my take

[Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu (Kestutis Kveraga)]

I was as excited as anyone about the start of the (pre) season, but the two exhibition games cooled me off pretty quickly. Some might say it's stupid to judge the team or its players based on two preseason games - and it might be so for some things - but other things are so appalingly clear, there's no reason to hold back. 

I'll start with the positives:

Moiso - this guy is better than Pot and Battie NOW (albeit I know that's not saying much). He's a natural, and I don't care if he can't learn stupid headless chicken outbreak - that's akin to studying some intricate, useless kata to prepare for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, anyway.  He'll be a force this season. 

Blount - can be a shotblocking presence, but not much else now.

Walker - it's all about making a 1-on-1 (or -2 or -5) for him, as it's always been. If he scores on a nifty play, he's happy as a pig in clover, even if his team is down 30; if he gets stuffed (which happens to him more than to a Thanksgiving turkey), he'll just argue with the refs and try again next time. As always, sporting at least 15-20% bodyfat and lagging in the strength/conditioning department. I give up, trade him when his BYC status is over. 

Kenny - same old, can dribble and shoot, won't make anyone better or run the team to save his life. Whether he can't or doesn't want to, I don't even care anymore. We'll suck as long as he's our primary point guard. 

Batgirl - same old drifter, maybe a bit more active, but not enough to make a difference. 

Pot - a little better than last year, all that strength training and on-court drills paying off, but with awfully small dividends. It's such a pity that guys with the least talent/length work the hardest, yet have the least to show for all that work. If only  the talented ones put in half of his work...

Eric Williams - same old, a bit less disoriented in the schoolyard game that is Pitinoball. 

Griffin - seems to be a replay of the Dana Barros ordeal last year, at least so far.   

McCarty - as always, a waste of a roster spot; does not understand the game at all, can't shoot, pass or defend; sporting the same baby musculature that even a drugged out rock musician would ashamed of. 

Chris Carr - Cal Cheaney's offense (with Todd Day's shot selection), without Cal Cheaney's defense. 

Mike/Rodney - who cares? I thought the point of exhibition games was to prepare the team for the season, not to showcase players  who are certainly not going to be on the team come regular season. 

In summary, unless Randy Brown, Stith and Herren are miracle workers who can change the entire MO of the team, I expect more of what we saw the last three years: endless dunkorama on our end, opponent FG% approaching and exceeding 50%, no identifiable offense to speak of, Walker/Pierce/Anderson solo acts, Pitino trying to sell the sportswriters and fans some rotten poultry. A well-organized team of untalented Euro scrubs would beat the crap out of this outfit. 
Kestas