Re: The Truth Hurts

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

Maybe that big Shammond Williams acquisition can turn
the tide....
Ray

Shawn Niles wrote:

> I think that this was a horrible article by Michael Gee. IMO, he is the
> worst sports writer in the city of Boston. 90% of the time he is negative.
> Anytime he says something positive, he is quick to follow it up by saying
> how some negative point will override it. Michael Gee should be fired
> immediately. He serves no purpose except to try and depress people.
>
> Shawn
>
> >From: Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>
> >To: celtics@igtc.com
> >Subject: The Truth Hurts
> >Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 13:29:10 -0400
> >
> >Best article by Michael Gee in a long time.
> >
> >http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/sports_columnists/gee08022001.htm
> >
> >
> >  Even with duo, C's behind 8-ball
> >by Michael Gee
> >
> >Thursday, August 2, 2001
> >
> >Precious few people are unhappy upon receipt of $85 million. Paul Pierce
> >was no exception to the rule yesterday.
> >
> >``I'm a little nervous,'' Pierce said. ``This is one of the biggest days
> >of my life.''
> >
> >Courtside at the FleetCenter, the Celtics swingman then signed his
> >six-year contract extension with a signature larger than John Hancock's,
> >suitable for autographing the basketball Pierce had brought to the
> >ceremony.
> >
> >The person who spent the $85 million was cheery, too.
> >
> >``This is a great day for the Celtics,'' declared general manager Chris
> >Wallace. ``With Paul and Antoine Walker, we have our two cornerstones in
> >tow for a long time to come.''
> >
> >Pierce's signing was a foregone conclusion. The NBA labor rules designed
> >to limit salaries and inhibit player movement (in that order) made it
> >certain the Celtics would offer him all the money they could, and that
> >Pierce would accept the same.
> >
> >``He's our free agent,'' Wallace said.
> >
> >True. It's also undeniable that Walker and Pierce are going to be the
> >Celts' foundation for the future. As they go, so will the team.
> >
> >``In this league more than any other,'' Wallace said. ``You're only as
> >good as your best players. Look at the Lakers. They win because
> >Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant are the league's best duo.''
> >
> >Right again, Mr. Wallace. Walker and Pierce are surely the best Celts.
> >Thanks to the league rules, they'll stay that way for many seasons. The
> >Celtics are strongly discouraged (to the tune of multimillion dollar
> >fines called a ``tax'') from paying more megabucks for that rebounder
> >and point guard they could also use.
> >
> >But the GM's ``Yahoo!'' is another observer's ``Hmmm.'' After all,
> >Walker and Pierce have already been the two best Celtics for the last
> >three seasons. Their record as franchise-building superstars has been,
> >to be polite, mixed. Shaq and Kobe they ain't.
> >
> >It's not that Walker and Pierce lack the talent to be mutually
> >supportive superstars. On occasions, especially in the second half of
> >last season, they've actually done so. Such serendipity remains
> >sporadic. After a combined eight seasons in the NBA, neither man has
> >ever participated in a playoff game. That doesn't buff up a
> >cornerstone's resume.
> >
> >Still, at least the Celts have potential cornerstones. Pierce has the
> >ability to be among the league's top seven or eight scorers each year.
> >Walker remains a disjointed compendium of talent that might yet unite
> >into a consistent All-Star. After the constant chaos of the Pitino Era,
> >perhaps an era of David Stern's enforced stability will help Pierce and
> >Walker grow awesome together.
> >
> >If that happens, the Celtics will become a playoff team. That's
> >progress.
> >
> >But it's all the progress they're likely to see.
> >
> >Eastern Conference champs? Highly unlikely without a reliable inside
> >force. NBA champs? The C's are more likely to win the Stanley Cup.
> >
> >Look at last year's Eastern titlists, the 76ers. First, Allen Iverson
> >went from tremendous but troubled talent (sound familiar?) to runaway
> >MVP. Then, Philly traded for Dikembe Mutumbo. And they still didn't get
> >a sniff of the Lakers in the finals.
> >
> >The NBA's labor laws have destroyed competition for the foreseeable
> >future. Teams can't acquire critical masses of All-Star talent (under
> >the current rules, Dennis Johnson would never have joined the '80s
> >Celts). They can only improve when their stars get better. Since half
> >the NBA's teams have no stars, they also have no hope.
> >
> >The Celts have a little hope, which is better than none. But there won't
> >be a new NBA champion until O'Neal gets old, bored, or both.
>
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