Re: Closing Window of Opportunity

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Correct the only thing the Celts have going for them is the press. If they
are capable of doing it nite after nite, players have to give 100%. Now
that's asking alot of NBA players these days. The biggest problem in the
press is KA, he won't get involved, oh yeah, he'll make it look like an
effort, next Pierce has to step up big time this year defensively, last
year he was mediocre at best. Maybe, just maybe this style will earn us a
10th or maybe 9th place. Pitino has to get the guys in shape mentally, and
forget the playoff stuff, it ain't gonna happen. Never, forget it, not this
season. Can you believe it, we're a couple years away from the playoffs at
this point. This team got a lot of bad calls and not by the refs. 

Dan

At 07:01 PM 8/26/00 EDT, you wrote:
>The Celtic situation is pathetic. I don't know when I have ever been so down 
>on the Celtics. At when ML was here, it wasn't that far from the
championship 
>years so I still had hope. Now, those days are so long gone. The Garden is 
>gone. None of the current players wants anything to do with that era. 
>Walker's comments on WEEI made it clear to me. 
>
>The Celtics are "losing Pitino" away from being one of those cold weather 
>teams (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Washington) that no one wants to play 
>for. The Knicks and maybe the Nets will always have an attraction playing in 
>bigtime New York. The only thing the Celtics have to sell is Pitino and his 
>style. That is it. If he goes, it is game over, man. I have had plenty of 
>criticism for Pitino. But he is the only gimmick we got. Having a 
>tight-fisted owner hurts but I don't see why anyone would want to come to 
>Boston just to play for Bird the Owner. I don't see players making plans to 
>play for MJ. 
>
>We're toast, folks. Sure, we can get lucky at get a Duncan or Vince Carter
in 
>the draft and turn things around. However, that is a crapshoot. It even
seems 
>that Pitino has lowered his expectations to just being a good team instead
of 
>a great team. 
>
>The bottom line is that two things must happen. We must end the Walker era. 
>We will always be a loser team when Walker and his attitude is your best 
>player. Will we get true value for him, I think so. Every coach if he is a 
>good one has to think that he can get the best out of him. But he doesn't 
>have the value that some people think simply because he is a risk. He
isn't a 
>sure thing. His comments on WEEI indicate what a challenge he is. The saying 
>is that in college, the team takes on the personna of the coach. In the NBA, 
>the team takes on the personna of the best player. Well, unfortunately, 
>Walker is our best player although I think it should be Pierce if he would 
>step up. I think he will take over the team if Walker is moved. But until
you 
>move that attitude, everyone else will take his "what about me" attitude.
>
>Second, Pitino must go back to his pressing style. Whether it works in the 
>NBA or not, I don't know but I can only hope. Many players will like to play 
>that style because it allows for alot of creativity and playground style.
But 
>it is the only gimmick that Boston can sell. 
>
>If these things are not implemented, we will be reduced to a feeder team. 
>Detroit, the Cavs, Washington, Chicago--what do these teams have to hope
for? 
>Get lucky in the draft just to see that player leave at the first
opportunity 
>to go to a winning organization or a warmer climate? The window of 
>opportunity is closing. I feel this is the last year that Pitino may be able 
>to sell his snake oil to the players on his system or it will be declared a 
>failure in the NBA. That is why he must press alot this year and we must
move 
>out the square pegs. If not this year, then the only hope we have is to get 
>lucky in the lottery....
>
>DJessen33
>
>