Re: ESPN Says Underachieving Celtics Should Be Better

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Brilliant article and post. The Celtics will get worse. They'll see the
situation as futile, and watch Kenny do his version of General Hospital. A
team needs spirit, the uniform, banners and visits from Bob Cousy and
Russell won't do it. Now if something breaks the Celtics way, (ie., a
miracle) things may change. I'll save the $170 for Cable NBA coverage and
sleep better this fall. Pitino has brought us a plague with no vaccine in
site.

Dan


At 08:28 PM 7/16/00 -0400, you wrote:
>http://espn.go.com/nba/s/2000/0712/629797.html
>
>I'm of the opinion, not better.  Going into the draft, the Celtics
>needed
>a shot blocking center (sniff, Milwaukee deals for Pryzbilla),
>a shooting guard (sniff, Alexander to Dallas), and an
>upgrade at point, and they got none of them. What they acquired
>was a seven foot small forward, whom the coach has already admitted
>(see today's Herald - Basketball Notes column) won't help the
>club much next season. Now, while the C's are standing pat,
>and possibly retrograding (loss of Fortson - team's best backup center
>and rebounder), the Nets, Knicks, Cavs, Magic, Bulls, Hawks, Heat,
>76ers (if Brown gets Iverson under control and Speedy Claxton is
>the player I think he is), Pacers (re-sign core free agents and Bender's
>
>blossoming), and Bucks have all improved.
>
>Detroit has regressed. Charlotte could too, depending on what they
>do with Jones - dumping Mason would be an addition by subtraction.
>Toronto could actually be better, despite McGrady's loss, if
>Peterson plays well and they finally come up with a legitimate
>point guard. The Wizards are still the same, but might improve,
>if MJ can get Strickland, one of the league's best point guards,
>on the same page.
>
>So, please tell me how the C's are going to be better, if a majority
>of the other clubs in the conference have improved, and they
>haven't?
>
>And one more thing to consider.  The C's were relatively injury free
>last season, because a disheartened Pitino abandoned the
>press.  Now, he's allegedly going back to a pressing and
>trapping style and the wear and tear it puts on the players
>playing it. I think you'll probably see more injuries this
>season, negating some of the C's alleged improvement.
>I think as the Celtics presently stand, one major injury to
>a player like Pierce, and hello top five pick. Which might
>not be a bad thing - the pick, not the Pierce injury.
>Ray
>
>
>
>