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May's article in TSN
May had this to say in TSN.
BTW, how does a paper like the Globe select the writers for the different
sports? Why is May the Celtics writer? I've always like Ryan's writing better.
>FIVE REASONS FOR OPTIMISM FOR
> NEXT YEAR
>
> 1. Antoine Walker: He is showing signs of
> being one of the more versatile big men in the
> game. He made the Eastern Conference
> All-Star team as a reserve in just his second
> season. And he's still only 21.
>
> 2. Ron Mercer: He had a terrific rookie
> season and is developing into a solid shooting
> guard. He stayed in terrific shape all season,
> never hit the rookie wall, and became a
> reliable scoring threat.
>
> 3. Rick Pitino: He has the keys to the
> kingdom. He had the Celtics prepared
> mentally and physically as well as they've ever
> been. Will his style keep working or will he
> have to adjust? Either way, he's shown, again,
> that he can flat-out coach.
>
> 4. Kenny Anderson: Acquired at the trading
> deadline, Anderson came at a big cost
> (promising rookie Chauncey Billups) but gave
> the Celtics something they did not have: a
> push-it-up point guard with some experience
> in the league. Only time will tell if he's tough
> enough to play for a demanding coach like
> Pitino.
>
> 5. The FleetCenter: There actually was real
> noise this season and the fans came out as
> they rarely have to see Pitino and the Celtics.
> One of Pitino's goals this season was to win at
> home. The Celtics weren't dominant, but they
> had a winning record in the building and were
> in almost every game.
>
> FIVE REASONS FOR PESSIMISM
> FOR NEXT YEAR
>
> 1. The Eastern Conference: The Celtics
> finished with the worst record in the East in
> 1996-97. They may well climb only a couple
> spaces this year. Some teams (Chicago, New
> York) are on the slide, but the Celtics can
> expect other teams to improve as much, or
> more, than they do.
>
> 2. Antoine Walker: Is he the guy the team
> really wants to have as its foundation? He has
> 17 technical fouls, a reputation as a hothead
> and a showboat and is still a far-from-finished
> player. Pitino already has called Walker the
> key to the franchise.
>
> 3. Rick Pitino: Yes, he can coach. But can he
> attract free agents? Can his demanding style
> be attractive to a 27- or 28-year-old free
> agent? The stories about his "getting on" his
> players already have circulated around the
> NBA and then some. He is demanding. But
> can he coach veterans?
>
> 4. Travis Knight: The Celtics will try to move
> this 7-footer over the summer. He simply did
> not deliver as they had hoped when they
> overstepped and signed him for seven years
> and $22 million. Most GMs are wary of
> taking on a player, even at those numbers.
> Knight is at his best when he can float and
> infiltrate, going ignored. That can't happen in
> Boston.
>
> 5. Ownership: Can the Celtics compete in this
> crazy market? Or will the market be stabilized
> with a new collective bargaining agreement.
> Owner Paul Gaston is on the record as saying
> he won't spend "Garnett money" to sign any
> player. But can the Celtics compete or will
> they be Denver East?
Mark Estepp 704 262 3111
Appalachian State University 704 265 8696 (fax)
Esteppjm@AppState.edu