Brief RP show notes

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

I don't think anybody ever posted about the interview that Ted
Sarandis did with Pitino after the season ended, or the final Rick
Pitino show. It was a while ago but I remember a few tidbits.

1. Pitino sounds like he will be back but he will not guarantee it.
He did say that all the rumors were baseless, in particular the Nets
rumor. I wonder if there is some dream job that he would take if it
opened up - Kentucky?

2. He said they would look into every option to improve their team.
He was bullish on Antoine. He thinks Pierce will be a star down the
road but noted (both in the interview and on the show) that Pierce
has the most trade value on the team because of his low salary. He
could be packaged with cap-clogging salaries (he referred to them
charitably as something like "players who aren't getting a lot of
playing time") in a blockbuster deal. He thinks that Vitaly and Battie
both have trade value around the league. His preference is still to
keep the core together and add a few pieces.

3. Some individual comments. I don't remember this in too much detail.
- Antoine took too many threes. He needs to improve on the defensive
end and challenge shots (even if he will not block many). 
- Pierce needs to get over screens better on defense.
- Eric Williams is probably the team's second-best defender (behind
Cheaney) because he moves his feet well. He likes him on this team.
- Vitaly did well offensively but needs to work on challenging more
shots.
- Battie was a disappointment.
- Anderson improved on the defensive end. He might have said more here
but I don't remember.
- Barros is a specialist and he isn't going to give much on defense,
but he likes him as a person.
- They need to build Cheaney's confidence back up.
- Griffin needs rest. 
- McCarty needs to find a position. If he's a power forward he needs to
bulk up. Pitino doesn't see this happening. If he's a small forward he
needs to develop an accurate outside shot.
- Fortson needs to control his emotions better. He has to react to the
refs better because they are not always wrong.

Alex