Re: Pro Sports X-Change

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

A couple of comments concerning this article:

- From all that I've read, it appears that Yo Adrian has thoroughly
outplayed
Clack Attack, and certainly seems more likely to make the team.

- Was Pierce actually playing the shooting guard position? It seems like
Yo Adrian from the stats I saw, has logged considerable time at the 2. 

- Less than two weeks to the end of the moratorium......
Ray


> Subject: Pro Sports X-Change
> Date: Sun, 18 Jul 1999 14:15:09 -0400
> From: "Joshua Ozersky" <jozersky@stny.rr.com>
> To: <celtics@igtc.com>
> 
> Kris Clack has been on an amusement-park ride since the moment he was
> selected by the Celtics in the second round of the draft. The L.A. Pro
> Summer League is just the latest stop.
> 
> "It's been wild," Clack said.
> 
> It got truly wild when the first round of the aforementioned draft
> passed by without his name being mentioned.
> 
> "There was a lot of anxiety and then excitement," he said.
> 
> But in the twisted world of the NBA, the wrenching and exhausting time
> has landed him in a place that fits him well. So as the ride
> continues, the 6-5 (in sneakers, as measured at the Chicago pre-draft
> camp) guard from Austin, Texas, expressed gratitude at the way the
> long draft night's journey into professional basketball worked out.
> 
> "I think it ended up right for me," said Clack, who stayed at home and
> did four years at the University of Texas. "The style they play fits
> what I can do. They're kind of an up and down the floor kind of team.
> They get up on people on defense, and that's my game.
> 
> "I'm just excited. I'm glad to get an opportunity with a good coach
> and a bunch of young, athletic guys like myself. I'll just be trying
> to help out the team any way possible.
> 
> "It's a great situation when you look at what they have there. They
> have a lot of young guys who know how to win. That's something you
> look for."
> 
> On draft night, Clack was looking for a call much earlier than the
> 55th overall pick. The consensus was that if he strayed out of the
> late first round it wouldn't be too far.
> 
> Sitting in a hotel in Austin, he wasn't sure what to think.
> 
> "I'd been hearing the same thing as everyone else -- that I'd go
> probably in the late first round or maybe early in the second," Clack
> said. "The teams that had picks down at the end of the first round --
> Miami, Indiana, Houston, all of them -- they'd been telling us they
> were interested in me there. Those teams kept in contact with me after
> I went for (individual) workouts.
> 
> "I have no idea what happened. Maybe with all the trades going on and
> teams getting into other things, I just kind of slipped. That's
> something that goes on. It's destiny. It's really something you have
> no control over. But there's no use getting upset over it. Things
> worked out well for me. I can't complain about that.
> 
> "I'm comfortable with what I did in the workouts, and I did what I had
> to do in Phoenix."
> 
> The last reference is to the Nike Desert Classic, a postseason talent
> showcase for potential draftees. Clack was the Most Valuable Player
> there, averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, two blocked shots and two
> steals. The numbers mirror his Texas stats, as he became just the
> second player in Big 12 history to record more than 200 career steals
> (239) and 100 blocks (101). Danny Manning was the other.
> 
> "I think my strengths are taking it to the basket and my running and
> jumping ability," Clack said. "I like to get after it on defense.
> 
> "As for weaknesses, consistency in shooting from the outside would
> probably be the main thing."
> 
> NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES
> Ron Mercer met with Rick Pitino and the discussion about a contract
> extension was not encouraging. Mercer appears to be seeking the
> maximum deal allowed, and the Celtics are talking about their budget.
> 
> The bottom line is that the club will be talking about trading Mercer
> with more vigor.
> 
> That stance has been helped along by Paul Pierce's performance at
> shooting guard in the L.A. Summer League. Granted, the competition is
> not at NBA level, but Pierce has proven to Pitino he can handle the
> position if Mercer is dealt for a forward.
> 
> The Celtics still have no regret at losing their first-round draft
> pick (with Andrew DeClercq for Vitaly Potapenko) even though Cleveland
> got valued point guard Andre Miller at No. 8.
> 
> "I like Andre Miller," said general manager Chris Wallace. "He's got
> the potential to be a starting point guard in this league. But he's
> not a big man.
> 
> "The main thing is that we did not miss on a guy who's going to be a
> great player. When you trade a draft pick, the thing you're always
> concerned about is that the guy you miss will become a superstar.
> There are very few guys who have a chance to fit that category in this
> draft.
> 
> "The way you have to look at it is that even if we had Andre Miller,
> we'd still need to go find us a Vitaly. And I don't know where we
> would find him over the next few drafts or with a salary cap slot or
> even a trade. There just aren't that many opportunities to get a
> starting NBA center."
> 
> QUOTE TO NOTE: "I was fine until I put six balls in the water on the
> last day." -- Rick Pitino on his disappointing performance in a
> celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.
> 
> STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
> Pitino has said he wants the Celtics to become older, but he's added
> that he won't change the roster simply for the sake of change.
> 
> That differs from when he arrived and said he needed different people
> to rid the club of the defeatist feeling that had developed --
> particularly in the 15-win season that preceded him immediately.
> 
> The belief is that everyone but Paul Pierce may be available if the
> package is right. And with the Celtics holding attractive young
> talent, sources have said the club will get to field some very decent
> offers for the likes of Ron Mercer and Antoine Walker. Nothing much
> materialized on draft day. But now that teams will have time to assess
> their rosters (before trading begins again August 1), there is the
> chance talks could be rekindled.
> 
> DRAFT REVIEW: The Celtics did look at dealing their pick -- 55th
> overall -- but when they saw Kris Clack falling toward them, they
> could only hope he'd still be there. Mind you, no one is ordering a
> 17th championship banner or anything, but to find a player who fits
> their style that late in the draft was a pleasant surprise.
> 
> FREE AGENT UPDATE: Damon Jones did well as a late-season point guard
> pickup, and the Celts definitely will look to keep him around. Eric
> Riley can cement a place on the team if he shows Pitino he is willing
> to work hard this summer. Marlon Garnett is iffy at best for next
> season, having shown he is more of a shooting guard (at just 6-2) than
> a point. Bruce Bowen is iffy, as well, especially after Greg Minor
> came on near the end of the season.
> 
> ROTATION REVIEW: Starters -- Point guard Kenny Anderson (12.1 ppg, 5.7
> apg); Off guard Ron Mercer (17.0 ppg); Small forward Paul Pierce (16.5
> ppg, 1.71 spg, 6.4 rpg); Power forward Antoine Walker (18.7 ppg, 8.5
> rpg); Center Vitaly Potapenko (10.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg with Celts). Bench --
> Guard Dana Barros (9.3 ppg, 4.2 apg, 23.1 mpg); Guard Damon Jones (5.8
> ppg); Guard-forward Greg Minor (4.9 ppg); Forward Popeye Jones (3.0
> ppg); Forward Walter McCarty (5.7 ppg); Forward-center Tony Battie
> (6.7 ppg, 1.42 bpg); Center Eric Riley (2.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 9.6 mpg).
> 
> MEDICAL WATCH: Pervis Ellison (ankle surgery), Greg Minor (right hip
> fracture) and Popeye Jones
> 
> Josh Ozersky