RE: Gaston and the 12th man

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

History question: when did the NBA move to a 12-man 
active roster? 

I somehow recall in the Cowens and early Bird years that 
the 11th man was the last guy to make the cut. I may be 
wrong actually, but I thought David Thirdkill was 
Boston's first "12th man". I remember it took me awhile 
to get used to that concept.

In any case, it goes without saying that coaching staffs 
were able to run their practices without complaint in the 
NBA past with just 12 players. 

Of course, a lot of other things were "retro" too, but 
now are viewed as necessities for the modern game. You 
sometimes had one job opening for coach/GM, you 
had "player-coaches", you didn't have video or strength 
coaches, you had canvas hightops etc.

I suppose this doesn't take away from the fact that 28 
other 2002 NBA teams (nearly all of them in the same 
luxury tax situation) have a minimum of 13 roster players.

And there is no debate as to whether this is 
a "basketball decision". Its all about the Benjamins.
 
Who's fault that is (Thanks Dad and Pond Scum versus Il 
Pagliaci and Air Wyc lavender&camomile scent boy) is 
extremely unclear at the moment. 

Last night lying in bed, it popped into my head that 
Shammond Williams will probably be wearing a Nets uniform 
by next summer. Let's face it, Shammond's had some 
serious "cha ching" moments this year, and I don't think 
we are the only people that have noticed. Chris Wallace 
will have to go find another guy like that at the league 
mimimum.

Those are the types of concerns you have in a "small 
market", cheapskate NBA town. We've had worse owners in 
Boston, and still managed to be competitive.

Also, all this debate about firing the brain trust (I 
don't mind if that happends). But without criticizing 
that owner prerogative, I'm wondering who comes to mind 
as a replacement (other than the popular NBA logo boy).

Everyone in the business seems roughly equally mediocre 
and mistake prone, if you want to focus on it.

I can't think of anyone who has drafted or traded 
exceptionally and consistently well, RELATIVE to draft 
position and/or budget.

Take Rod Thorn, who's the GM of the year. He can hang his 
hat on Richard Jefferson with good reason, but he landed 
RJ and two stiffs for Houston's Eddie Griffin, a younger 
and equally mind-blowing pure athlete. Its kind of a wash 
so far.

I have a suspicion that the Houston Rockets will reach 
the finals by the second half of this decade. All three 
Texas teams look tough for the long haul. Steve Francis 
is phenomenally talented. Last night, at least, Ming 
looked like Bill Walton at UCLA. If he's half as good as 
he looked (flawless), that's a guy I'd pay just to watch.


Joe H.


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