Can you tell I'm ready for this to end. (LONG)

[damekmo@teleport.com]

>>Your constant criticism of the Celtics handling of Walker has been iritating
>>but bearable. I was willing to let that go as a difference of opinion.
>>However, I can'tever stand by and allow you to call our beloved team the
>>Clippers East. I try to figure why someone can be so critical of the Celtics
>>organization after what we endured the past 5 years.

I'm critical because of what we've endured.

>>The only thing that comes
>>to mind is that you are somehow related to ML Carr or Jan Volk.

I was ML Carr's intern and I have the blue party dress to prove it...but
that's none of your concern.

>>Two years ago
>>you could call us the Clippers East. I would never do it but perhaps you
>>would. But now, if you don't see the Celtics change in direction, you either
>>need to eyes or your heart examined. If you continue such unwarranted
>>aggression against our beloved, expect to be flamed early and often!
>>
>>DJessen33
>

Unwarranted? Perhaps Dan. Perhaps not. Sure this team is much better than
the 15 win version. But....is it that much better than the 32-50 team of
five years ago? Or the '94-'95 team that went 35-47? Do they have a
brighter future? I assume you think so. Dan...I'm not so sure. I'll make
this fast. Point guard? Kenny Anderson might be healthy for a full season.
He might not. He's a miserable defensive player, and that's simply
undeniable. He might be able to play in Pitino's system. Maybe not.
Everybody talks about how well the team looked when Kenny was there for,
what, I'm just guessing, about 20-25 games? Needless to say, 20 or 25 games
doesn't a season make. Is it unreasonable to say that Anderson is a
question mark? And if he doesn't work out as expected, who plays point? The
Blazers weren't exactly thrilled with his play. (Was it a mistake for the
Blazers to trade him for a 5'8" point-guard who can't shoot? Do they know
something Pitino doesn't?) Center? I won't insult your intelligence. Small
forward? McCarty is a back-up. Period. Pierce? I think it shows how
desperate some of us are when we pin our hopes on someone who hasn't played
a second in the NBA. Will he be good? How good? Will he rise to the level
of being a starting 3 on a team that can go deep into the playoffs? Here's
one way of looking at it. Will he be better than Jamal Mashburn? Any reason
to think so? Who was the better player in college? Like Jamal Mashburn's
game? Shooting guard? While I have reservations about Mercer's game I'll
let it go because I actually believe, at the very least, he'll be a very
effective, solid player. Center, point guard, and small forward...all
question marks. Free agency? Who knows how the lockout will turn out, but
in any case, we've been speculating about the team's ability to sign Matt
Geiger. Matt Geiger's all right, but...how much better does he make this
team? Any doubts about it? And isn't he still a question mark in
Pitino-ball? This year free agency gets this team very little. Now...I'm
not going to get into the Walker debate because we could all go over
that...round and round...and not get anywhere. If you say, and justifiably
so, that, "Walker might get better, but he might not." That Walker, "Might
mature, might not." I think it's also justifiable to say that Anderson
might work out, might not. Pierce might work out, might not. The center
position might work out...might not. Pitino might actually make a trade he
doesn't regret, he might not. In summary Dan, you think it's obvious this
team can no longer be called the "Clippers East." A lot of people think the
Celtics are a lock to make the playoffs. The way this team is constituted
right now it's still a less than or at best, mediocre team.....with lots of
question marks. They get rid of Walker...another question mark and a big
one. Bird, McHale, Parish, the banners...all ancient history. This team has
been in a free-fall for at least five years and has a long way to go before
I'm convinced that its days of floundering at or below .500 are long gone.
Unwarranted Dan?

Paul M.