Re: wow!!!

[Jeremy <jwarren@eecs.tufts.edu>]

On Thu, 25 Feb 1999, Josh Ozersky wrote:

> I don't think there's any jealousy.  Pitino is just protecting the
> team from getting distracted from team play by individual raves.  When
> somebody is as good as Pierce, you don't need to talk about him being
> good.  But I think that Bo Outlaw is certainly the defensive player of
> the year -- although Scottie should get votes, as always.  Pierce is
> so amazing.  We now have the 1-2 punch of the championship teams.  Ron
> will provide the James Worthy/Robert Parish role, and absolutely kill
> people in the flow of the game.  Riley is our center.  BTW, I thought
> Battie didn't play that well in the Orlando game, actually.  He and
> Walter will make hay in the press unit.

May wrote in today's globe that Pierce is the best player on the team.
Even if this is true, it has to be eating at Walker and Mercer.  I spoke
to Jersey Red over the summer, and he told me that they both have fragile
egos.  Maybe they've matured since then.  As far as having championship
potential goes, offensively yes, defensively no.  Pierce is our only
starter who is a very good defender.  We are very weak at one and five,
the two most important positions.  Walker and Mercer are at best average.
If Mercer could develop Bruce Bowen like defensive skills, we could take
it to the next level.

I don't mean to give the impression that I'm not thrilled with last
night's game because I definitely am.  Riley had 14 boards and two
blocks!!  I'm just saying that I see the glass as half full with a crack
(called reality) just above the water line.

Jeremy