Re: 1st post

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

Good post Bob.  One question though.  What makes you think Pitino has not
explained what he wants out of the players?  I'm willing to bet that he has
spoken to each player before and laid out the expectations.  At least that
is the impression I get after watching the Rick Pitino Show.  I think every
coach in the league does this in training camp and again at various times
throughout the season.

As many have said in the past on this list, they are simply being realistic.
I have no problem with Pitino doing the same, as it comes to the 3 year
plan.  You gotta crawl before you can walk.  It would be foolish to set
unrealistic expectations on this team, like winning it all this year.  We
all know it ain't gonna happen this year.  The goal SHOULD be to give as
tireless an effort as possible at both ends of the court, to take higher
percentage shots, to work extra hard defensively, to limit the other team's
rebounds, to reduce their own turnovers and shoot 80% from the line as a
team.

I'm sure he has told them some of that many times.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Bowman <rbow@mn.mediaone.net>
To: celtics <Celtics@igtc.com>; <rbow@mn.mediaone.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2000 12:18 PM
Subject: 1st post


> since the season started.
>
> I would like to offer up a few observations which may or may not provide
> fodder for further discussion.  I will preface these observations by
> stating that I've only watched on tv 3 or 4 games, the most recent being
> the TWolves game on 1/13/00. I have, however, listened to several others
> on internet radio and follow fairly closely the discussions on this
> list. I am a long time Celtics fan with roots as a young kid to the mid
> 60s end of the Russell dynasty era with fond memories of his last 4
> championships. To me the Celtic pantheon is the most hallowed in team
> sports with close competition from the Yankees.  In my book Red Auerbach
> gets the head chair at the table closely followed by Russell, Bird,
> Cousy, and Havlicek.  Everyone else fits in there somewhere.  Just so
> you know my perspective and my bias.
>
> Ownership/Management/Coaching:  It all starts here with leadership,
> philosophy and organizational tone.  What does the organization stand
> for?  How does it go about achieving its goals?  How does it deal with
> crisis?  And so on.  It appears that the current goal of this team is to
> make the playoffs.  This is the wrong goal.  It may be fine for the
> Hawks or Pistons or Cavaliers but not for the Celtics.  It should be the
> stated, publicized, and often repeated goal of this team to win the NBA
> championship.  With Pitino's "playoffs in 3 years" statement you almost
> get the feeling that if he does that he'll be satisfied and that perhaps
> he doesn't think he can win the title.  I  think the "and contending for
> the title in 5" was added on to sound good. At the time of his hiring I
> was confident yet cautious.  I was happy that the organization took the
> step to bring in a respected, well paid president/coach to run the
> team.  This sent a message to everyone that the Celtics meant business.
> I liked the fact that there was one person ultimately responsible for
> the performance of the team. That was nearly 3 years ago. Now, in
> hindsight, a lot is made of the Tim Duncan disappointment, and a big one
> it was but, it can't be used as an excuse because excuses don't mean
> sh*t.  The Celtics still had 2 picks in the first 6.  Looking over the
> list of picks maybe they did the best they could but maybe they could
> have packaged those picks in a trade.  I know that hindsight is
> generally 20/20 but my point is that Pitino has to take responsibility
> for his decisions. The current roster aside from Pervis and Barros is
> the result of his decisions.  This leads my discussion to the talent.
>
> Talent: This is the area in which much of the list discussion is
> focused.  Do we have the "right" players?  Who should get the playing
> time?  What positions should Antoine be playing? Who should we trade?
> Etc. The problem in this area stems from leadership.  I get the
> impression from the games and list discussions that the team doesn't
> really know its roles.  Granted Fortson started out the year on IR and
> Pierce was out for awhile and now Griffin is down.  Injuries are part of
> the game in every sport.  One could make the case that our injuries have
> had a larger impact on the season because this was a team with so many
> new faces. Still, players must know their role and what's expected of
> them and I don't think this is true with this current squad.  I think
> that Pitino needs to tell each player exactly what is expected of him,
> what he needs to do to help the team win,  how much pt to expect and so
