Re: Training camp notes

[Dan Forant <dforant1@nycap.rr.com>]

Defense is indeed the way for the Celts to go. If they can and have the
will power and savvy to play defense, games will be at least respectable.
Last season was a flop defensively, nothing like the first Pitino year. If
the players aren't complimented with some wins they will get bored working
their butts off. 
This is the year for Battie to make meaningful contributions, personally, I
don't think it will happen. He has been a project. Did he bulk up? Is he in
shape? 

Dan

At 02:45 AM 10/7/00 -0400, you wrote:
>There are training camp notes covering the past week at celtics.com:
>
>-- Most of the time spent in camp will focus on defense. Makes sense given
>last year's defensive performance.
>
>-- Potapenko and Blount are in "tremendous shape." Tony Battie is the
>"unknown factor." 
>
>-- A scrimmage pitted Vitaly, Walker, Eric Williams, McCarty, and Anderson
>against Battie, Moiso, Blount, Elliott, and Brown. It's interesting that
>the first team has three tweener forward and the second team has three
>tweener big men. I think that Pitino believes in Pat Riley's vision of the
>future of basketball -- five 6'9" multitalented athletes -- except that
>it's more like "four forwards and a point guard".
>    I'm really curious how that second unit team worked out, and whether
>we're going to see something like it (probably without Elliott) during the
>season. With Battie, Moiso, and Blount you've got shotblocking and great
>length across the front line. You probably need Pierce playing shooting
>guard with these guys to provide offense in the halfcourt, probably off
>double screens. Moiso could get a chance to be a big part of the offense
>next to these guys also.
>
>-- Walker looks the best he has in the last three years, according to
>Pitino. I wasn't sure whether this assessment included Pitino's first year
>or not, when Walker made the All-Star team. Pitino predicts that this is
>the year when Walker enters his prime.
>
>-- Pitino cancelled Thursday night practice and brought in a nutritionist
>instead. Pitino says, "This team has great work ethic." 
>
>-- Jerome Moiso looked lost at first but is coming around. They are not
>going to rush him.
>
>Alex
>
>