Re: Veterans

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

----- Original Message -----
From: Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>
To: Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>; <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2000 7:35 PM
Subject: Re: Veterans


>
> > Last 17 games we are 5-12. It's "what have you done for me lately"? I
> > foresee 10-11 more wins. We are alive?
>
> If they win half their remaining home games and lose every single one
> of their road games for the rest of the year, they'll win 11 games.
> Aren't you being excessively pessimistic? (If you don't think so, I'd
> be willing to make a bet on the Celtics winning more than 11 games
> for the rest of the season).
>
> And yes, 3.5 games out of the playoff race with 47 games to go counts
> as very alive. Cecil is right, one blowout loss has been blown way out
> of proportion. If they had won, I'm sure everyone would have been
> feeling reasonable, but since they lost, the season is over? I don't
> buy it. No single game is that meaningful at this point in the season.
> I'm sure the "what have you done for me lately" crowd was clamoring to
> fire Popovich early last season, or Larry Brown early this season when
> Philly was 5-8, or Casey with the 2-15 Nets, or Flip Saunders. If other
> teams can overcome horrible stretches, why is it impossible for the
> Celtics?
>
> Alex
>

That's right Alex.  The different perspective I have is due to having alot
of coaching experience.  I know it is impossible for our guys to give these
fans what they want right now.  Some say they are happy with effort.  Then
there is the Janet Jackson crowd (WHYDFML).  When you have a team who have
not had experience together, it takes time for things to blend together.  I
once accepted a job where my boss told me it would probably be a full year
before I knew all the nuances and intricacies of the position.  And here,
we're asking for Fortson to make a major contribution in a complicated new
system, compounded by the fact that he is dyslexic and coming off a major
foot injury.  I said that Pitino was trying to play him into shape without
aggravating his injury and people have seen him looking like he wanted to
puke after only a few times up and down the court.  If you would believe
some of you, players are like computers; just throw in the disk and they are
programmed to deliver what you want.  NOPE!

They make mistakes, just like the rest of us.  The difference is that they
get played millions and each mistake is magnified by the fact that it is
seen by thousands as it happens and millions around the world on television.
You can downplay it if you like, but that is the way it is.  It ain't gonna
change just cuz we want it to.  It will change through the advent of time.
That's why I mentioned in a previous post about how the Bulls sucked for
several years even though MJ was there.  It took time to develop and so will
this version of the Celtics.  Sure there are some players who would be
helpful but GMs around the league are pretty reluctant to give up a decent
player these days.

All Pitino can hope for is that the development  he yearns for to occur in
stages.  But just when one important cog in the wheel comes back, another
one goes down.  This team has not been able to play at 100% capacity yet
this year.  Though Fortson seems to be improving with each passing game, RP
is handling him cautiously, but for good reason.  A big man like that must
be sure he is 100% healthy in order to perform at that level.  You don't
want him out there pussyfooting around.

Their defense is sketchy right now and that is where they must work the
hardest.  Pitino knows that.  The team must buy into it.  But IF they don't,
don't shoot the coach.  Some players just won't work as hard at that end of
the floor.  If they don't, perhaps they should sit.  But when you are
weakened by injury as it is, it makes that option more difficult to
consider.

Kenny and Pierce are playing through nagging injuries but what choice is
there?  I keep reminding you about what a young team this is, and for the
most part, it falls on deaf ears.  That's cool I guess, but not real
practical.
Those who continue to look through the WHYDFML glasses will eat their words.
I can see that it's easy to pick them apart since they have not been playing
well.  But they will.

Cecil