Pitino Show

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Had Bill Russell on for the entire show today who added his insight.  Pitino
started by saying he had spent a few hours with Heinsohn dicussing things
like losing close games, getting over the hump, players they liked and
disliked.  Tommy always got around to mentioning players from his and Bill's
era.  Heinie mentioned that Red always got on Tommy, which Russell
confirmed.  Tommy said that Russ and Cooz were so intense and had such a
desire to win.

Russ said it was due to "overbearing overconfidence" and gave the big cackle
of his.  He continued that there was never a doubt that he could play in his
mind, so he would take some of the heat off of others by blaming himself.
He would ask what else could he do to help the team win the game because
that was all he cared about.  The final score was all that mattered.

Pitino discussed the conversation which took place on the plane ride back
from Orlando, noting that the players ended up telling their three stars
that they needed to step it up.  RP feels that there are no stars on losing
teams. (Not sure I agree with this.  Gervin, Maravich, Calvin Murphy didn't
always play for winners)

Russ also discussed the difference between hard and soft points.  When you
play against someone who averages 25 ppg, and they finish with 25, those are
soft points and don't hurt you too much.  When someone who averages 3 ppg
finishes with 12, and gets them at key moments in the game, those are hard
points and hurt badly.

RP discussed the frustration of trying to find ways to win.  He repeated
that the team is playing hard and giving everything they have.  But there is
something of significance which is missing.  He asked the team who felt they
were a great rebounder.  Fort raised his hand and said he was a very good
rebounder.  He asked who felt they were a great defender.  Nobody raised
their hand.  When they get to the point where they want to excel
defensively, they will turn the corner.  You could point to missed free
throws or other things but if they turned in great defense consistently,
they would win more games.

Russ said he was asked a week or so ago about the C's and he responded with
he wouldn't change a thing.  He noted that the team is playing much better
than they were earlier in the season.  He would stick with what RP is doing
and keep the team together.  Said they are getting better as a unit and
starting to get more familiar with each others tendencies as a team.  Team
Defense is far more difficult to play than is Team Offense.  Said that when
he was in his last year with the C's, they lost 17 games by 3 points or
less.  If they had won half of those losses, they would have finished in 1st
place instead of 4th.  So this team isn't that far away.  All that should be
expected is that, as Tiger Woods says, put him in position to give himself a
chance to win.  The C's are doing that.  They are giving themselves a chance
to win in the 4th quarter.  They will be winning some of these games next
year.

Pitino talked about how Toine, for all his intelligence, will never be a
great defender.  He'll be good, but not great.  Feels that what they are
missing, is someone like Russell to be there to cover their back as a
shotblocker.

Russ noted that Magic was a terrible defender when he entered the league, so
he became the designated double-teamer.  Since he was always going to turn
his head and look anyway, his man would always end up wide open somewhere
else.  Most players are drafted based from offensive skills but it is
defense which normally dictates who wins and loses.  In football, the better
defensive team usually wins but the MVP goes to the QB.

RP feels that Pierce can become a great defender, Williams can move his feet
very well and that we need a backup PG who can defend.

Cecil

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