Re: Blaming the Coach

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

See what bothers me is when people say such definitive things like "he's
still coaching like a college coach."  Considering the hand he was dealt, he
has tried to make some moves that haven't worked so well, I grant you.  But
what else can the shmuck do?  By your own admission, you are not blaming him
alone, but because he was offered a ridiculously high contract, he bears the
brunt of the disdain.  Same goes for Antoine.

This team was going to lose Mercer.  So he tried to get something for him
instead of letting him go for nothing.  I personally see Mercer (who I like
btw) as a gunner who has not endeared himself to any of his teammates.  Had
Fortson not hurt himself, things may have been different.  Maybe he should
have signed Wesley to a big contract, but the team was coming off a 15 win
season with him at the point and what had he proved up to then?

I am not preaching patience anymore, though I will remain in that state
myself.  But this team is not that good right now.  That is a fact.  But
some nights, like tonight, they give yeomen efforts.  They fell short.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Juddy <norine@sover.net>
To: celts <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2000 12:02 AM
Subject: Blaming the Coach


> Cecil, I don't think anyone blamed the coach for tonight.  This was a very
well played game and the last shot was a shame - and if V had made the free
throws.........  I for one am not complaining about games like tonight.
However, Pitino was supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread.  I'm
willing to give young players a chance to develop - that isn't really what
we're talking about.  We're talking about Rick's bad decisions, offering
huge contracts to marginal (at best) players that we can't now get rid of.
There have been terrible substitution patterns, sitting players down after a
foul until they get cold - and never get back in the swing, things like
that.
>
> It's more than the Pitino years - this team hasn't been good for a much
longer time.  A long time to wait for things to get better, for fans of a
former always winning team.  Funny how Gaston would spend all those millions
on a coach but is too stingy to get players.  Nobody, and I mean nobody, has
been a bigger Celtic fan than I for many years.  Nobody feels worse about
the state of things now.  I call them as I see them, and you don't have to
agree.  Believe me, I've never seen coaching like this in the NBA -
especially not on the Celtics!  In all sports I am usually the one who hates
it when a coach gets the ax because the team is losing, but in this case I
feel quite differently.  Maybe he can get it done, and if he does, I'll
applaud him, but he's still thinking like a college coach.
> Dorine
>