RP show

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

On yesterday's RP show:

1) Rick Pitino reiterated that he is not going anywhere (unless he is
fired). He said there is no sense leaving when the team is struggling.
I didn't catch the reasoning entirely, but I could see that if he did
leave at this point, it would ruin the reputation that he has spent
his entire career building.

2) He talking about the summer league in Boston. Also, he mentioned the
voluntary, one-on-one workouts that were planned. In response to the 
Globe article that reported that the union was concerned about whether
the workouts would be truly voluntary, he took a shot at the writer 
(who he did not name), saying something like, "Why was that article
written?" He says there is no truth to it. 
    The workouts would be for Celtics players as well as interested 
free agents. Again, Pitino mentioned Wayne Turner.

3) Due to the injuries, the team is getting experience getting the
ball to Pierce and Potapenko. Pitino had tons of praise for Potapenko,
calling him a legitimate low post presence. In addition, he said that
Vitaly "loves basketball, loves the weight room, and is a dream come
true for the coaches." At the end of the show, Pitino mentions that
the injuries have given players a chance to see the benefits from
"throwing it into the V-man."

4) About giving up a draft pick, Pitino repeated that he didn't want
any more youth. He said that in preparing for the V trade, they watched
loads of film, talking to other teams' coaches, discussed it with 
Auerback, etc. and came to the conclusion that it was a no-brainer.
    Pitino said that even if they got the #1 pick, that it wouldn't
help the team as much as Vitaly had. He asked Lobel who he would choose
if he had the #1 pick for the Celtics. Lobel suggested Brand; Pitino
said that he wouldn't get many minutes as Antoine's backup. Odom would
play behind Pierce. Lobel then said a point guard like Avery and Pitino
sort of avoided it; he didn't say that a point guard wouldn't play 
because of Anderson, but rather said that Avery wasn't even a lottery 
pick. Then he said that there is no center on the level of "V-man."
    Anyways, it could be that this all indicates that Antoine and Pierce
are going to be the forward tandem and Mercer stays. But it could mean
nothing because Pitino is just saying these things to cover his ass over
the V trade (which I agree is still a good trade; Potapenko, since coming
to the Celtics, has averaged 10.8ppg, 7.5rpg, played good defense, and
seems to improve continually). 

5) In the Coach's Clinic, he talked about getting open for shots. His
examples were Reggie Miller and Chris Mullin, who he basically said
were pretty unathletic. He described Miller as a not particularly quick
or strong player who "jumps an inch." Mullin is obviously slow and 
"doesn't go right well." But they use screens and ball-fakes and go to
the line. In fact he describes Miller as perhaps the best in history
in using screens. He also calls Miller a "stunt man" for his ability
to look like he got mauled on shots when he doesn't get touched. 
    On the video, they show Celtics getting burned numerous times by
Miller and Mullin off screens and off fakes and drives. The key is
that they are great shooters that can't be left open even momentarily.
This makes opponents run at them which makes it easy to fake them and
draw fouls.

6) He talked about the summer league again and how they can play up
to three contracted players on a team, as well as rotating players in.
He said they can practice in the morning and afternoon during the
league. You could see Pitino lighting up over the idea of so much practice.

Alex