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Tom Murphy on the trade and KA
Until Tom Murphy gets subscribed, I will forward our private correspondence.
(see below)
Joshua Ozersky
Marketing Communications
Environmental Products Division
Corning Incorporated.
HP-CB-02-C6A
Corning, New York 14831
Phone: (607) 974-8124
Fax: (607) 974-2233
> ----------
> From: Thomas Murphy[SMTP:tfmiii@worldnet.att.net]
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:07 AM
> To: Ozersky, Joshua A
> Subject: Re: Nice piece in on hoops
>
> Josh,
>
> Thanks for getting me on the list!
>
> Battie and Bowen for Rogers!?! Perhaps in the Bizarro Universe.
>
> Battie and Bowen (along with Waltah - who has played well recently) are
> the
> heart of the press - you'd NEVER get equal value for them. And you're dead
> right about Battie - I LOVE him at center on the pressing unit: he's
> quick,
> blocks shots, and knows how to slam it home! He's a real keeper.
>
> I've got to agree with your observation re: KA and Mercer. Even when Kenny
> DOES get Merce the ball it always seems a step late, giving Merce the
> option of either giving it up (again) or forcing a bad shot. Let's hope
> that Kenny's game was off because of his struggle with the J; perhaps his
> recent offensive outburst will make him a little more comfortable sharing
> the rock. Either way, Kenny should feast tonight in Milwaukee.
>
> Another thing I've noticed: Kenny seems a lot more comfy shooting the J
> coming off picks set by our new widebody - maybe that's just what Mercer
> needs as well, some solid picks from VP so that even if KA is late with
> the
> pass he can still get his shot off in the flow of the game. That way Kenny
> won't need to thread the needle each time either.
>
> Best wishes - TomM
> ----------
> > From: Ozersky, Joshua A <OzerskyJA@corning.com>
> > To: 'Thomas Murphy' <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>
> > Subject: RE: Nice piece in on hoops
> > Date: Thursday, March 18, 1999 10:39 AM
> >
> > Tom,
> >
> > I've taken the liberty of subscribing you to the list. Have you seen
> this
> > idiotic thread about Boston trading Battie and Bowen for Rodney Rogers,
> of
> > all people. Boy, is that dumb. There are a few birdbrains on the list
> > who are always proposing trading Antoine for Greg Kite, or some such
> thing.
> > Or believing Jackie McMullan's lazy, unreliable NBA coverage, the worst
> in
> > the business. I love Bowen, although he's useless on offense, and Tony
> > Battie is a truly exciting prospect, particularly as the center on the
> > pressing unit or as a backup for Antoine.
> >
> > BTW, have you noticed that Ron Mercer is made of glass as far as Kenny
> is
> > concerned? How many times have you seen him waving for the ball on the
> wing
> > during the break, and KA ignores him? Last night the two of them had a
> two
> > on one, and Ron kept the ball, trying a very hard spin and reverse
> rather
> > than dumping off. Payback?
> > Joshua Ozersky
> > Marketing Communications
> > Environmental Products Division
> > Corning Incorporated.
> > HP-CB-02-C6A
> > Corning, New York 14831
> > Phone: (607) 974-8124
> > Fax: (607) 974-2233
> >
> >
> >
> > > ----------
> > > From: Thomas Murphy[SMTP:tfmiii@worldnet.att.net]
> > > Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 9:45 AM
> > > To: Ozersky, Joshua A
> > > Subject: Re: Nice piece in on hoops
> > >
> > > Josh,
> > >
> > > I've tried accessing the list several times but all I get is return
> > > messages saying I've entered improper commands. Is there something
> else
> I
> > > need to do?
> > >
> > > As for Antoine, I think you're probably correct. If I had to bet, I'd
> put
> > > the money on your take of the situation. The only reason I have a
> question
> > > in my mind is I wonder how much Pitino wants to win NOW while he's
> coach
> > > as
> > > opposed to later when he will (supposedly, anyway) be 'only'
> president.
