Re: On Moiso.

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

        In his favor, Jerome Moiso was the least pedigreed member of a two year
UCLA recruiting bonanza that featured four guys who have been hyped as future
lottery picks since they were in highschool  (JaRon Rush, Dan Gadzuric, Jason
Kapono, Baron Davis) so you can imagine why he might be less assertive than
what would be ideal. Even players like Earl Watson and Ray Young probably
picture themselves as future first rounders. In the end, Moiso demonstrated
that he was one of the most NBA ready. Sure Tony Battie and even Keon Clark put
up twice as good college numbers and seemed far more consistent every night,
when the opposite has been proven to be true.

    This is just speculation, but the guy that Moiso reportedly delivered warm
whup-ass to in the Celtics tryouts might very well be the big OO. Better yet,
it is not unheard of for teams to bring in "proven" NBA veterans like Bat Gurl
for the rookie tryout. Of course knowing Battie, probably the only exercise
he's getting in the off-season is closing and opening the side window of his
Lincoln 4x4. It's tough to stay motivated when your idiot team president offers
you 5 million a year long term a year before you even become a free agent.

    Now in the best case scenario (Moiso turns out great), we'll see Tony
Battie's minutes dwindle to the single digits. In the worst case scenario,
Battie will continue to get twenty inconsistent minutes and Moiso will be the
next "El Busto" lottery pick. My hope is that they will push each other hard
and give us two mini twin-towers with great energy. But neither of these guys
play with the natural competitiveness of even a Danny Fortson so I'm as guilty
of wishful thinking as anyone.

    Moiso still has a way to go in the weight room before he can move up to
Tony Battie's weightclass. Even the softest big men, like Shawn Bradley,
outweigh Moiso by 40 pounds.

    Bienvenue à la NBA, Jerome!

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damekmo@teleport.com wrote:

> I have to go but first, living out on the west coast, and having seen Moiso
> a few times I have to say that he's a pretty impressive "talent" who has
> the full package, however.....he's easily frustrated, his mind seems to
> wander when he gets frustrated, and then he has a tendency to play
> half-assed. He disappears and you keep waiting for him to wake up. You
> wonder how he's going to react when the bar gets raised. I still think
> there's a trade coming as this obviously does nothing dramatic for this
> team. And this team/Pitino needs something dramatic, in a hurry.
>
> Paul M.