Re: perspective

[Jim Hill <jahill@leasingservice.com>]

Hi Josh,  I agree that we have the talent at many positions.  That includes
the bench.  I would like to keep a core of Walker, Mercer, Pierce, VP and
Battie.  Walter is here to stay.  I like Minor but they should have him
come off the pick like Mercer.

Anderson is problematic.  Is he playing poorly or are the others not where
they should be on the court?  Bowen isn't bringing that much this year.
Can Riley step up?  I can't tell yet.  Barro's has a huge heart.  Dywane
S.?  See Riley.  Popeye?  Get what you can for him.

There isn't anyone on this team I wouldn't trade however.  I don't want
certain players to be traded, but I am not sure that any one of them at
this stage is untouchable.

There isn't a "definitely retired number" on this team yet.

Maybe the core three have a chance, but 15-18 years is a long way from
now.  They don't have the cohesiveness the last "big three" did after a
couple years.  None of them will be mistaken for Bird on the court.

Of the three, Pierce has the best potential to be that player.   Walker
will never be Bird, but has the potential talent to be the the best PF in
franchise history.  Mercer could be the heir apparent to be another great
SG in Celtic's history.  Right now though is another story.

According to the paper Battie has grown four inch's since he was drafted.
Could explain his clumsiness the last couple years.  Can he grow into the
Center spot?  Or the PF ala McHale?

To many questions about unproven players.  If Walker solves his problem and
becomes the player we think he can, great.  Keep the three core guy's for a
couple more years and then reevaluate.  Otherwise ?  Look for 10 guy's who
complement each other on the court. (The last two spots are for the DQ's,
ML's of the world)

The Celt's will be through 4-5 more drafts before they have a chance of
winning the finals.
A lot will change in that time.  We'll be talking about players who are
still in high school today and how they filled the hole in the rotation.

The statement has been made that no team has won a championship (until
maybe this year with LAL) without the core group being together for at
least 4-5 years.

I'm sure Pitino wants to win one as a coach.  Who wouldn't want to spend
the rest of your basketball day's as the next "Red A." ?  In Boston?  He'll
do anything that will make this team better, except sully it's reputation.
(I.e.: Rodman)

I may bleed green, and the parts make it interesting.  But winning
championships is what the Celtics are to me.  Who will be there when it
happens remains to be seen.

<Jim

Josh Ozersky wrote:

