RE: Maybe we are REALLY too young and immature

[John Lyell <jlyell@concentric.net>]

I heard with Elliot out San Antonio was after Christie.

 Could we do a Battie and Barros for Stewart & Christie or 

Battie for Stewart is pretty much a swap of underachievers, but Christie gives us a slashing 3 to go along with Pierce & Walker to share the scoring


Battie & Barros for Marshall and Foyle ?

Donyell Marshall would also give us this at the 3 spot.

Although this does not address our  physical presence at the 4/5 spot.

Foyle might. Ike Austin could possibly, but maybe not.  Someone said Austin was a forward. I believe he is 6'10" 270 which is a decent size in the middle.

Maybe if we do not resign Fortson someone will be available on the FA market ?














-----Original Message-----
From:	Kevin Lok [SMTP:kevin.lok@lycosmail.com]
Sent:	Thursday, January 13, 2000 8:41 PM
To:	celtics@igtc.com
Subject:	Maybe we are REALLY too young and immature

Hi everybody,

after reading this article, maybe we are too harsh on our C's (can't
believe I'm saying this). maybe the C's are REALLY too young and
immature.

kevin/singapore

Thursday, January 13, 2000
Raptors' world not quite right
By STEVE SIMMONS -- Toronto Sun
  There is this look on Charles Oakley's face, the kind of expression
you see when someone has had their parking spot snatched from them on
a cold winter's night.
 It is a look of part wonder and part anger, and right now it is the
look of a confused Toronto Raptors team at this most confusing time.
 There is this suspicious undercurrent of change and discomfort on
what seemed to be the darling team of this NBA season. "This is
Showtime," the hyperbole in the advertisements read. But there is
something more wrong with the show right now than a couple of shooters
injured.
 "This ain't no step,'' Oakley said after the Raptors defeated the
Orlando Magic 108-102 last night, a victory that ended a three-game
losing streak. "We're lucky to get a win. We can't be happy with that.
 "If you understand basketball, you understand what's going on ...
that was sloppy. We can't be happy with that.
 "We need work, no matter what people say. We got to understand
things. We got to understand. You do that in the playoffs, you have a
short playoffs. First round, you be home. You can't play the game like
that.''
 Hang around a team long enough and you pick up on a kind of aura that
is more powerful than any statistic and often more powerful than
reason. And right now, there is a definite sense that the Raptors
aren't a team but a collection of individuals, dancing away to
different tunes.
 There is no shortage of talent, even with Dell Curry and Dee Brown in
absentia. There is, in Oakley's words, a fundamental lack of
understanding of what it takes to play winning basketball in the NBA.
Playoff-winning basketball.
 "We'll take the win, but we made so many mistakes,'' said Antonio
Davis, the impressive Raptors forward. "For some reason, we get our
game plan and for some reason we can't get five players on the floor
sticking to that game plan. It sounds very simple but in some ways
it's complex.''
 And for coach Butch Carter, it's confounding. At timeout after
timeout last night, his disgust was evident. Whatever message he's
attempting, it isn't necessarily getting through. This is the first
season in which this team has been expected to win; and this remains a
team in discovery, if not at this stage a disappointing team.
 There is a statute of limitations on the growth of any team and it is
far too early to believe the Raptors have reached their limit. But
still, there has to be concern -- especially considering how many
players voice it -- that this isn't the right mix of athletes, no
matter how much talent the Raptors have. You listen to Charles Oakley
and Antonio Davis and you come away wondering whether this team ever
will work the way they want it to work, whether some kind of changes
aren't necessary. You listen to them and you hear in their voices
doubt that this unit can reach the next level.
 There is no genuine centre on the roster. That's a problem. There is
Alvin Williams miscast as starting point guard. That's a problem.
There is Doug Christie and Tracy McGrady, both athletically gifted,
not necessarily fitting in every night. That's a problem that
shouldn't be one. Last night, there was a surprise of 22 points from
Muggsy Bogues but that is almost as unique as the point guard himself.
 Vince Carter scored 30 points and, with assists, accounted for almost
40 points against Orlando. When he scores 30, it can hide some of the
Raptors' flaws. Toronto is 5-1 when Carter scores 30.
 "But we can't expect him to do that,'' Davis said. "We can't rely on
Vince Carter. We've got to be a team.''
 "We need to get our continuity back,'' Carter said. "We need to
believe in each other.''
 Charles Oakley says not enough of his teammates understand what it
takes, or understand enough about winning. Davis already has addressed
the issue of a more steadfast attitude toward winning.
 The learning curve has been blurred by athleticism but, as Oakley
said, "I don't care who you are. You still got to understand.''
 When the Raptors began this season on a tear, it almost came too fast
and too easily.
 "This ain't about talk,'' Oakley said. "Don't talk about it, do it.
Some guys (here) don't get that.''