RE: Los Angeles Box Score

[John Lyell <jlyell@concentric.net>]

Basketball is definitely a game of chemistry. The Lakers have had some good talent but just have not been able to put together the team chemistry that maybe Phil Jackson has this year, so far they so good. So far Pitino has not even came close. Although other may argue, his moves have not really improved this team from when he took over. We do have some better young marketable talent though. 

I wouldn't mind taking some talent off the Clippers and Grizzlies in a trade.  Hope we do something by the deadline to change the supporting cast or even one of the top 3 if we get comparable young value in return. 

We still are hurting at the 4 and 5 spots defensively, and need a backup 1 & shooting 2 . Jettison Overton, move Barros to some sucker that think he can be a backup point. A guy playing good for Magic Johnson's team is former Laker Trevor Ruffin. I 'd take him over Barros and Overton.








-----Original Message-----
From:	Alex Wang [SMTP:awang@mit.edu]
Sent:	Thursday, January 13, 2000 11:36 AM
To:	j.hironaka@unesco.org; celtics@igtc.com
Subject:	Re: Los Angeles Box Score 

> Boy, I'm glad I'm not a Clippers fan.
> 
> If our starting frontline had produced 56 points and 36 rebounds and we
> still lost, I'd be really upset at the coach. After all, they even held the
> Celts frontcourt starters to 10-34 shooting. Chris Ford has a truly
> bewildering team. A clear ROY candidate arrives back-to-back with a #1
> overall pick at center, joining one of the more coveted and polished NBA
> power forwards in Mo Taylor.
> 
> And yet they've all but given up on themselves this season in terms of
> trying to contend for a playoff berth, not even halfway into the season.

This really does remind me of how difficult it is for young teams in
the league. You can include Derek Anderson in their impressive looking
collection of young talent. Vancouver also reminded me of that; you
have Bibby, a nice young point guard who was the #2 pick; Shareef, one
of the top small forwards in the game (statistically), Harrington
and Dickerson, and a $60 million center. How many high lottery picks
has this team had without coming anywhere close to a respectable season?
Rebuilding is tough when you can't get that one "franchise" type player
(though being in Canada doesn't help). These teams just have to be 
thankful for the new CBA for giving them hope for the future.

Alex