Re: Kenny Anderson

[j.hironaka@unesco.org]

I agree with Alex' take on KA.

I read some of Kenny's quotes over the weekend concerning the alleged Il Duce
critique from one of his "veteran" players (screaming, cursing, room checks
etc.) and it sounded very certain to me that KA was not the target of
Pitino's menacing "one player" remark. I wish I had saved Kenny's quotes,
which I think may have appeared in one of Holley's follow-up articles. To me
it didn't sound like KA was covering his back, or feigning innocence. In
addition, Rick Pitino relates well with slick NYC guys like Kenny
(incidentally, KA was probably the most heralded school boy basketball star
from the Apple since Lou Alcinder)

This doesn't necessarily mean that Kenny won't get traded at season's end to
improve the team, although I would be just as happy if he stuck around to
groom a younger, more defensive-minded point guard of the future. I don't
think Ricky Moore would be there in the second round anymore, so I have my
hopes set on the "Rice Man" Zhi Zhi Wang. :-)

Whatever you think of Il Duce's motivational methods, he certainly managed to
light a fire under the three suspects of his "one player" comment : Ron
Mercer, Paul Pierce and Kenny. My feeling is that all might be forgiven and
forgotten by Pitino if our Celts start playing well. Incidentally, I thought
Michael Holley's "I'm a homey, you're a homey" article/exposé was a shade too
gleeful and self-absorbed, but I can't find any fault in him for protecting
his sources. Honestly.

Go Celts!

Joe

PS   I for one really appreciate that Alex Wang takes the time to provide a
summary of the "Rick Pitino Show". I hope he will continue doing this. The
Pitino Show isn't at all "dumbed down" IMO for the lowest common denominater
viewer like your typical national or cable television program about the NBA.
It seems to take the purported "knowledge" of Boston sports fans utterly
seriously, and it's a shame most of us can't view it regularly. The host Bob
Lobel is in turns both goofy and sharp.

PPS  Since last week I have adopted a whole new "positive" routine/ritual on
Celtics game days and when checking the scores, which I HOPE will keep on
working. I'm incredibly superstitious about the Celtics, just like those
retards in that (idiotic) "Celtics Pride" movie with Damon Wayans.  I hope no
one else on this list shares my idiosyncracy. In my case, it might involve
pre-game squats or push-ups, shadow shot, the "Hironaka wiggle", anything
that might help before I log on to follow score updates on the Web. This
morning I woke up instinctively to check the Charlotte score at 4:30 a.m.
local time. I know I could be labeled a "wicked retard", but at least I don't
wear the same pair of "game socks" throughout a winning streak or that sort
of crazy thing. Sorry to share this with you guys. I love the Celts and I'm
very happy today.  :-)

****
Alex Wang wrote:

> I checked the stats for Anderson after he mentioned that he had been
> shooting really well recently. Over the last 10 games, including
> Charlotte tonight, he's averaged 13.4 ppg and 4.3 apg, on 63% shooting
> from the field. He really is shooting the ball very well. Most of his
> offense is coming from penetration or from catch-and-shoot opportunities.
> He's moving better without the ball which is something that Pitino said
> that he wanted Kenny to work on and it's getting him good shots in the
> flow of the offense that involve the other players. Tonight he had a
> very impressive game with 22 points, 7 assists, and 0 turnovers, and
> hitting the three that put the game away. (....)

> Anderson said after the game that something that motivated him was
> that David Wesley had talked trash to him during the previous game,
> and also that Wesley had disparaged Pitino! He is really not sounding
> like someone who hates the coach. Every time I've heard him recently,
> he comes across to me as a mature veteran who's focused on the team.
> This could all be an act but I think the truth is probably that all
> the talk about Anderson being disgruntled is speculation on the part
> of reporters who are trying to cash in on the Pitino-bashing frenzy.
>
> Alex