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From: bruce@godot.UUCP (Bruce Nemnich)
Newsgroups: net.sport.hoops
Subject: Re: Where's the Defense?
Message-ID: <633@godot.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 14-Dec-84 21:11:57 EST
Article-I.D.: godot.633
Posted: Fri Dec 14 21:11:57 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 05:46:00 EST
References: <4782@fortune.UUCP>
Reply-To: bruce@godot.UUCP (Bruce Nemnich)
Distribution: net
Organization: Thinking Machines, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 41
Summary: 


Don't worry about the defense.  It's there when they need it.

They rank offense and defense by most points scored and least points
allowed.  What is interesting in the difference between the two.  Last
year, the Celtics lead the league averaging 7.2 points more than their
opponents if I remember correctly.  Last I heard (last week) they were
averaging +13, which is out of sight.

Offensively, they are averaging 9 points more per game than last year,
so they must be giving up about 3 more per game.  They are shooting and
running well, so the games have been more up-tempo and high-scoring.

I think we're beginning to see much more of KC Jones's coaching
philosophy this year; last year, he didn't do too much differently on
the court from what Bill Fitch was doing, though his off-court style is
completely different.  

Now, the offense is more spread-out.  They are relying on the inside
game a lot less.  The guards and Bird are shooting (well) outside a lot
more, which is opening up the inside and making it more effective when
they do go down low.  The offense seems much more flexible in terms of
getting the ball to whoever's hot.  The are usually releasing a guard as
soon as the other team shoots, and often hitting him on a court-length
pass on the rebound or inbounds.

Bird is usually hot.  He seems to have been given the green light to do
what he wants.  Last I looked, he was leading the team in points,
assists, rebounds, blocked shots, and steals.  He leads the league in
freethrow percentage and 3-point percentage, and is third in scoring.
He's all over the court on offense (and hitting from everywhere),
spending much less time in the trenches.  He's making last year's MVP
season look like a bad year.  I cannot say enough; it is such a pleasure
to watch him play.

By the way, the Sixers won round 2 Wednesday in a beautiful game.  The
Celts missed several chances in the last minute.  Great games for Moses,
Barkley, and Bird.  110-107 final.  Best basketball around.
-- 
--Bruce Nemnich, Thinking Machines Corporation, Cambridge, MA
  ihnp4!godot!bruce, bjn@mit-mc.arpa ... soon to be bruce@godot.arpa