Re: A man with a plan?

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

> ---------- Initial message -----------
> 
> From    : owner-celtics@igtc.com
> To      : celtics@igtc.com
> Cc      : 
> Date    : Thu, 19 Sep 2002 10:12:16 EDT
> Subject : A man with a plan?
> 
>     Anyone else left scratching their head after 
reading this chat wrap?
>     
> Chris Wallace: It's difficult to accurately assess 
whether the team has 
> regressed or improved w/out the benefit of watching 
training camp and the 
> exhibition season. While there have been some changes 
to the roster and five 
> newcomers, the one thing I can say for certain is at 
least on paper this 
> edition of the Celtics has more offensive weapons than 
any of the five 
> previous Celtic teams I've been associated with. 
Shammond Williams is a 
> terrific long-distance shooter and should be a very 
potent offensive player 
> overall. JR Bremer was the fourth-leading scorer in the 
country last season. 
> Vin Baker is a proven accomplished scorer who has 
performed at the All-Star 
> level in the past. Bruno Sundov's ability to shoot the 
long ball and his 
> overall offensive skills should be very beneficial in 
Coach O'Brien's system. 
> And the last player we signed, Ruben Wolkowyski, can 
also shoot the 
> basketball. Add those five newcomers to the likes of 
Pierce and Walker, who 
> are two of the top 15 scorers in the league -- and 
don't forget Eric 
> Williams, who was one of the leading point-per-minute 
scorers at the SF 
> position for Denver prior to suffering an ACL injury in 
November 1997 and now 
> is physically as healthy as he's been in years -- and 
it's obvious that the 
> team has a potent and varied offensive arsenal. 


Hey Tammo, to me the kiss of death is when the GM starts 
talking as if every player is good to go for 20 a game. 
What's Chris thinking in saying Shammond Williams "should 
be a very potent offensive player overall"? There's only 
one ball to go around, Chris. 

After the whole USA Team summer experience, does Wallace 
not have any clue about team chemistry?

But there's one thing even more off-putting about this 
chat. I don't recall reading the press release about the 
Boston Celtics hiring a cheerleading captain. 

Maybe this is Wallace's sincere idea of maintaining good 
community relations. But that's not the GMs job in my 
view. 

Can you imagine any qualified GM, say a Bill Belichick, 
waving pom poms for each and every player like 
that?        

You'd expect the head of player evaluation to be saying 
stuff like: "Shammond is well aware that he has a dream 
opportunity for playing time in Boston, but he and our 
other point guards will need to earn their minutes 
through better defense and increased development in 
running an NBA offense". 

Okay, maybe not those exact words.  

But at least something better than "this guy is a 
fantastic offensive weapon whose 5 minutes per game 
career stats might be misleading to fans, that guy next 
to him is the reining 4th leading scorer in the known 
universe, the other new guy we got needs to chuck it up 
there at any opportunity if he knows what's good for 
him..." 

Even when Belichick was in similarly precarious job 
situations in the past, I'm sure he didn't hype his All 
Pro players and veterans, much less a bunch of career 
third stringers, out of some obligation to please the 
fans. As others pointed out, its patronizing.

I don't wish to condemn Chris Wallace just for being so 
enthusiastic. I love the Celtics too. I like our chances.

But as GM this guy shows zero gravitas. 

He ought to realize he's coming off sounding like a 
lightweight.

I won't say he's a bad GM, but he needs to cut some of 
that stuff out of his act. This is a 49-win team that 
didn't pay too outrageous a price (talent-wise) to add a 
legitimate starting center to the mix.

Plus the main problem in Boston is not the GM but 
ownership. I definitely haven't lost sight of that.
 
Joe H.


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