Re: Trying to make up my mind...

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

To start with, Mark B. is by no means Mr Negativity Guy on this 
list.  Moreover, I think his arguments are being misrepresented.  From what 
I've read, it usually boils down to something like this:

1) fans should never passively accept a trade made just to save money and 
avoid taxes, if there is evidence the Moiso trade was motivated by little 
else. I personally don't believe this was the case, but I still see it as a 
valid general observation to make.

2) if you are only going to only fiddle and diddle with the roster, then 
trade with an aim to improve around the edges because we have a chance to 
make the playoffs this year. Making the playoffs is very important to team 
develoment and the development of our best players, for reasons I 
personally regard as self-evident.

3) if you are willing to explore more than the fiddle and diddle, don't set 
limits. No player should be off limits if the target acquisition is worth 
it. That's obvious so I don't see where the big controversy is.

On the last point I fully agree. What's the downside of  taking the trouble 
to work out Kwame Brown and Eddie Griffin before the draft? (Houston got 
Eddie Griffin for next to nothing on paper) Or even to workout the top FA 
rebounders this summer like Mark Jackson, Nazr Mohammed, Jerome Williams 
this summer? (I don't think Battie's feelings will be too hurt) Or 
negotiate Jason Kidd's destination with Phoenix? You aren't compelled to 
make a drastic move on any of them, but you have an obligation to at least 
gather maximum information.

If what they uncover outweighs Wallace's master FA plan in 2003, then make 
your move. If not, then don't. We can wait until 2003. There's no way 
Kedrick and JJ are signing for 50% of the salary cap without something else 
dramatic happening involving Toine/Pierce or with Kenny's money (I'm 
assuming the best of course, with regard to Kedrick and JJ).

I'm not saying that Chris Wallace isn't exploring things and has stayed 
fully in the loop throughout the Eddie Griffin, Jason Kidd and other 
trades. But assuming he has, that doesn't make such observations on this 
list any less worthwhile or valid to make.

At 13:26 07/08/01 -0400, Berry, Mark  S wrote:
>I can see both sides of it, but I refuse to be blind to the negative about
>this team anymore. I used to be, but reality hit hard in a tank job at home
>against the Sixers last year.

Mark, a lot of teams "tanked" against the Sixers defense last season. If 
there was a clear pattern of tanking by our two stars, I'd have highlighted 
it to demonstrate that our players were in fact acting rationally (and thus 
doing fans a favor). I'd be pleased to demonstrate this trend.

But there was no trend  (at least in terms of dropoffs in statistical 
production and efficiency at the tail end of the Pitino regime). Sure you 
have regular season blowouts where one team "quits"...these things always 
snowball.

What exactly about the Pitino system was working? Whicheverplayer finally 
"quit" on him certainly did the greater organization a big favor cutting 
off Pitino's own planned exit by several months. Was it disrespectful or 
disloyal to not let Pitino jump ship on his own terms, 10 million or so 
richer? Like I said, I'd love to identify the quitter on our team, if there 
in fact was one. You have a particular sympathy/connection with Pitino 
which is often evident and is fine, but you can't complain about the 
players for not behaving more like lemmings and win much sympathy. What was 
working under the Pitino system?

Had he stayed, we wouldn't be talking about building on a .500 team against 
a playoff-calibre schedule. Is that an inaccurate or distorted observation? 
Right now we might even be pathetically mulling over losing stars to free 
agency and rebuilding around a Steven Hunter, Tyson Chandler or some other 
headless chicken type to challenge Batbrain and Mo'-lazy.

Red Auerbach didn't believe he could transfer coaching intelligence and 
motivational skills onto blank slate athletes. That would have been both 
foolhardy and self-delusional. He went and got players who were already 
intelligent and motivated, and then basically treated them like men.

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