> on.  I am not the coach or involved in the operation of the team but I
> want to see how this team looks when we see extended minutes from
> different combinations of players such as: Walker, Potapenko & Fortson;
> Walker, Battie, & Fortson; Williams, Battie, & Potapenko, etc.  How do
> these combinations work best and in what situations?  What exactly do we
> want from Walker?  Should he post up most of the time, when should he
> step outside for jumpers, etc? and the same for the all the other
> players.  I personally don't think we have the overall talent to win a
> title.  We may have a few pieces but right now I liken the current
> situation to one in which a jigsaw puzzle is opened and most of the
> pieces are still mixed up.   I agree with those who preach patience,
> afterall no young team is going to gel in one season, but it's easier to
> be patient when progress is being made and I don't see progress.  My
> overall impression of the talent is that we've got to move some people
> out and bring in at least one topline player.  It may mean overpaying
> from our perspective but we have no superstars on this team, none.  I
> still hold out hope for Walker and Pierece but... the clock is ticking.
> We need one bona fide big man like a KG, Duncan, Shaq, Wallace to build
> around-it doesn't have to be a center but it needs to be a big guy who
> can get it done-rebounding, defense, points. (It could even be a combo
> of 2 big guys and that's why we need to decide if any of our big men
> combos work.) Rick has to determine who that guy will be and then figure
> out a way to get him.  Surround him with some solid players some of whom
> are probably already on the team, and a  key veteran presence and let's
> make a run in 2000-01 and 01-02.  The future is now.  I guess that means
> trading Walker, picks and whoever else gets dealt. (Ideally we go for
> Duncan and keep Pierce or Walker if possible but we may end up dealing
> both!)  Kenny can man the point for now if we can bring in someone to
> tutor and back him up.  There's got to be a way to get who we need.
> (We've done it in the past and it needs to get done now. It's Pitino's
> job to figure out who to get and how to get him.)
>
> The System: Keep It Simple, Stupid.  Simple works best.  Set plays that
> become routine, automatic.  In the final seconds of the 7th game you
> need to know that Bird (or S Jones, or Havlicek, or JoJo) will hit that
> jumper off the screen or McHale will get the up and under for 2 and 1.
> We do not have a go to guy(s) and we do not have go to plays.  The lack
> of a go to guy is the lack of talent.  It is possible that Pierce or
> even Walker could become a go to guy, but the coach needs to develop
> them into one.  He has to say, "look, here's your best moves, let's
> figure out how to get you in the position to use those moves to get
> points in crunch time." The lack of go to plays is the result of
> coaching. What plays do we run over and over that will get us good looks
> and good opportunities to score?  Defense and rebounding are what win it
> all.  Everyone knows it--Russell said it first.  It's fine to have a
> variety of defenses to throw at an opponent from time to time but team
> defense works best and it starts with a presence in the middle.  Same
> with rebounding.  Everybody rebounds, everybody defends.  That's our
> mantra. Basketball is not that difficult, it is the repetition of a
> limited number of successful plays on offense and  a commitment to
> defense and rebounding.  The coach needs to define and teach: this is
> what  we want to do, this is how we do it.  The team executes the
> coach's instruction.  If a player won't do it, he sits.  If he can't do
> it, he goes.  It's that simple.  Talent wins, but it's well coached
> talent that wins.
>
> Conclusion: I will continue to be a Celtics fan.  There is no chance of
> me jumping ship.  My loyalty requires a commitment. If Pitino/Gaston
> can't get it done and show me some solid progress over the next season
> and a half ( maybe less for Pitino ) I say get the hell out and sell to
> someone who knows what he's doing.  Can someone spell Jordan?  Yeah I
> know many will say what?!? the hell is this guy talking about !?!? It
> won't happen in Boston, BUT if MJ buys into the Wizzards how long do you
> think it will be before they're in the Finals? I say 5 years.  Ok, I've
> been long winded and rambling and I don't have many answers but I was
> downright depressed after the TWolves game.  Things have got to change.
> It may mean sinking even lower (how much lower can we sink?) before we
> rise again but I believe the Celtics will win another string of
> championships and at least one more before Red passes. I hope to god
> he's got another ace up his sleeve and another 20 years to live.
>
> Bob
>
>