TSN: Pitino Must Go/Fratello Must Coach With Bird As GM

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

New Yorker Dave Del Val wants Pitino gone, and offers ideas to clean
up what is called the Celtics mess. His suggestions are amusing to
say the least. Imagine the excitement a Mike Fratello-coached team
would induce...


      The Sporting News: NBA - Fans' View - How to clean up this Celtic mess
 

      How to clean up this Celtic mess
      OCTOBER 7, 1999       

      Fans' View

     
      Today, sports fan Dave Del Val looks at Rick Pitino's biggest mistakes and 
      explains how the Celtics can return to glory. 
      Despite being born and raised in New York, I have been a Celtics fan for 
      25 years. Having said that, I am appalled at what has transpired with the 
      club the past five years. The firing of Chris Ford was ridiculous and 
      unwarranted. The hiring of M.L. Carr was a bad joke that somehow was 
      allowed to run for two seasons. The ushering out of Larry Bird and the 
      hiring of Rick Pitino only added insult to injury. 
      Granted, Pitino was not given much to work with because of the overpriced, 
      long-running contracts of Pervis Ellison, Dana Barros, Greg Minor, Dee 
      Brown, etc. What Pitino has done on his own has reduced the club even 
      further. 
      1. Pitino drafted Chauncey Billups with the No. 3 pick and expected him to 
      be a point guard. Anyone with an iota of basketball sense knew the guy was 
      a shooting guard -- and a poor shooting one at that. Then, to add insult 
      to injury, Pitino packaged Billups and Brown for the overrated and 
      overpaid Kenny Anderson. 
      Anderson is a terrible shooter and an even worse defender. He has zero 
      basketball intelligence and has been a headache everywhere he has played. 
      No one will take this guy off of Pitino's hands, so we're stuck with this 
      bum for six more years. 
      2. Trading Ron Mercer for Danny Fortson was another bonehead move. If 
      Pitino had not re-signed talented, but immature Antoine Walker for so much 
      money, Mercer would have remained. While Mercer is only a 43 percent 
      shooter, he appears to be a solid citizen and a fine young man, the type 
      who will work on his game. Chances are, Mercer just wanted to get away 
      from Pitino, and I can't blame him. 
      While Fortson is a good rebounder, his offense is limited. If he leaves 
      after this season, the Celtics will be left with nothing for Mercer. How 
      pathetic! 
      3. Vitaly Potapenko is a good banger off the bench, but a starting center? 
      Come on, Rick, what games have you seen him play that no one else has? To 
      add salt to the wounds, the guy is signed for six years for about $36 
      million. What is that? For a role player? To make matters even worse, the 
      trade cost Boston the No. 8 pick in this year's draft. Sad. Sad. Sad. 
      4. Drafting Paul Pierce was a Godsend, but will he want to stay in town 
      with a team that won't win 20 games? Check back next year at this time and 
      see if he is still with the team. 
      5. Antoine Walker is the team's best player, but he has to grow up quickly 
      or he'll never be more than a terrific rebounder, a poor shooter and a 
      terrible defender. 
      In short, Pitino must go. And Bird must be brought back as GM with Mike 
      Fratello as coach. Only then can the Green begin its return to glory. 


       

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