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Peter May: Celtics Focusing On Wayne Turner
Boston Celtics Team Report posted MARCH 30, 1999
Peter May
Boston Globe
This hasn't been the
rosiest of times for the
Celtics. They've
regressed in a year
where, under normal
circumstances, they
likely would have done
otherwise. But a string
of MIA games, mainly at
home, have the vox
populi on the case of
both Rick Pitino and the team he
coaches.
Pitino has spent more time lately
talking about non-basketball matters.
He is dealing with adversity for the
first time as the Celtics' main man
and, of course, that is fine with him.
It builds character. Some of his
players, mainly the inconsistent
Antoine Walker, are hearing it from
the fans. But, of course, that's good
because it's only going to make Walker stronger. Shaun Powell
Talking about the future is necessary
because the present is so unpleasant.
The Celtics began the week owning the
sixth-worst record in the NBA, hardly
daily diarywhat most expected, even with the
lockout. But an over-abundance of road
games, added to a young team which has
not grown, has produced a
disheartening season.
Pitino already is talking about next
year. He said this week that he'll
hang himself from the Boston
University Bridge if the team doesn't
make the playoffs. He was only
kidding. He continues to insist that a
full summer and training camp will
make all the difference. He may be
right, because it made a differenc
not having either this year.
You talk about the future and the
upside and "down the road" when things
aren't going so well. Pitino's team is
not playing as well as it did last
that's beyond dispute. Why? Did
it overachieve last year? Probably.
Have the players tired of Pitino's
ongoing rant? Probably.
Can the situation be resolved? Only if
everyone is on the same page. Pitino
has a grating style and there have
been times in the past two weeks where
it's been obvious that his players
have gone through the motions. Will he change? He says he
won't. If players are expecting a country club, they'd be
better off elsewhere.
Already a lot of fans have turned on the once-popular
coach. They see him threaten to bench players and do
nothing. They seem him defend Antoine Walker. They see a
situation out of control and a coach and master spinner
trying to bring it back. It hasn't been a pretty time. . .
The Celtics not only have been reeling internally, they
also haven't had the best of luck trying to deal with the
rules of the game. Just before the trading deadline, the
Celtics and Clippers had agreed to a deal sending Tony
Battie and Bruce Bowen to the Clippers for Rodney Rogers.
For some unknown reason, Pitino likes Rogers, who is
habitually overweight and seems the least likeliest of
Pitino players. Both sides signed off on the deal which,
of course, never happened.
The reason was simple. It's in the rules that a player who
has been traded (Battie) cannot be traded again within two
months unless he's the only one being dealt. Battie could
have been traded for six LA Clippers. But he could not be
"aggregated" as the NBA calls it; in other words, he could
not be joined by a teammate in a deal. The league had to
notify the teams that the deal could not go through. . . .
The Celtics' futility against old franchise Larry Bird
continues. A loss Sunday to the Pacers dropped Boston's
record to 0-6 against Indy since Bird took over. There is
no pretense here; Bird loves beating the team which
basically ignored him and then used him to interview
prospective head coaches. Reggie Miller said he doesn't
want to be around when the Pacers finally lose to the
Celtics. He doesn't want to hear from coach Bird.
POSITIONAL ANALYSIS:
Point guard: It's going to be interesting to watch how the
Kenny Anderson story unfolds. He isn't what Pitino really
wants, but he wasn't when he came to Boston. Everyone knew
that. Pitino is now focusing on Kentucky's Wayne Turner,
who can defend the way he wants. Anderson won't do that
and never will. Grade: C-
Shooting guard: Ron Mercer is getting his shots. He's even
making a few of them. He's also showing an aptitude for
defense. But he's also seen as the most expendable player,
given his ability and contract. As for now, he's their
most consistent threat. Grade: B+
Center: Big Vitaly Potapenko is becoming a Pitino favorite
for his work ethic. Pitino also wants to get him more
involved in the offense because he can make medium-range
shots. Grade: B
Power forward: What's left to say about Walker? He had a
terrific game against the Pacers, but let's see if he can
keep it up. In his previous two home games he was 3-for-29
from the field and was getting booed with each shot. He's
got a while to go before he becomes Mr. Popularity, if he
ever does. He's got a lot of work on the floor as well.
Grade: C
Small forward: Paul Pierce hit some wall. Was it Pitino?
Or was it something else? He's clearly not the same player
he was early on and part of that is due to teams figuring
out what he likes to do. But part of it also is Pitino's
in-your-face style. It bothers a lot of people and Pierce
is no different than most. Grade: C+
INJURY REPORT
Walter McCarty, a key guy in Pitino's pressing unit, has
missed the last six games with a sprained left knee and
his return date is a week away. He's not on the injured
list, so he can return when he's ready. The three injured
list tenants are Eric Riley (foot), Popeye Jones (knee)
and Pervis Ellison (doghouse/ankle.) Ellison isn't even
around. Riley and Jones probably could play at a moment's
notice, but will likely stay where they are until someone
really gets hurt.
WHO'S HOT/WHO'S NOT
Give Walker credit when it's due. He had a terrific game
against the Pacers after some real bow-wows at home. He
still isn't hot; no one is when you've won twice in 12
games. But he bounced back from two horrendous home games
to deliver a balanced, all-around game against Indiana.
Anderson is clearly out of kilter. You have to wonder how
long he is going to stick around when he is so clearly
unsuited to the role that Pitino wants.
STRONG TO THE HOOP
It's great that Pitino promises a better team next year.
But what about this year? He is preparing as he always
does, coaching like he always does, but the message he's
sending is to wait until next year? What do you think his
players think of that? He may be consciously letting them
off the hook, but he's also setting them up as well.
FEARLESS PREDICTION
The Celtics are banking on a heavy home schedule the rest
of the way to remain, at least, on the radar screen. That
won't happen. They haven't proven to be a tough home team
yet to make homecourt an undeniable advantage.
© 1999 Times Mirror Interzines, a division of Times Mirror
Magazines.