Quick thoughts on Sixers-Celtics game

--I looked in on an ESPN game cast around the 3rd period or so and I'm
glad that I did. While the numbers look alright in the final--96 pts,
46 fg%, it's pretty deceptive as they were shooting around 36% in the
third until some decent shooting in garbage time. Jason Smith in
particular was 1-4 shooting until he went 5 for 5 in the 4th. That's
still positive, but...

--Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce both didn't play. Without them the
Celtics only shot 38%.

--The FGM were even and the Sixers needed a +15 FTM in order to decide
their advantage.
**
--Korver again is shooting well, going 4-7 and 3-3 on threes. He
should be getting more shots.

--Evans still can't hit a field goal to save his life.

--Glen Davis, another frontcourt player the Sixers were in position to
draft, went 4-6 for 9pts and 5 boards in only 16 minutes of play.

--It's looking more and more like Cheeks has determined that Thaddeus
Young isn't ready for significant time. Only 6 minutes. Willie Green
should still get off the court too though, going 5-13 in 27 minutes
along with 1 measly assist, 2 turnovers, and 2 fouls.

--Carney is looking reasonably capable of being an 8th or 9th guy in a
rotation. I can't really judge his defense not having seen him play
and he still doesn't pass but his shooting has been adequate and his
rebounding seems improved (getting about 3 or 4 a game).

--IK

After four losses, any win is a good win, but must be tempered by the fact
that Garnett and Pierce did not play. To my mind, the most significant
thing about the game was the use of Jason Smith.

"Ian Kognitow" <covanus.DeleteThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1192950942.864224.17670@q5g2000prf.googlegroups.com...

>Jason Smith in
> particular was 1-4 shooting until he went 5 for 5 in the 4th. That's
> still positive, but...

Here's the thing: Smith played *43* minutes at center. Herbert Hill and
Calvin Booth stayed on the bench. (Dalembert was back home, resting his
injured foot.) Talk about your force feeding. I wonder if Coach Cheeks
said something to Smith before the game, like, "if you want to show me you
can play center in the NBA, tonight's the night. You stunk up the joint
against the Jazz, but play like you mean it tonight and I'll leave you out
there the whole game."

Let's give Smith kudos for responding. In his 43 minutes, he shot 6-9, took
down 9 rebounds, only three turnovers and three personal fouls. Even though
he was only playing against Brian Scalabrine, that's a good night's work for
a second round draft pick.

So maybe Smith can be a contributor at center this year. Bears watching,
anyway.

> --Korver again is shooting well, going 4-7 and 3-3 on threes. He
> should be getting more shots.

There was a time when KK started for the team. He could do it again. Yes,
it would mean moving Iguodala to the two guard spot, when I would prefer him
in the front court, and the team would surely get slower. But at least you
would have enough firepower out there to contend in any game. It might be
a better deal overall than having Green or Carney out there for extended
minutes at two guard, neither of whom is playing like they deserve to start.

---- Kurt Straub