Starting to lose it already?

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

O'B: ``Well, what we got out is five games without any practice, which
absolutely sucks,'' he said. ``That's what we got out of it. We got game
experience and no practice time, which absolutely sucks. So we have to get
after practice . . . the next five practices are important. And in the next
two exhibition games, we want to be better than we have been in the last
(six) games.''

``I think we're about where I had anticipated being, again with the idea
that you need to practice to get better in preseason,'' O'Brien said,
emphasizing the word ``practice'' more as he went. ``That's what preseason
is supposed to be about, practice. Not playing five frickin' games in eight
nights and only getting two practices. That's not what you're interested in.
http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/cs10202001.htm
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And this is after just 4 losses in preseason!?! I hope there is some
exculpatory context, but I fear that it looks like O'B is about to blow a
gasket already. I imagine that this is hardly inspirational for the rest of
the team.

I know practice is important but I wouldn't have thought a coach could get
so worked up about it. This is the pros after all and there will not be 4-5
days of practice before every game. That's why the preseason games don't
count - so you can practice DURING a game situation - something that seems
to have eluded O'B.

As for his being so upset about the schedule, I wonder what his tune would
be if his team had swept all six games (his original plan after all). I
suspect that he probably wouldn't be quite so negative - although
objectively the schedule would not have change one iota. This may be reading
too much into a few off hand comments, but given the way he has approached
preseason games it sounds as if O'B is really taking the pressure associated
with losing much more to heart this (pre)season - not a good sign - since it
is now his team and his performance that will be judged. Already he is
showing signs that it may be too much for him. This could be another
'interesting' year. Oh boy.