Points in the Paint

» June 9, 2009 7:55 PM | By Brandon Hoffman

Celtics assistant coach Kevin Eastman: “I’m watching a lot of film this summer. It never fails that the teams that reverse the ball are the teams that get the best shots. A saying we have is, ‘there is a direct correlation between the number of ball reversals and defensive breakdowns.’ Reversing the ball, swing the ball, touching both sides — whatever your terminology is, the key is ball movement. I heard one NBA coach say, ‘the wins are on the other side of the floor.’ I can tell you this: for the Celtics, that was a very true statement. It never failed in that we got our best shots when we reversed the ball. Even though this is a simple concept, it is so important to offensive success that it can’t be taken for granted.”

Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune: “Whoever said money can’t buy happiness never talked to C-Booz. And even if money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy the kind of misery you prefer, for Boozer, that’s close enough. His current contract situation is all about the kind of happiness, or misery, he can deposit in the bank. It’s as simple as this: Give him more of it, and he’ll stay. Don’t, and he’ll threaten to turn a heel, bat an eye and pucker up for another sailor. Two questions, then. 1. Does Boozer deserve more money? 2. Is anybody out there willing to give it to him? And another one, the biggest of the bunch. 3. Are the Jazz better off paying and keeping him? The NBA may be the only job opportunity on the planet where an employee can miss one-third of his workdays over a five-year span and then presume he is due a substantial raise. Since coming to the Jazz, Boozer has missed 134 games. Think about how that would go over at your job. Think about how that would go over with your co-workers.”

Michael Beasley describes his offseason workout regimen: “I’m working on the things a shooting guard or a small forward would work on. I do a lot of screen work, a lot of jump shots, and ball handling – a lot of stuff point guards do. I know I may never play the one or two, but I feel if I work on those skills, it will be harder to guard me. I do a lot of stuff that Chauncey Billups does. I think he’s the best point guard in the NBA, especially coming off screens. Why not try to emulate that? I feel like if I can add that to my game, I will be a tougher match-up.”

Chad Ford, via The Knicks Blog, says Brandon Jennings could slip past the 10th pick in the draft.

Broderick Turner talks with Lakers assistant coach Brian Shaw: “Sunday’s game ‘probably gave them some confidence,’ Shaw said. ‘I’m happy that we came away with the win and that we’re 2-0 in the series. But there’s going to be a lot of things on the film that we’ll want to correct.’ Orlando challenged Kobe Bryant higher on pick-and-rolls and paid much more attention to him than it had in a 25-point loss in Game 1. The Magic also moved better on offense, getting into the middle of a Lakers defense that likes to keep opponents pushed against the sideline. By getting the ball into the middle, Orlando disrupted the Lakers’ rotations on defense. When the Lakers had opportunities to switch ‘like size’ — such as when Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom came together, or Bryant and Odom — they didn’t communicate when Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, Orlando’s primary wing threats, came off screens.” Shaw previews Game 3 at Lakers.com.

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