> Sorry, I don't think anybody is going to be traded.  You can't really
> get value for Kenny Anderson.  Ron could be moved because he's very
> attractive and Pierce can play that spot, but I think this is Pitino
> venting/threatening.  The thing is, we have the talent we need.  Other
> than a great defensive point guard, I can't see what we lack at any
> position.  I'm interested in watching the Cleveland game tonight.   I
> really think this will be some kind of statement game.
>
> ---j.hironaka@unesco.org wrote:
> >
> > Nice argument, IMO.   I'm just wondering if anyone out there can
> confirm
> > whether Walker looked 38 pounds over his normal playing weight anytime
> > during the training camp (in the first public scrimmages, or when he
> signed
> > his contract extension, for example), before we all start treating a
> Dan
> > Shaughnessy inuendo as fact.
> >
> > Maybe he was 38 pounds over his college playing weight (224 pounds)?
> I do
> > know that Pitino asked him to try to bulk up to 240+ pounds during the
> > offseason. He's presently listed at 245 pounds. My guess is that he
> was
> > probably overweight, but that the number in today's paper was
> over-inflated
> > for effect. Any thoughts? When I was 22, I couldn't gain 40 pounds
> in that
> > time period (6 months) if you paid me a million bucks.
> >
> > But I do agree with the assertion that Walker is at some sort of a
> > "crossroads". Basically, he's having a lousy season. Last year, he IMO
> > deservedly beat out guys like Webber, Shareef, Keith Van Horn, Rod
> > Strickland and many others to win an All Star berth. After all, he was
> > averaging close to 11 rebounds per game, and his team was playing well
> > coming into the All Star break. He finished second in the league in
> double
> > doubles ahead of Shaq, Alonzo, Barkley, Kemp, Baker, Ewing, Rodman
> and other
> > big name players.
> >
> > Right now, Walker is no longer a candidate for any near future All
> Star
> > games. He'll get to future All Star games not by scoring more but
> rather by
> > scoring less (i.e. playing within himself) while rebounding and
> passing
> > more. I think he's at least a couple of years away from being a
> worthy All
> > Star candidate again.
> >
> > Judging by Pitino's quote today, it's going to be either Pierce or
> Walker
> > who could get traded in July, since RP lists Mercer as his hardest
> worker.
> > If someone has to take the fall for Tim "Pinkie" Floyd outcoaching
> Rick
> > Pitino on our own parquet, it's certainly not going to be Il Duce
> himself.
> >
> > *****
> >
> > Jim Hill wrote:
> >
> > > I think the Globe was right on.  As is Pitino.  And this is not to
> bash
> > > Walker as I do think he can be a great player IF he listens to
> Pitino.
> > > Walker came in 38 lbs. overweight?  This is the "gym rat" who had
> > > convinced Pitino that he was in shape and working on his game
> during the
> > > lock out.  BULLS**T !!  His homeboys speak of him whining and
> talking
> > > the talk out in Chicago during the lockout about how good he is
> etc...
> > > Just like in camp when he was pissing off his teammates by calling
> > > phantom fouls during scrimmages.
> > >
> > > Harper gave him the "choke sign" because that is what Walker did.
> Plain
> > > and simple.  The whole game. Most of the season in fact.  You
> think the
> > > other players in the NBA don't know it?
> > >
> > > There is more than 20 players in history that "should have been"
> great
> > > in the NBA that never made it.  It was never the lack of skills.
> Or the
> > > lack of talk.  It was the lack of brains.  And it was the lack of
> > > effort.
> > >
> > > I think that Walker is at a crossroads in his short career.
> > >
> > > Pitino made him an All-Star last year.  (Walker may have been on the
> > > court, but be realistic)  Pitino makes him a Captain.  You think
> Walker
> > > would be a Captain on any other team?  Walker states that as a
> "veteran
> > > All-Star" and even though he is the team Captain, he doesn't need to
> > > attend voluntary practices and never will!!.  Walker states that He
> > > wasn't called by Pitino "Personally to attend the practices".   Grow
> > > up.  If I had a 23 year old son who said this garbage I would tell
> him
> > > he's not a child anymore. So stop acting like it.
> > >
> > > I can buy into the fact that the TEAM is young and they lose against
> > > veteran teams.  But these guys are not that young as people.
> These guys
> > > know what their supposed to do as far as practice and
> conditioning.  How
> > > many 23 year olds are in the workplace?  Do they work at their
> job?  The
> > > ones who succeed do.  The ones who don't fail.  Until they wake up
> > > anyway.
> > >
> > > Pitino received assurances that Walker was in playing shape during
> the
> > > lockout.  Walker comes in 38 lbs. overweight and obviously out of
> > > shape.  Pitino gives Walker the max. contract as a commitment from
> the
> > > Celtics.  Walker can't play with the big dogs in the power forward
> spot
> > > because he is not in condition.  This is the pay back?  This is how
> > > Walker shows his thanks to Pitino?  Come on.
> > >
> > > I think that Pitino deserves better from Walker.  The Celt's deserve
> > > better.  Walker deserves better.  His teammates deserve better.  The
> > > fans deserve better.
> > >
> > > I am waiting to hear that Walker went to Pitino and asked for his
> help
> > > in becoming an "All-Star" again.  That he has made a commitment to
> > > Pitino and his teammates to play and act like he wants to become one
> > > again.  And then does it.  If Webber can do it, then Walker can.  If
> > > anyone suggested to get Webber for the Celtics last year, list
> members
> > > would have laughed.  What about this year?
> > >
> > > Until he goes to Pitino and asks for his help, Pitino should, IMHO,
> > > seriously consider finding someone who will.
> > >
> > > I think Walker is self-destructing in front of our eyes.  I stated
> in my
> > > post after the Bull's game that I give Walker credit for wanting the
> > > ball at the end of the game.  Even though he did choke when he got
> on
> > > the free throw line, he showed leadership by getting free to get the
> > > ball after the boo's.  Leadership is important to be a star.
> Leadership
> > > without commitment is valueless.
> > >
> > > This behavior "problem" is bigger then basketball.  This is the
> > > crossroads of, from all accounts, a fine person with a once
> promising
> > > career.
> > >
> > > Thanks for anyone taking the time to read this.  I hope Walker can
> turn
> > > this around.  I hope to watch him play to the best of his ability
> for
> > > many years.  I don't care if he becomes an All-Star again.  He has
> to
> > > much talent/desire (though misguided) to become "what might have
> been".
> > >
> > > <Jim
> >
> >
>
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