap room after the Pistons left forward Rasheed Wallace (Wallace signed with the Boston Celtics).

Iverson is left with very few options. The logical spot to sign was with the New York Knickerbockers, only an hour and 19 minutes from Philly's 33rd Street Amtrak Station, where a stress-free train-ride would bring him and his family straight under New York's Madison Square Garden. But, when NYK GM Donny Walsh passed on signing Iverson (at the veteran's minimum salary of about $1.4 mil), the music stopped and the 10-year all-star was left standing without a chair. After he cleared waivers and no NBA team stepped up with an offer, the only move to make was to "officially" announce his retirement with the caveat that he would cherish the time with family. However, the message posted was pretty clear, as Iverson believes he can still contribute at a high level.

In other NBA locales, the only option for AI to consider would be a stint with the New Jersey Nets. Iverson has a lot of respect for Nets team president of basketball operations Rod Thorn and could establish a solid relationship with Nets no-nonsense coach Lawrence Frank who undoubtedly would appreciate some instant offensive fire-power from the 10-year vet who could limo straight up the famed New Jersey Turnpike for games at the Izod Center in the Meadowlands.

The only other possibility to consider would be a headline grabbing "AI to Europe" manuever where Iverson would return to "Rock Star" status in the Euroleague where he would surely sell plenty of tickets and attract plenty of attention, especially if he were to join the baloncestro-crazed Spanish fans of FC Barcelona or Real Madrid. Iverson and the 76ers sold-out the Palau Sant-Jordi in Barcelona during the NBA Europe Live Tour of 2007 when FC Barca defeated the Sixers in a preseason friendly before some 20,000 fans.

###

Eddie House with 1.8 ... Game Over

Eddie House hit two final FTs to put the C's up 113-110. Seems like yesterday when I was predicting that Celtics opponents wouldn't be scoring 60-points on trips to the TD Garden.

Doc Rivers had Paul Pierce foul to avoid a potential game tying three-pointer. Kapono to the line and he missed the first of two and then bricked the second to end the game.

Final score 113-110.

Look for a nice piece on Iverson to come in the AM, along with another blasting of Sarah Palin to come this Friday.

Good night. Over and out.

Final 2.7 secs...

Crowd on its feet and barely a fan has left the building after Rondo fouled Iguodala and the 76ers forward (25-9-9) hit both FTs to make it 111-110. Celtics failed to inbound on first try and called a :20 second timeout.

I only wish I could call a :20 second time-out when things got tough!

Time-Out with 34.3 left at TD Garden

Exciting finish to what was one of the 100-200 NBA games that just don't pan-out during the season. Full house, great crowd and two teams ready to compete. But, tonight, it just didn't happen...

Ray Allen missed a gimme and the 76ers took off on the break only to have Iguodala turn the ball over after an offensive charging foul. (Good call).

Down the other end, the Celtics ran the clock, failed to execute once more, but guard Rajon Rondo improvised and hit a turn-around pop from the corner to put the Celtics up 109-105.

It's not over 'til it's over, they say, as Iguodala nailed a three to bring it to 109-108 with 3.3 left. The 76ers fouled Ray Allen who drilled the two free throws for a 11-108 lead.

Two minute warning...

Celtics up 107-103 with two and change left. Seemingly in control but certainly not impressive during the game, especially with the 76ers down two starters.

Celtics failed to execute in their last possession, then fouled Iguodala with 1:20 left. We're now at 107-105 and anything can happen...