Re: Interesting notes from Mitch Lawrence

[bird <birdw@aloha.net>]

>From: "Jim Meninno" <Jim_Meninno@hotmail.com>
>
>The Celtics need a =
>superstar!  What a revelation.  They're not going to draft high enough =
>to get one "off the rack", and I doubt they have the goods to trade for =
>one, either.

One great player makes this team into an instant Eastern Conference 
title contenders, especially if that player is a shotblocking center. 
But, as you say, how does the team acquire one?  A trade?  Not 
likely, unless we offer Walker or Pierce.  The draft?  We might get 
lucky, but probably not.  The other way to go is to develop some big 
men into a semblence of great players.  Not great, but at least 
adequate.  Battie and V have shown this year (so far, anyway) that 
they are probably capable of that.  Certainly not there yet, though.

>Since they have a lot of late lottery picks coming up, and =
>a decent core of talent that is *slowly* maturing together, they will =
>probably look to draft teenagers and projects like Moiso.  If there's an =
>opportunity to trade for someone like Garnett or Mourning, then, of =
>course, you do it.  But to suggest that opportunities like that are just =
>there for the taking is silly.

Geez Louise, Jim -- what are you, some sort of voice of reason or 
something?  Don't you know that the team sucks, the coach sucks, and 
the players suck?  Anyway, while I understand people's desire to win 
now (nothing wrong with that at all) your point about his team moving 
slowly is well taken.  Nobody wants to hear that, though: it's tough 
sitting through year after year of mediocrity, but that's what we've 
got.  But, instead of the quick fix or the big gamble, the waiting 
game might be the best bet.  (D'oh -- I hate the waiting game!).  Of 
course, if you've got the chance to acquire real talent, you need to 
take it, but I don't see one coming down the pike anytime soon.

Often, this list's agenda is to attach blame.  (It's Pitno's fault! 
No, it's the players' fault!  It's Waker's fault for jacking up the 
three!  It's Pierce for lollygagging!)  The real answer is that _all_ 
of these things contribute to the mediocrity of the team.  Each and 
every one of them -- though Walker's three point shooting isn't one 
of them this year, imo.  The fact is, (uh oh, here it comes...) the 
team is young (D'oh!) and the most likely way for them to get better 
is to develop themselves, and that takes time.  Are you tired of 
losing?  Me, too.  But, unless you're 6'10" or so, have mad 
shotblocking skills, and are willing to move to Boston, there's 
nothing you, me, or anyone else is really going to do about it.

>Look, Pitino was given another chance this year, and I'm willing to wait =
>and see what he does with it.  I want him to do it with this team, =
>basically, though.  If that doesn't work, bring in someone, preferably a =
>Celtic, and give them the draft picks.

Amen, brother.

Regards,

Bill
-- 
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"If ye don't eat yer meat, ye can't have any pudding.
How can ye have any pudding if ye don't eat yer meat?"