Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 7, 2008 7:26:16 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1130658&format=text
Celtics have a force inside in Leon Powe
By Mark Murphy | Friday, November 7, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
Photo by AP
HOUSTON - Here’s a little known fact about Leon Powe.
When the Celtics [team stats] forward led the Pac-10 in scoring (20.5 points per game) and rebounding (10.1) as a senior at California, he became one of only six players in the deep history of that conference to average a double-double.
So the C’s knew that if Powe could overcome his knee problems, they had a player of low-post potential in the fold.
That’s why coach Doc Rivers, in attempting to refashion his bench following the departures of James Posey and P.J. Brown, believes the opportunity exists to actually boost the reserve unit’s scoring potential this season.
Tony Allen and Eddie House represent a huge part of that equation from the perimeter. But Powe and Glen Davis, despite both being undersized for the position, are arguably even more polished on the block despite giving up size on most nights.
Powe ignited Wednesday night’s win in Oklahoma City by scoring 11 points in a 13-point run that put the Celtics in control. On Tuesday night in Houston, Davis pushed Yao Ming out of the paint with more success than most 7-footers can muster. Big Baby also was so active in the offensive end against the Thunder, Rivers likened him to a “pinball.”
But this inside focus only will work so long as fellow reserves like House and Allen obey Rivers’ new dictum of feeding the post first and then moving to the inside-out game.
“Last year at times I thought we went jump-shot happy,” said Rivers, who wasn’t pleased when his team turned once again to indiscriminate jump shooting during Saturday’s road loss to the Pacers. “I told them that last year we got away with it. That’s why we’re making a concerted effort to get the ball to the post, period. Leon is a part of that.
“He’s been terrific. I told him at the start of the season, ‘We’re going to go to you more, but just because we go to you more doesn’t mean it’s your shot.’ ”
In other words, Powe’s no Kevin McHale - the low-post Hall of Famer who was nicknamed “The Black Hole” by Celtics teammates because of his tendency to look for his own shot at all costs.
Though Powe played this way at times last season - largely because he received the ball so little as a low-post option - any further Black Hole tendencies will be frowned upon.
“No way,” Rivers said. “That won’t happen. But what Leon does well is draw fouls. He’s a foul magnet.
“He has to become a better inside-out passer, however.
Added Powe: “(Doc’s) making more of an emphasis on the post to help everyone. He wants to share the ball, but also when you get the ball he wants you to be aggressive.”
There can be a fine line to such decision making.
“That means you have to make the right read,” Powe said. “There are times in the game when he tells me to attack and times when I have to make better passes. As you saw when we played (Indianapolis), we still have to make better passes as a team.”
But Rivers’ early hopes appear to be bearing fruit.
Powe was indeed a foul magnet against the Thunder’s front line.
His team-leading 5-of-5 performance from the line was the direct result of Oklahoma City not having someone quick enough to stay with Powe, be it on the offensive glass or in the post.
“What we’re trying to do with Leon is what we’re trying to do with the entire second unit,” Rivers said. “Establish Leon in the post and then go from there.”
