Peter May (TSN): C's May Have Been Better Off Keeping Bird/McHale/Ainge Over Pitino

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      The Sporting News

      Boston Celtics
      Team Report posted SEPTEMBER 25, 1999     

      By TSN correspondent
      Peter May
      Boston Globe
      It's Hall of Fame week and, for Celtics fans, it's a little bit like Bob 
      Hope and Oscar week. Last year, Larry Bird was inducted, and he came and 
      went in a Pacers plane. Kevin McHale gets the nod this week, and he'll be 
      coming with an entourage of Timberwolves officials. 
      Meanwhile, virtually nothing has gone right for the Celtics since the two 
      of them retired in the early 1990s. And, to make matters worse, both have 
      gone on to successful management careers while the team they once played 
      for, and could have logically helped, sputters without a rudder. 
      McHale, unlike Bird, never worked for the Celtics after he retired. He 
      says now that he doesn't know what would have happened had anyone in the 
      Boston organization offered him a job. None came, so he headed back to his 
      native Minnesota and is busy constructing a very nice team in the Twin 
      Cities. 
      It's too bad no one inn the Celtics organization had the foresight or the 
      wisdom to stop the brain drain. (Danny Ainge in Phoenix is another one who 
      might have helped.) Instead, the Celtics got ML Carr, who oversaw a team 
      which tried to lose and succeeded, and now they have Rick Pitino, whose 
      affinity for pot stirring has created a new team almost every year. 
      Minnesota and Indiana have made the playoffs while the Celtics have been 
      relegated to lottery regulars. 
      Bird was disillusioned in the way the whole thing was run and at what he 
      said was the unwillingness of management to listen to him. Bird also 
      didn't want to step into the void when his good friend, Dave Gavitt, was 
      removed from active duty. McHale never even got a sniff, which is 
      surprising given how close he was/is with Gavitt and how he sees the game. 

      So every time the Celtics think about what they had, they should also 
      wonder why they still don't have it. Injuries robbed Bird and McHale of a 
      few playing years. Lack of vision and foresight robbed the Boston fans of 
      their vision and experience after they hung up their sneakers. . . . 
      McHale won't be the only ex-Celtic getting honored. Wayne Embry, who did a 
      pretty good job in Cleveland with the Cavaliers, is getting inducted as is 
      former Celtics' backup center and Georgetown coach John Thompson. Red 
      Auerbach will be the Hall of Fame presenter for both Thompson and McHale. 
      . . . 
      Kris Clack, the Texas guard taken in the second round of the NBA draft 
      (the Celtics had no No. 1) was picked third overall in last week's CBA 
      draft. The Celtics aren't even bothering to invite Clack to training camp; 
      they saw enough in the summer league to recognize why Clack, thought by 
      some (including Boston) to be a legit first-rounder, was still on the 
      board at No. 55. The Celtics are hoping Clack will get the needed playing 
      experience in the CBA. 
      PLAYER PROFILE 
      Rick Pitino likes his players in shape. He doesn't have to worry about 
      Dana Barros, who was one of the few to be in shape last year when everyone 
      was wobbly. Barros is one of the senior citizens on the Boston roster and 
      has managed to become a point guard in Pitino's system. He still is one of 
      the best three-point shooters in the league and his defense, never a 
      strong suit, has improved dramatically. 
      Barros looks now to be Kenny Anderson's main backup, but with Anderson's 
      injury history, that role could change in a hurry. If it does, that's fine 
      with Barros. He is your basic gym rat who's at home on a basketball court. 

      WHAT'S NEXT 
      This is the last week of freedom for the Celtics. Most of them have been 
      in town and working out at the club's practice facility. But offseason 
      workouts and a Pitino training camp are two different things. Many of the 
      players know that. The sooner they get into Coach P shape, the sooner they 
      will be able to play Coach P ball. And with 12 of their first 18 games at 
      home, the Celtics have a chance to get off to a good start. 


    

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