Post by DERRENMATTS on Mar 29, 2007 16:48:39 GMT -5
We've been playing solid basketball lately, and the results can be seen. We beat the Spurs, almost beat the Mavs (though we got creamed in our second matchup), we beat the resurging Raptors and won against a nice Magic team. We did lose to the Bobcats, but that seemed to have been a case of tanking the season.
3 reasons as to why I think we're playing better:
1) Our players are playing with good chemistry now. Pierce is back and Rajon has gotten familiar with the starting 5 and this has allowed our starting unit to gel and play with more familiarity.
2) We are running more--and this includes playing at a freer pace. Guys are pushing the tempo far more now than any other time in the season (including Pierce, who has finished some fast breaks in recent games) and we don't seem to have set plays on almost every play anymore. Rondo has been a big proponent for our running game because he constantly gets us into fastbreaks by getting steals (Delonte gets credit too).
3) We are doing better defensively. Not to say that we are nearing where we should be--we still have a ways to go. But we have been doing a better job of playing defense (including Telfair) and rather than screwing up defensive assignments 20 times a game, now its maybe down to 14. Perk has done a fantastic job of shutting down high scoring big men recently. More than that, he's doing a terrific job of not fouling out. Big props to him for this.
3 reasons as to why I think we're playing better:
1) Our players are playing with good chemistry now. Pierce is back and Rajon has gotten familiar with the starting 5 and this has allowed our starting unit to gel and play with more familiarity.
2) We are running more--and this includes playing at a freer pace. Guys are pushing the tempo far more now than any other time in the season (including Pierce, who has finished some fast breaks in recent games) and we don't seem to have set plays on almost every play anymore. Rondo has been a big proponent for our running game because he constantly gets us into fastbreaks by getting steals (Delonte gets credit too).
3) We are doing better defensively. Not to say that we are nearing where we should be--we still have a ways to go. But we have been doing a better job of playing defense (including Telfair) and rather than screwing up defensive assignments 20 times a game, now its maybe down to 14. Perk has done a fantastic job of shutting down high scoring big men recently. More than that, he's doing a terrific job of not fouling out. Big props to him for this.
