Re:Blount

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

Hello Mark:
    Yeah I agree that Blount is thus far the most positive story from training
camp that we've heard in awhile. IMO it doesn't at all have the same ring to it
as previous Pitinochio praise for Travis Knight, Ringo DeClerq or
Shintzius/Riley. Also, the reports on Blount's athleticism cheered me up
following the disappointment of the long Globe articles on Moiso and Battie,
both of which I found to be a bit of a downer (particularly in the case of the
Shira Springer article on Moiso). Moiso just didn't come across sounding like a
Russellesque difference maker on the pick-up courts, or a very hard worker with
a chip on his shoulder. I really hope he succeeds as a Celtic. McHale seemed
pretty laid back (and too skinny) at first too, although he was a much better
college basketball player.

    I hold the same mixed but hopeful feelings about Herren. After all that
genuine and almost embarrassing preseason praise of Chris Herren by Dan Issel,
I'm surprised he'd give up on him so fast despite a subpar rookie season. I
don't think there is some secret (like Herren is falling off the wagon). I think
Herren's inadequate backup stats speak for themselves regarding how Issel's
wishful thinking on him didn't pan out.

    On another note, I can't get over how (seemingly) unnecessary and arcane
some of the new NBA rules are regarding announcing and completing trades, base
year salaries etc. This is what we went through a half-season lockout for? I
find it comical seeing Pitino and Issel not even allowed to confirm the trade,
and also a kind of travesty that Herren and Stith can't participate in the first
12 days of training camp. Can anyone think of one plausible reason why all this
should be happening, or who's idea it was in the first place?

Joe

-----
"Berry, Mark S" wrote:

> On the other hand, Mark Blount has me excited. Granted, my only look at him
> was the Celts' one televised summer league game, but I think he's a
> contributor this year--and Pitino's praise on the first day of camp
> reinforces that. He's been dismissed as a "project" but I really think he's
> more than that. The guy I saw was big, strong, fast and aggressive on the
> defensive end. He tried to block every shot, and that's a mentality sorely
> lacking in most of the Celts. And his skills seem perfectly suited to
> Pitinoball. Is he an offensive threat? No, but neither is Theo Ratliff, and
> I think Blount could develop into that kind of player.
>
> Also, I think the Pitino praise of Blount is more than bluster. They've
> flirted with trading Vitaly on a couple of occasions this summer (and may
> still be talking about it), and I just don't believe they would have
> entertained the idea without complete confidence that Blount could handle
> major minutes.