Re: Losing

[KK <Kestutis.Kveraga@Dartmouth.EDU>]

Josh Ozersky wrote:
>  There is a major
> chemistry/mentality problem here.  

I wonder why? And who is being paid 7 mil./year to prevent/correct such problems?

> This is not Celtics
> basketball.  

You bet it isn't. It's a lame attempt to play Pitinoball at the pro level. 

> Pitino has to get some leaders in here,
> Derek Harpers, guys like that.  Kenny should be shipped
> for someone like that, with great defensive ability,
> because there are enough good passer/scorers on the
> team.

Yes, let's ship everybody for some 38-year-olds, who won't take 1 1/2 years to
quit on Pitino. They'll quit on him in 1 1/2 days. We're not talking
impressionable 18-year-olds on athletic scholarships here. Do you think the
players are shaking in their sneakers when Pitino's threattening to trade
them? They're probably thinking, "Yee-hooo!!! I won't have to put up with this
crap anymore!!!" Has any player traded by Pitino ever bemoaned not being able
to play for him and in his "system"? 

This, as everyone, except Pitino, knows, is a players' league. If a coach can
convince his players to play his way AND if his way WORKS, maybe they'll do
it. If the coach tries to make them do it by screaming and threattening them,
they'll just quit on him, work on their stats (which is exactly what some of
the Celtics are trying to do now), and wait until either the coach gets fired
(viz. Calipari), or they leave via trade or free agency. 

> 4) Pitino is not at fault for this.  

Oh no?! Then who is? M.L. maybe? Ah yes, all these "cancers" on the team!
Let's start a
witch hunt identifying and burning the "cancers". I just hope the patient
stays alive after this thorough treatment.  

> I know some of you
> want to pretend that he is Jerry Tarkanian, but we all
> know better.  

No, he's not Tarkanian - Tarkanian's much less adept at convincing people it's
somebody else's fault. 

> He is as mystified and angry and freaked
> out by this as we are.
>

That's the problem! As somebody noted already, thank God it's past the trading
deadline - the guy would trade the whole team for 3rd round picks, and never
mind there're only two rounds in the draft nowadays. 

> 6) I wondered who pitino was referring to when he said,
> no more "if i can get my points I'll play defense." Was
> it Pierce?

Another "cancer" identified! Burn him, burn him! 
 
> When will this end?

When Pitino either goes (alas, not very likely), or realizes who's truly to blame
for this and changes his approach (probably not very likely either).