> > >
> > > Thanks for the comments
> > >
> > > Best wishes
> > >
> > > - TomM
> > >
> > > ----------
> > > > From: Ozersky, Joshua A <OzerskyJA@corning.com>
> > > > To: 'Thomas Murphy' <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>
> > > > Subject: Nice piece in on hoops
> > > > Date: Wednesday, March 17, 1999 4:24 PM
> > > >
> > > > Tom,
> > > >
> > > > Dead-on analysis in OnHoops. I couldn't agree with you more, except
> to
> > > add
> > > > that Potapenko will probably see more touches than you think, given
> the
> > > fact
> > > > that he is pretty damn effective down low with his drop steps and
> > > Eurospins.
> > > > He's like a Dino Radja that way. But I take issue with the latter
> part
> > > of
> > > > your piece, as I wrote on teh new email list where your essay was
> > > posted.
> > > >
> > > > "Tom Murphy is one of the smartest people writing about the Celtics.
>
> > > I've
> > > > encouraged him to join the list, but I guess he doesn't have time
> for
> > > it.
> > > > (Or maybe he's a southerner.) But as for the last point, I don't
> > > believe
> > > > that Pitino will ever trade Walker based on his game. Pitino
> absolutley
> > > > loves Antoine, and hardly needs "evalutation" time to judge a player
> > > whom
> > > > has scouted and coached since the age of 16. Unless Antoine begins
> to
> > > think
> > > > he's boss, Pitino clearly believes his game will mature and that he
> will
> > > one
> > > > day be an MVP candidate. As do I. Neither Walker nor Pierce will
> ever
> > > be
> > > > traded from this team, unless it's for Tim Duncan. As for Antoine
> > > boxing
> > > > out and playing defense, I think he tries, but he's not strong
> enough
> to
> > > box
> > > > out power forwards (especially when he is playing on the perimeter)
> and
> > > he
> > > > is too slow to ever be a first class individual defender. People
> forget
> > > > because he has good hops and is black that he is one of the slowest
> men
> > > in
> > > > the NBA. I think Larry Bird was faster than Antoine on the floor --
> he
> > > > always looks like he's running against the wind."
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Joshua Ozersky
> > > > Marketing Communications
> > > > Environmental Products Division
> > > > Corning Incorporated.
> > > > HP-CB-02-C6A
> > > > Corning, New York 14831
> > > > Phone: (607) 974-8124
> > > > Fax: (607) 974-2233
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > ----------
> > > > > From: Thomas Murphy[SMTP:tfmiii@worldnet.att.net]
> > > > > Sent: Thursday, March 04, 1999 12:54 PM
> > > > > To: Ozersky, Joshua A
> > > > > Subject: Re: Celtics trade options
> > > > >
> > > > > Dear Josh,
> > > > >
> > > > > Whoa! I appreciate your passion for the team, but lets reign in
> the
> > > > > hyperbole! No one's talking about 'dismantling' the team. I'm the
> last
> > > one
> > > > > to advocate a trade 'no matter what'. I'm rather ambivalent about
> the
> > > > > prospects of a trade, for many of the same reasons you list.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, given Pitino's chatter about a possible trade, I'd
> thought
> > > that
> > > > > I'd explore the possibilities. Let's face it - they aren't great.
> In
> > > fact,
> > > > > I'd be surprised if there is any trade involving the Celts this
> > > season.
> > > > > However, the decision to 'stand pat' doesn't mean that problems
> don't
> > > > > exist
> > > > > - just that there is not an ideal solution for the problems that
> do
> > > exist.
> > > > > Exploring one's options does not require that one exercise them.
