Re: Coaching

["James A. Hill" <jahill@leasingservice.com>]

A few things to consider.

While I dislike where the team is right now it has nothing to do with the
rookies playing time.

It's only been a few games and the trading deadline hasn't past.

The rookies need a couple months to get a feel for the NBA.  These guys are
still figuring out how to get up at a specific time and feed themselves.  It
may be the first time they have ever owned a car.  Think of the changes they
are going through.

At least they appear to be decent guys who want to put in the effort, unlike
the rookies in Chicago or Washington who are effort challenged. (I'm not
sure that is as true of Curry)  It isn't a blind eye to get them
comfortable. It's not like there is a veteran presence like there is in
Indiana for them to look up to.  It appears that JJ has hit a small wall
already.  It must be a big change for KB coming from JC unlike the other two
who came from big programs.  I think that Forte is more mature then the
others but may need the most practice to make the change to PG.

The veterans like Williams deserve the time at this point in the season.
They deserve to have their off season work recognized.  The rookies need to
earn playing time in practice.  Otherwise how will they know they "earned
it"?

Trading deadline issues.

If OB doesn't play the "veterans" now he will never be able to trade them
this year.  It is up to Walker and Pierce to carry this team in the first
half of the season.  It's the first year Walker has been in playing shape at
the beginning of the season so the team is already ahead of last year in
many ways.

With the injuries around the league going on something may open up.
Anderson anywhere?  I wouldn't mind picking up Miller from Chicago at $4.4
in 2002 and $4.8 in 2003 if we could move Walter, McLeod + Blount in return
and opening up the roster.

Someone may want Williams if he keeps driving to the hoop and plays decent
D.  VP to a west coast team?  Let's see if Wallace really can do anything
after missing on Tinsley and Parker.  Joe H. brought up Odem being
available, maybe, in a trade.

So come the trade deadline lets see where the team is and then worry about
playing time for the rookies.  It's about where these rookies are two three
years from now anyway.

It's the coach who is failing this team right now with this style of play,
IMO.  If that doesn't change playing the rookies will only ruin them for the
future.

<Jim



Good point re: 1-4.  I think the Celtics really have to look at themselves
in the mirror re: their drafting strategy verse their coaching style.

The Celtics have drafted 2 players this year that are probably at least a
year away from contributing... but this is under the understanding that
they are a year away with playing time.  But instead of working on our
investments, our coaching staff is turning a blind eye.

In Chicago you have the same problem to a greater degree.  Floyd is not
giving either of Chicago's rookies the chance to get on the court and
perform.  Curry and Chandler are averaging only 25 minutes or so
COMBINED!  Krause has gone out of his way to draft some talent that his
coach refuses to play.  Rumor has it that Brad Miller is on the trading
block, just so Floyd will be forced to play the rooks more if he likes it
or not!

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Jim Hill
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