RE: I didn't do it!

[OzerskyJA <OzerskyJA@cmog.org>]

Mark,

I wish there wasn't such a long delay on the list, because this morning
as soon as I saw the news I sent a chorus of "huzzas" to the list.  If
the guys can flow and press and defend and Herren gets major minutes,
no way does Kenny return to a team, coach, and fan base accepting of
his slow-down style.  This could be the break we needed to start rolling
and get Herren his minutes.  Boy do I hope his ankle is better.  

Josh Ozersky	
Marketing Communications Specialist 
Corning Museum of Glass

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Berry, Mark  S [SMTP:berrym@BATTELLE.ORG]
> Sent:	Tuesday, November 07, 2000 9:17 AM
> To:	'celtics@igtc.com'
> Subject:	I didn't do it!
> 
> When I saw the news on Kenny last night I half expected a Boston detective
> to knock on my door asking me where I was Sunday night. It was like an
> episode of Columbo... "Sure, I wanted him out of the lineup. I felt like
> breaking his jaw. But did I? Nah." But where were you, Josh????
> 
> We may not see the benefits of a Kenny-free lineup for a few games, but
> I'm
> confident we will see them. Once the rest of the team gets used to
> unselfish, free-flowing basketball from Herren and Brown, I think we'll
> see
> more ball movement, more player movement away from the ball, and more
> running. Will there be growing pains? Sure, but I'm willing to live with
> them.
> 
> I hate to pin everything that's wrong with this team on Kenny, because
> there
> certainly are plenty of other problems. Still, think back to Pitino's
> first
> year. Chauncey was playing terrible at the point, but the team was playing
> well, overachieving and having fun. Remember how enthusiastic that group
> was? Well, things changed not long after Kenny got here. Am I the only one
> who remembers this? Kenny had a great first few games, but pretty soon he
> settled in like he always does. The team settled with him, and faded down
> the stretch. The next season was the lockout, and Kenny came in out of
> shape
> and played terribly and the team did the same. It continued last year.
> 
> The Celtics with Herren in that brief stretch this preseason played more
> like that early first-year Pitino team than at any time since. They were
> moving the ball, having fun, congratulating each other on great plays. It
> was fun to watch. There's something to be said for the psyche of a
> team--it's why Jason Williams' net impact on the Kings has been so
> positive
> even though his shooting percentage and turnovers seem to make him a
> liability at point guard. In reality, his passing and enthusiasm have been
> contagious on that team. Doesn't anyone remember Chris Webber in
> Washington?
> Did you ever think you'd see him running, passing and enjoying the game
> the
> way he seems to while playing with Williams in Sacramento?
> 
> But it's not just Herren. The offense performed better with Brown in the
> game against the Cavs. There were a couple of possessions when the ball
> moved around the offense until finding Brown wide-open for 15-footers. He
> made them both. There was no dribbling. He just found an open spot, waited
> for the ball to work through the offense, and took an open shot as a last
> resort. And he made it. Great, understated point guard play.
> 
> Looking forward to seeing it on a full-time basis.
> 
> Mark