Re: [Celtic_Pride] Peter May's Letter to Pitino

[Ellie Cutler <ellie@oreilly.com>]

Hi Cecil - it's not about loving or hating the ho-hum, Toine-bashing Peter May.

Regardless of where fault lies (and it does get spread around), there is no 
salvaging RP as a coach with the Celtics. The damage has been done, the 
animosity irreversable.  It is a business, and the fans don't want to watch 
this guy on the sidelines.  Maybe he's just a lightning rod for the 
disappointment and frustration we experience with this version of the 
Celtics, but fair or not, the guy has to go, and soon.  Maybe Toine or 
Pierce will end up going, as well - we need some kind of fresh start.

Swift will be an super player, which is why no way is Vancouver going to 
deal him unless, perhaps, they are sure of landing Yao Ming or Eddie 
Griffin. They already turned down a bunch of our players for Bibby - 
really, I'm not sure Anderson is attractive to anybody right now.  Our 
picks, and Toine & Pierce are the movable pieces, with perhaps V as a 2nd 
tier center.

Speaking of which, in last night's game, V was open probably 10 times right 
under the basket and didn't get the ball (mostly ignored by Kenny and 
Toine).  Are they that afraid to pass to him? Yes, he has hands of cement, 
but some of those could have been converted with a soft pass.

Nice to see Cowens on the sidelines. He has some nice young players in 
Hughes, Jamison, and Marc Jackson. Chris Porter was a lucky addition - a 
big-name prospect who slid way down the draft due to a poor senior year 
(and on the BSGs all-'fro team, I'm sure).  It's fun to see the western 
conf. teams (I don't have the league pass) - I get tired of seeing the 
Knicks, etc. all the time.

  --Ellie

At 08:17 PM 1/5/2001 -0800, Cecil Wright wrote:
>So now Peter May speaks for all Celtic fans does he?  Odd.  Here is a guy
>who has been belittled by the list on many occasions.  Glad to see you all
>love him now.
>
>Personally, I hope Pitino sticks it out.  The team has made some strides
>being in games until the very end only to fall short.  We all know that.
>And they have been as injured as any team in the league and have still
>played hard, albeit, stupid basketball on occasion.
>
>I know I am in the minority on this list, but I am a big boy and can take
>the heat which will surely come.  It is not my habit to make fun of someone
>who knows as much about basketball as Pitino.  Red has praised him.  Russell
>has praised him.  It is not all his fault.  Somewhere along the line, the
>players must be held accountable for their own shortcomings.  Though it may
>not be as fashionable as bashing Rick, it is true nonetheless.
>
>Michael Jordan said he was going to have the Wizards in the playoffs this
>year.  It ain't gonna happen.  Does that mean he should be fired?  Is it his
>fault?
>
>This team needs to be patient and work the ball more for good shots.  Do you
>really think that Pitino is happy that they settle for the threes?  I don't
>think so.  Because a player is selfish enough to think he is capable of
>making them (Toine/Pierce) does that mean they have tuned him out?  I don't
>think so.  It all comes back to maturity as I have mentioned in the past.
>You want that duo to play like Bird and McHale but forget that they do not
>have the supporting cast.  They have no Parish in the middle or DJ in the
>backcourt.
>
>I have seen listees berate RP for his substitution patterns yet he is forced
>to play Walker 44 mpg?  When is he supposed to give these guys a rest? After
>the game?  Is it any surprise we run out of gas at the end?
>
>The point is, I know Pitino is not perfect and has a big mouth and made
>stupid promises, etc.  But this team is not too far away, which leads me to
>this:
>
>I hope they trade ONE of the draft picks along with Kenny, Eric and Moiso
>for Bibby and Swift.  There is no PG in the draft who is as good as Bibby
>right now and Swift is going to be a monster.  This guy can run the court
>like you wouldn't believe!
>
>I'm ready.  Fire away.