Re: It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)

[Alexander Wang <awang@MIT.EDU>]

At 07:50 AM 10/23/00 -0400, Dan Forant wrote:
>My predictions are unqualified opinions based upon the past few years and
>maybe including this one. I hope not. I would gladly fall on my sword if
>the Celts have a decent season. Even during winter months there are better
>things to do than watch the Celts comedy of errors led by Pitino.

Got to commend Dan for this disclaimer of sorts. I'm glad to see that you
would actually enjoy it if the Celtics had a good season, even if it's hard
to tell from your posts. 

I think a frequent question on this list is whether Pitino knows how to
coach NBA basketball. I remember Tom Murphy (where did he go anyway?) had
an interesting post on unqualified individuals (such as us) judging the
performance of technical specialists such as Pitino. I think all of us can
look at a game or a season and find objective statistics like, "We were
36-46" or "We gave up 47% from the field." Some of us make conclusions like
"Pitino can't coach basketball" or "Pitino's defensive system doesn't
work." But separating the performance of the coach from the players is very
difficult.

There are professional opinions that vary on the things that Pitino does.
Heinsohn doesn't like the substitution patterns. Maxwell doesn't believe in
double teaming lesser post players. I don't think I've ever heard any
basketball professional (management or player) say that Pitino is a bad
basketball coach, even anonymously. I have read statements that he's a bad
GM. And it ranges to guys like Mark Jackson who say that Pitino is the best
coach he ever had. 

When I look back at some of the personnel moves that Pitino has made, I
cringe a bit, since I have the benefit of hindsight. He made the wrong
blueprint for the team and acquired pieces that no longer fit now that he
has a different blueprint (pretty much the original one, and better in my
opinion, but the proof is in the games). It's possible that, with more
patience and some better judgement, that our team could have Antonio Davis
instead of Kenny Anderson, Tracy McGrady instead of drafting Mercer, and
Andre Miller instead of Potapenko. A lineup of Davis, Walker, McGrady,
Pierce, and Miller would be awesome. But even here I see signs of
improvement. Pitino has had to learn on the job in this aspect. I think he
realizes that he screwed up before and hasn't been very trigger happy since
the Potapenko trade. Even the crazy looking Jermaine O'Neal trade offer is
looking like it might have been a good one.

My personal belief is that Pitino knows what he's doing as a basketball
coach. He seems to be universally respected as a coach in the basketball
community -- including pretty astute guys like Jerry West. If you've
watched the Rick Pitino show, you can tell he's extremely well prepared,
that he reviews all the games, compiles the statistics, and basically knows
everything we do from watching the games, and much more. I personally don't
think we have any advice to give Pitino on coaching technique.

On the other hand, the real question is whether another pro coach could do
a better job. I definitely don't think that Pitino is at the level of
Riley. I don't know how Jackson would do with this young team but he's also
been very successful. But neither of these guys are available. I thought
that if Pitino had quit last season that Isiah Thomas would have been the
best candidate. He made some good personnel decisions in Toronto, in my
opinion, that set up some of the current success of their team. He was very
good in the community of players. He would not have been a great fit
because of his background. Right now I don't see many great options. Maybe
Bird buys the team and hires Ainge to coach?

Anyway, the truth is that if Pitino was on a typical team and didn't have
the huge contract, he probably would have been fired after the lockout
season. Nobody likes to see a young team regress. But for now I like what
he's doing, moving back to his roots. If he has everyone healthy and the
team doesn't improve, I think he'll quit, which is fine with me. Until then
he has my support.

Alex