Re: MERCER

["Starke R. Farrell" <sfarrell@tsixroads.com>]

Dorine wrote:

> I don't understand why anyone would want to trade Mercer.

I don't feel that anyone wants to trade Mercer, since he is a good guy and a
good player.  He could be the odd man out, however with his contract status and
the abilities of Paul Pierce.  We would have to seriously consider trading him
if a Vin Baker type player was received in return + helping us get rid of some
contracts (Anderson, Barros).

>   I vote we trade the coach.

This is not currently an option.  We wouldn't get that big 4  for a six foot
nothing ex-point guard with  a big mouth anyway.

> The Point Guard is supposed to run the offense!  Pitino wants to run
> everything, control everything.

The confrontational  style can be abrasive, but, it creates winning.  Our last
New England coach with that style created a winner out of a league laughing
stock (B. Parcells).  Of course we all see what happened in that situation.
But, when you bring in players that want to hustle and are hungry (a mix of
veterans and youth) and you teach them discipline, you ultimately end up with a
winner.

>  Maybe I'll get over this snit I'm in, but
> as you can all tell, I'm really down on the coach - of course I was never
> sold on him to begin with.

That is the current status with many on the list.  Of course, when the team
loses, the coach is supposed to be the one to take the heat.  Pitino, in
addition,  seems to be a personality type that people either love or hate.  You
must agree, however, that this team has much more upside than those with the
previous leaders.  Pitino has also given us a time frame.  He has given his word
that this team will make the playoffs next year.  If he doesn't make it,  I, at
that point,  will agree his credibility is shot to hell; it will be time for him
to 'simply grow old', without the Celtics.