Re: Pitino worshiping.....

["MICHAEL ZAINO" <mz3096@student.law.duke.edu>]

> Date:          Tue, 28 Oct 1997 18:54:08 -0800
> From:          skmishra@dlsun660.us.oracle.com (Shailendra K. Mishra)
> To:            celtics@igtc.COM, mz3096@student.law.duke.edu
> Subject:       Re: Pitino worshiping.....

> > From mz3096@student.law.duke.edu Tue Oct 28 18:26:47 1997
[bunch of stuff snipped]
>  
> > Granted, I think it perfectly okay to give RP some leeway, but how 
> > much is too much. At what point do you begin to question the fact 
> > that he is basically signing players, then trading them away two 
> > months later. If he is trading them because they can't deliver what 
> > he originally thought, we have a serious problem. 
> 
> No that is not a serious problem because there is no damage done. It is a 
> serious problem when after two years the coach discovers that the player doesn't 
> fit the system or delivering the goods.

I disagree. If he is making mistakes, that cuts into his credibility. 
These are the early warning signs that spell disaster later. I agree 
that there is no evidence of long run problems yet, but Knight is 
signed for potentially seven years. My point is that if RP 
doesn't/can't evaluate talent at this level the way we thought he 
could, that could have serious repercussions in the long run. 
I personally do think RP can evaluate talent, but so far, he 
hasn't done much with the C's to prove that he can. He is basically 
shuffling players.  I am just troubled by the fact that very few 
people are bothered by this. I think the euphoria of getting RP to 
replace ML is a bit too strong. We are all jumping on his boat, IMO, 
a little too quickly and too freely. 


> > So far you might 
> > argue that RP was mistaken about Mills' value, Eric Williams' value 
> > (he originally talked up EW), and even maybe Billups' value. Even 
> > though he manged to unload these mistakes, what makes everyone think 
> > he did the right thing this time around? I am not bashing RP, just 
> > trying to keep an objective point of view. 
> 
> RP's ability to manage will be measured by Wins and Losses not by who he brings 
> in or trades out. Clearly the theme in all his trades is "youth and potential", 
> he is building this team from scratch. We will soon find out what kind of a job 
> he has done.
> 
I agree that the bottom line will be the ultimate proof. I am just a 
little too excited I guess and trying to anticipate what will happen. 
More than anything, I think my fear of RP failing to bring home #17 
is manifesting itself. My fear is not totally unfounded, IMO. In his 
drive for "youth and potential", I think it can be argued that  no 
one he has brought in matches the potential of Eric Williams. That is 
where the rhetoric begins to fall apart, IMO. Before I rehash the 
whole EW debate, let me just that opening night is coming up soon, 
and this whole debate should probably be put off until the C's 
actually have a record. 

Mike