RE: 2002-2003 Celtic Record

["James A. Hill" <jahill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

So why get all "Chicken Little" about it?  (To steal a line from Bird).

I liked JJ but with him we wouldn't have been able to rent Rogers last year
or get Delk, who they must have wanted over two rookies  (JJ + pick).  The
playoff experience was an important learning experience for our Captains,
IMO.  Was it worth it?  Don't know about that.

Walker and Pierce are closer to being ready for the finals then they were
and the supporting cast is intriguing in what they can do.

There will be some interesting veteran FA's looking for a contract next year
when the musical chairs game stops and also before the trading deadline this
year as teams look to position themselves for the summer.  Having a big
contract to put into a multi team trade, aside from Walker and Pierce, along
with two 1st round picks, 3 current roster spots and 4-5 guys on expiring
contracts may have some benefits. We'll just have to see.  This will give us
the ability to trade for a guy that has an expiring contract in '03 or '04
that will need a raise.

We have most of our main group under contract until '05 at least, Pierce,
Battie, Delk, Brown, Baker.  E. Williams, S. Williams and Waltah won't get
big contracts again so they may still be around as might JR, Wolko and
Sundov.  In '04 you will be able to sign a big contract FA when Walkers
contract expires as we may be under the cap and then go over the cap to
resign Walker as our own FA.

I bet that '04 is the year that Wallace is building for.  By taking the
pressure off of Baker they will try to increase his value and either turn
him into a contributor or another trade.  I doubt KA had any value around
the league and Baker was the best they could do.  If Baker washes out here,
he may pull a Kemp and just retire anyway.  If he gets his game back he
could be a heck of a player to have.

But I still believe we have improved, overall, over last year.  Regardless
of whether others think I'm a cheerleader or not.

Hold on to those season tix.  The new owners may change things up or follow
the current program.  No one knows yet. Unless they trade away the Captains
or let Walker leave in '04 for nothing this team is only going to get better
as the guys hit their prime.  And Shaq's ongoing injuries can change the
playoff picture in a moment.

<Jim




-----Original Message-----
From: Douglas342@aol.com [mailto:Douglas342@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2002 12:44 AM
To: jahill@leasingservice.com; celtics@igtc.com
Subject: Re: 2002-2003 Celtic Record


In a message dated 10/24/2002 7:15:21 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
jahill@leasingservice.com writes:


Did anyone think that with KA, Rogers and Strickland we were going to beat a
Western team in the finals?  There wasn't a chance.

We needed change to have a chance.  It may not work out this year but it
certainly wasn't going to if we stood pat anyway.  We will need more change
as well to win a championship someday.



Of course we had no chance against the west; no one thought we did, and most
were delighted to get as far as we did.  But the gap between Boston and the
Lakers and Kings is so huge that the tinkering that has happened won't
change that gap.  With Baker and SWill, they may win a few more or a few
fewer games, but when you talk about Rings, the Celts are rearranging deck
chairs.  I said it last year and will say it again:  the road to a title
goes through LA, and as long as Shaq and Kobe are around, the freeway is
closed.