Sportsguy: Stinky Wallace And C's Looking For A Deal

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

> Bill Simmons says: They stink, they're trying to dump Randy Brown's
> contract, have no faith in Joe Johnson, and Wallace: Don't get me
> started.....
>
> As for the Celtics, some of you e-mailed expressing surprise that I
> was
> so dismissive of their playoff chances. I don't think people realize
> that this team isn't very good -- they beat all the teams they should
> beat (like Denver on Tuesday night), but it takes a near-perfect
> night
> for them to beat a quality team that's playing well (they're 1-8
> against
> the best teams in the league, and that one win -- the OT win against
> NJ
> -- only happened because Pierce scored 46 points after the first
> half).
>
> The bottom line is this: They had three first rounders in the top 21
> last year, and none of those guys are even contributing in their top
> eight right now (only Kedrick Brown showd signs of sticking around
> before he injured his ankle). That's almost impossible. You really
> think
> they're making the second round of the playoffs with Eric Williams
> and
> Eric Strickland playing 30-35 minutes a night? Please. It's been a
> fun
> season, and it's been fun watching Pierce and Walker emerge, but you
> can't beat quality teams in this league more than 10-12% of the time
> when you only have two above-average players. And remember, this team
> hasn't even suffered a major injury yet (knock on wood).
>
> Doesn't look like the trading deadline will help them. Raef Lafrentz
> can't happen because Denver is insisting that Tariq Abdul-Wahad be
> included in any deal (remember when Pitino liked him?). They're
> offering
> around a McCarty/Brown/#1 package and trying to land a veteran in the
> final year of their contract (Bryon Russell, Charles Oakley, Voshon
> Lenard, Walt Williams, etc.), so they can wipe Brown's contract off
> the
> books for next year and get another body for the playoff run (goes to
> show you how much they think Joe Johnson can help them this season).
> I
> don't think anything will happen.
>
> Fortunately for Chris Wallace, he runs a basketball team in a city
> where
> A) the sports radio stations ignore the NBA, and B) there isn't one
> local beat writer who seems to follow the sport and/or would dare to
> write anything slamming the team. He's getting a free ride, that's
> the
> bottom line. Just because you're a nice guy doesn't mean you're a
> good
> GM. Look at every move the Patriots made over the past two seasons,
> then
> compare Wallace's moves over the past four years. Have the Celtics
> made
> a single move that you could say, "Wow, that was a great move!" other
> than taking Pierce at #10 when he fell right into their laps?
>
> Anyway, I'm appearing on McDonough's show this Friday -- hopefully we
> can discuss the Celtics in detail because I'm itching to bring this
> stuff up.