> > > > >
> > > > > Don't get me wrong, I don't think the Celts are hopeless. They can
> > > beat
> > > > > anybody any given night - when their jump-shots are falling. I
> think
> > > Riley
> > > > > was a great pick-up (I'd like to see him get more minutes), I LOVE
> > > Andrew,
> > > > > and Battie has potential, but being undersized at both PF (Walker)
> and
> > > C
> > > > > (Riley, DeClercq, Battie) leaves the Cs vulnerable. You can't run
> > > without
> > > > > the ball. Hopefully the Cs can minimize these problems, but it was
> > > just
> > > > > such problems that were at the root of last Tuesday night's
> debacle
> in
> > > > > Cleveland. I expect that they'll have these problems with any of
> the
> > > teams
> > > > > that has the makings of a physical post game, including Miami,
> Philly,
> > > > > Atlanta, the Cavs, Indiana, Toronto, Houston, SA, Utah, GS, LAL,
> and
> > > > > Portland.
> > > > >
> > > > > I'd be as disappointed as you to see Mercer, Anderson or Pierce
> > > depart.
> > > I
> > > > > suspect we may have a difference of opinion regarding Walker. He's
> the
> > > > > proverbial 'girl with the curl' - when he's good he's very good,
> but
> > > when
> > > > > he's bad he's awful. His leaving the team would represent a loss,
> but
> > > it
> > > > > would also represent a gain in some respects: TOs, shooting pctg,
> > > smart
> > > > > decisions, consistency, and 'unleashing the speed' (i.e., taking
> more
> > > > > advantage of fast break opportunities). The $10,000 question is:
>
> can
> > > > > Antoine be exchanged for anyone who could offset the expected
> losses?
> > > From
> > > > > what I can tell, the answer is at this time is probably "no".
> > > > >
> > > > > I love the comments! Let's both keep our fingers crossed during
> this
> > > last
> > > > > week before the trading deadline. I always get nervous that Pitino
> is
> > > > > going
> > > > > to trade Mercer and we'll have to live with the consequences for
> the
> > > next
> > > > > 15 years.
> > > > >
> > > > > Best wishes
> > > > >
> > > > > -TomM
> > > > > ----------
> > > > > > From: Ozersky, Joshua A <OzerskyJA@corning.com>
> > > > > > To: 'Thomas Murphy' <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>;
> 'celtics@igtc.com'
> > > > > > Subject: RE: Celtics trade options
> > > > > > Date: Thursday, March 04, 1999 11:37 AM
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Tom,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > When you come right down to it, who are these physical teams? I
> > > think
> > > > > it
> > > > > > means LA, Vancouver, and Portland, now that Zo is a jump
> shooter.
>
> > > The
> > > > > point
> > > > > > anyway is that we need a goon, a "cop," not an overpriced,
> > > elephantine
> > > > > post
> > > > > > player a la Ike Austin. There will always be bigger centers in
> the
> > > > > league
> > > > > > -- but you don't dismantle your team to fight them. I think a
> more
> > > > > > significant problem is that neither Kenny nor Antoine are really
> > > first
> > > > > class
> > > > > > defenders (or second class, in Kenny's case.) But I will admit
> that
> > > a
> > > > > great
> > > > > > shotblocking five would allow us to gamble a lot more. Still, I
> > > have
> > > > > hope
> > > > > > that Riley/Andrew can get the job done. Denver is actually a
> pretty
> > > > > > important test for us. They just beat Utah and LA, and if we
> get
> by
> > > > > them
> > > > > we
> > > > > > have Toronto (Kevin Willis, with his giant body and tiny hands,
> and
> > > > > Charles
> > > > > > Oakley, who played like a berzerker last time around.) If we
> can
> > > run
> > > > > those
> > > > > > teams down (the proverbial "teams we're supposed to beat") we
> will
> > > be
> > > in
> > > > > > good shape. When our guys play good man to man defense and, in
> > > Tommy
> > > > > > Heinsohn's phrase, "unleash the speed" of the fast break, we can
> > > beat
> > > > > > anybody. Anybody!
> > > > > > Joshua Ozersky
> > > > > > Marketing Communications
> > > > > > Environmental Products Division
> > > > > > Corning Incorporated.
> > > > > > HP-CB-02-C6A
> > > > > > Corning, New York 14831
> > > > > > Phone: (607) 974-8124
> > > > > > Fax: (607) 974-2233
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
>