Re: [...]''He's in fantastic physical condition,.. ."

[bird <birdwl@earthlink.net>]

> From: Kestutis.Kveraga@dartmouth.edu (Kestutis Kveraga)
>
> [Herren's] physically unimpressive, hasn't shown point guard abilities at 
> this
> level, and is not a great shooter, even accounting for injuries. He's 26 
> and
> has a lot of baggage, including quitting on a team when he realized he 
> wasn't
> good enough to star in the Italian league. His only positive attribute is 
> his
> feistiness, but a nasty disposition, a Southie (or is it also Fall River?
> )
> permascowl, local ties, and a pinkish complexion  shouldn't be enough to 
> earn a
> spot on the Celtics. I'm anticipating his not being "100%" because he'll 
> be out
> of shape, worried about his wife's pregnancy and childbirth, excited 
> about his
> newborn, injured, reinjured etc. ad infinitum.
>
Geez, Kestas, this sounds a bit harsh.  I'm not nearly as down on Chris 
Herren.  I think you discount the injury to his (right?) shoulder, perhaps 
having a little more to do with his 30% shooting than you or Joe seem to 
think.  I saw all the games he was in last year and I noticed that Herren 
pushed the ball well, could shoot from outside, and had the attitude you 
mentioned.  All positives.  He needs to become a better distributor and 
ballhandler, as well as improving his shooting percentage.  That's the 
beginning of the negatives.  He may not be 100%, but then again, he's the 
fourth (or even fifth) PG on the team, after KA, Palacio, maybe Brown, 
Walker and maybe even Joe Johnson -- not a big deal.  We can wish upon a 
star for a big man, but it's clear that C's management wants Walker at PF 
for about 40 mins/game and so a PF like Gary Trent isn't in the cards, and 
Obie, et al. clearly haven't found anyone _they_ think is better than the 
Blount/V/Battie center troika.

The thing is, do you really know Chris Herren quit on his team because he 
knew he wasn't good enough to start?  Maybe he had other personal issues.  
Maybe he was homesick.  Maybe he didn't want to be abroad.  Maybe he didn'
t want to be the "designated American target" on the Baloney team.  Maybe 
he hates Italian food, shoes, those little mopeds, cinema, Catholicism or 
whatever else one finds in abundance in the boot.  Plus, if he quit on the 
team, wouldn't Mark Berry keep reminding us of that fact and how it taints 
his career?

Hey, I'm not from New England, and I'm only half-white, so I have no 
homegrown or racial axe to grind for or against Herren.  I just appreciate 
how he plays, even if he doesn't have great (or maybe even NBA-average) 
skill.  And I'm not just saying that because he's my wife's favorite 
Celtic.  Really.  As someone mentioned earlier, if Herren or a guy like 
El-Amin is a major factor for us next year, then we have bigger problems.

Regards,

(The Celtic "Tird",
  Celticus "tirdius")