Just my 2 cents

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

My top option right now would not be trying to trade Pierce, it would be
trying to find a coach who is more than a one trick pony. Pitino came in
with a reputation built on defense and that is where this team has failed
most spectacularly. Blame the players if you want - but again 'Panama'
Pitino brought them in. The fact of the matter is that his press does not
work in the pros - unless perhaps in the special case where you have Pat
Ewing anchoring it (FWIW I can't imagine Mark Jackson was THAT much better
defending the point than Kenny Anderson), but my memory is not good enough
for me to state to what degree the press Rick has tried to institute in
Boston resembles the one he had in NYC. In any case, I don't remember
Pitino's Knicks as being all that special on the defensive end - rather it
was their high-scoring offense that got them into the playoffs.

Returning to the question of defense, the last two games have been a
showcase of the limits of Antoine's game. Both games featured opposing teams
with talented power forwards (from the west of course) and both PF's ate our
lunch. Antoine puts up great numbers on what is at best a mediocre team. But
those numbers do not reflect the harm (the "negative externalities") that
are part and parcel of the Walker package: his inability to defend ANY
position with any modicum of effectiveness. (I take that to be the
significance of the previous comment that Walker has no position while
Pierce can play two positions).

For all the sniping about PP (with Kenny out I guess he is the new 'flavor
of the month'), at least he has shown that he CAN defend. (Granted, whether
he is motivated to do so on a team where the tempo and chemistry is set by
senior psychopath Pitino is another matter. . .) For that reason alone I
would rather retain Peirce than Walker IF we had to chose one or the other
(as many of the recent posts seem to imply). But I stress that one should
not expect any progress - regardless of trades - as long as Pitino is at the
helm. As a coach he basically quit early in year two (i.e., since other
coaches/teams began exploiting the press) and now too much water has gone
over the dam.

IF Walker were to be traded I would focus on obtaining a high-quality
shooting guard, an all-star or near all-star like a Finley or Houston - at
minimum an up-and-comer like Bonzi Wells in some sort of package. Potapenko
would be a more than effective center (esp. in the east) if he didn't have
to constantly cover for a vertically challenged PF (since Vitaly is
vertically challenged himself!). Neither Antoine nor Vitaly could jump over
a phone book but at least V is at the very least a mediocre defender who can
usually stay with his man one-on-one.

Put Battie and Moiso at PF next to Vitaly where they are less likely to get
pushed around and can offer help D with blocks. Surely neither could perform
any worse on D as Walker. Now I'll go out on a limb: given Antoine's minutes
V could very likely put up numbers close to Antoine's in points and rebounds
(15-18 ppg, 8-10 rpg) at half the price. Plus - as an added bonus - any of
the defensive rebounds snagged by either V or Battie/Moiso would have to be
advanced via the PASS!

Of course, none of this matters as long as Pitino remains in 'control' (I
use the term loosely), and I don't expect that to change until after the
season. So basically I'm hoping no major changes take place and that the new
GM will be given a chance to make select three 1st rounders and to gauge
Walker's worth on the open market sans the BYC. Surely the mere knowledge
that someone other than Pitino is pulling the trigger will net us better
offers from other GMs no matter who is being offered for trade.

Cheers - Tom Murphy