Re: CELTICS: Murdock hopes to play for Pitino

["Timothy Jordan" <patsrule90@geocities.com>]

I would love to see him on the Celtics.  He is a veteran point guard  and
can control the tempo of the game, whether fast or slow.  I had him on my
fantasy team, and he was a key part to the team.  I think he led the league
in assists in the fantasy league which was played on a video game.  This
would be a good pick up.


> 
> CELTICS: Murdock hopes to play for Pitino
> 
> The former PC star takes part in the Celtics' rookie-free agent camp in
> a bid to join the coach he never had.
> 
> By KEVIN McNAMARA
> Providence Journal-Bulletin Sports Writer
> 
> 
> WALTHAM, Mass. -- Coming out of high school in New Jersey, Eric Murdock
> had his hopes set on playing for Rick Pitino at Providence College.
> Unfortunately, he never had the chance.
> 
> Pitino broke Murdock's heart, and those of Friar fans everywhere, when
> he left PC for the New York Knicks in 1987. Murdock, who was recruited
> by Pitino and assistant Stu Jackson in the fall of his senior year at
> Bridgewater-Raritan High, thought his chance to play in Pitino's
> pressing, uptempo style was gone forever.
> 
> "I always thought my game was perfect for Pitino's system," Murdock
> said. "I still do."
> 
> The lure of finally playing for Pitino has Murdock in the Celtics'
> rookie-free agent camp this week at Brandeis University. While Murdock's
> chances of landing a spot on the Celts' opening day roster appear slim
> right now, he's opening some eyes.
> 
> As he did so well for Rick Barnes at Providence, Murdock's hands are
> super quick and dangerous. He deflects virtually any ball that comes his
> way. In the pressing, trapping defense Pitino hopes to use with the
> Celtics, those are valuable skills.
> 
> "I really feel I'm perfectly suited for this style, especially on
> defense," he said. "Hopefully there's room for me."
> 
> The point guards blocking Murdock's path to a roster spot are rookie
> Chauncey Billups and veterans Dana Barros and Dee Brown. Despite his
> praising of Brown in recent days, Pitino would dearly love to trade his
> large contract and free up salary cap room for future moves. That would
> also open a spot for someone like Murdock or Rumeal Robinson, another
> point guard looking good in camp.
> 
> "The thinking with Eric and Rumeal is something could open up in a
> trade," Pitino said. "We may have to throw someone into a trade for
> salary cap reasons, for example. If there is a trade, we may need
> someone at point guard."
> 
> Timing could be key for Murdock and the Celtics. He says he'll play for
> the Celts in a three-day camp in Atlanta this weekend if he's invited
> after the camp closes today. If he's left off the 10-man team, he may
> travel to Sacramento and play with the Kings in a different camp.
> 
> By the end of July, Murdock hopes to have a handle on either NBA
> situation so he can decide his future. Murdock, 29, spent last season
> playing for Bologna Fortitudo in the Italian Professional League. He
> says the team has offered him a deal to return for roughly $1 million in
> American money. 
> 
> Murdock has no chance to sign a deal that large with an NBA team. But
> the chance to return to the best league on the planet is enough to
> entice Murdock to take a pay cut.
> 
> "I'm 29 and not getting any younger, so making the most money I can is a
> priority, but I will sacrifice to play with Boston because I think I can
> thrive here," he said.
> 
> As recently as two seasons ago, Murdock looked to be a permanent fixture
> in the NBA. On the last year of his contract in Milwaukee in 1995,
> Murdock took the wrong side in a labor dispute where several agents
> looked to disband the union. Murdock's open lobbying for the move did
> not win any friends in Milwaukee and he was traded to Vancouver.
> 
> Greg Anthony beat out Murdock with the Grizzlies, and at the end of the
> '96 season, the Grizzlies released him. He signed with Denver last
> summer and played well for the Nuggets in the pre-season. But when Mark
> Jackson returned from an injury after the first month of the season,
> Murdock was waived.
> 
> He signed with Bologna a month later and teammed with former Syracuse
> star Conrad McRae to lead the team to the Italian league finals.
> 
> He's played well with the Celtics, especially on defense and feeding
> teammates on fastbreaks. His shot has been off, though.
> 
> "I'm shooting it real high for some reason," he said. "It's really just
> confidence. I'm thinking too much instead of shooting it. I'm not
> worried about that, though."
> 
> Like most players, Murdock is high on the future of the Celtics with
> Pitino in charge. He'd love to work his way into an uptempo,
> free-wheeling style dependent on guards taking defensive chances and
> shooting from anywhere on the court.
> 
> "I think the Celtics won't be down for long," he said. "You look at Ron
> Mercer the last few days. He's a player. Who knows, maybe I'll finally
> get a chance to play for coach Pitino."