Re: Franchise Player

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

If we gave it too a rookie or second year player, I'd doubt we'd win 10
games.  There is no way that I would feel comfortable with Antoine in the
clutch.  I have felt comfortable with a few players in the clutch: Larry
Bird, Reggie Lewis, Danny Ainge, and Kevin McHale.  Antoine had a decent
year last year.  He showed what he could do but I thought he needed some
big improvements to be considered among tops in the league.  He still has a
long way to go.  I am confident he'll get there though.  

I don't believe in giving young players the chance to screw up.  I believe
in letting them make mistakes, but there is a fine line between the 2.  The
veterans on the team, despite the lack of talent, are veterans and know
what to do.  I don't think Antoine is ready to screw up on a bad team and
realize that it isn't the end of the world.  He is only 21 years old.  Just
like I feel that the Red Sox shouldn't bring up their 2 young pitchers:
Carl Pavano and Brian Rose.  Don't let them get throw into a bad losing
fire.  That is the same.

I don't expect the Celtics to win many games, just like when Bill Parcells
came, I didn't.  Rebuilding takes time.  I did however expect the Patriots
to make the Super Bowl and win it (soooo close) within Bill's first 5
years.  I expect a season in which the Celtics will start a little bit
rough, but as the end nears, the young players will take over and start to
win.  The next season I expect a playoff spot (7 or 8) and a first round
loss in which we showed some of our talent, but showed our inexperience. 
The next season I expect to continually grow and maybe take the 5 seed and
advance to the second round.  The next years after that, I expect
championships.

- ----------
> From: Georgek27@aol.com
> To: patsrule90@geocities.com; celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Re: Franchise Player
> Date: Sunday, July 13, 1997 12:58 AM
> 
> In a message dated 97-07-13 00:56:17 EDT, you write:
> 
> << I don't think Antoine is our man yet.  If the game was on the line,
I'd
>  give it to a veteran, Dee Brown. 
>   >>
> 
> No wonder you doubt we can win 35 or more games!
> 
> George