Leo Papile: C's Must Advance To The Next Level

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Celtics need to advance to Step 2
 
 The Herald News Staff, The Herald News June 01, 2000 
 
Leo Papille at least didn't sound like too much of a company man. The
director of scouting for the Boston Celtics, Papille was in town last
week as a special guest at the annual Fall River CYO Basketball banquet,
and he didn't sound like hehad rose prescription glasses on when he
talked about whether thegreat Pitino Experiment in Boston is failing or
not. 
"At this point, have we succeeded? No," Papille said frankly. 

The Celtics' one and only scout (he does college, NBA, and the minor
leagues), Papille said that the next two years will settle the issue. He
noted the positives, particularly the 26-15 home record, the fact that
three losses came in the last second, and that 13 of the Celtics losses
were by three points or less. 

Of course, there's also one huge deficiency, one which cannot be
dismissed. It has to do with the Celtics' fortunes away from the
FleetCenter. "Nine wins on the road is disastrous," he said. 

Papille said there are four steps in building a successful team -- being
strong at home, playing respectably on the road, getting into the
playoffs, and winning a playoff series -- and the Celtics under Pitino
have only taken Step 1. And there's virtually no way to skip No. 2. 

The second step, he said, would mean winning at least 15 road games,
though 16 or 17 would be more like it. 

Papille, the long-time coach of the ultra-successful Boston Athletic
Basketball Club (BABC) AAU teams (he coached Chris Herren), said that a
significant jump in Celtic success over the next couple years is not so
far fetched because the C's are still very young and otherteams may not
be designed for long-term success. 

"Indiana has six free agents and six players 35 or older," he said.
"Toronto has three front court players 35 or older. The 50-win teams are
loaded with age."