Re: Walker won't work here... sigh

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

I don't know Mark.  Toine was on Sports Xtra last night with George Smith.
On first observation, he looked on the thin side to me.  He said he was not
frustrated with Pitino.  Said that he understood that trades were a part of
the business but would rather just be traded and move on rather than listen
to all the rumors about it.  That gets frustrating.

He and Pitino had a great relationship early this summer.  I don't think he
appreciated RP's remarks made to the campers.

Toine said that he has a lot of room for improvement.  The ones who are
all-stars year in and year out is what he is striving for.

Not a good feeling to have the home fans boo you.  But they need to realize
that no player can be perfect every night.

Thinks the C's have as good a shot as anyone else to make the playoffs.
Likes the additions to the team thus far.

He thinks he will be here in October.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Berry, Mark S <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Monday, August 28, 2000 11:35 AM
Subject: Walker won't work here... sigh


> I've been mulling this latest Pitino-Toine fiasco, and I've come to the
> conclusion (later than most, I guess) that it just won't work for Toine
> here. Certainly not with Pitino, and I'm not sure who Toine would fit
with.
> Pitino values conditioning more than any coach in the league. It seems to
me
> he doesn't demand a lot of Toine-he gives him a long leash in terms of his
> play, allowing Toine to do what he wants out there and play a lot of
> minutes, even when an argument could be made that he's hurting the team.
> Seems to me the only thing he has asked in return is a commitment to
fitness
> and improving his body. Toine refuses.
>
> Now, maybe you don't agree with Pitino's personnel moves or even his
> "system," but can't we all agree that if you are the team's best,
> highest-paid player and team captain, you should be held accountable to
the
> coach's fitness requests, even if you disagree with them? I know sports
and
> the real world are two different things, but don't we all put up with and
> abide by policies in our own jobs that we don't agree with? Why should
> Pitino expect any less from Toine?
>
> I suspect any Toine trade at this point will yield disappointing returns.
He
> remains one of the few players in the league capable of a triple-double
any
> night, and that talent won't be easily replaced. But Pitino's hand is
being
> forced. He has made no secret of the fact that he is reconfiguring this
team
> to press and run more, putting an emphasis on quickness, speed,
athleticism
> and conditioning. Is he going to allow Toine to undermine the effort he
and
> presumably the rest of the players on the roster have put forth to make it
> happen? He shouldn't. Maybe you can make an argument that trading Toine at
> this point amounts to addition by subtraction. And if the package is
O'Neil
> and Wells, great. Pitino has salvaged something out of a bad situation.
>
> But if Pitino and Toine spend the season together, it could get ugly.
Toine
> clearly is going to show up out of shape. Pitino clearly will be fed up if
> that happens. A lackluster Toine will mean another 35-win debacle, a good
> bye to Pitino and a rebuilding effort (probably without Toine). No, the
best
> option for everyone is to do the deal now. Maybe Toine will turn into
Chris
> Webber in a different environment. Or maybe Juwan Howard or Derrick
Coleman.
> None of us really know, but it's clear it isn't going to work out in
Boston.
>
> Mark
>