To Wyc: Help wanted, at the point.

[JB <jimmetz@xxxxxxx>]

	Mr. Grousbeck;
	I'd first like to praise you for revealing yourself as a list member. 
There is something satisfying to know, not only that you are listening 
to the rants of the fans, but that you are up front enough to let us 
know you are.  It could get tough here, if things go poorly for the 
team. As it was, the criticism was knee deep, when it was reported that 
Ainge was only allowed thirteen roster players, in spite of the higher 
than predicted luxury tax threshold and the windfall from the Charlotte 
franchise, enriching team coffers.
	I am a long time fan. I remember the days of "Fat Freddie" Scolarie, 
"Bullet Bob" Branum and "Red" Auerbach, when he wasn't known as a 
basketball genius. In fact his first major move, toward his first 
championship, was the luck of another team taking Andy Phillip, in a 
dispersal draft and being "stuck" with Bob Cousy.
	Anyway, I'm frightened to death about this upcoming season. I see a 
major battle between the old, walk it up, isolation, offensive style, 
of Walker/O'Brien and the new, fast paced, point guard oriented, 
philosophy of Banks/Ainge. My anxiety arises over the probability that 
Banks will not play 48 minutes a game and that we have no one to back 
up at the point. We have all seen too much basketball to think that 
Tony Delk or Mike James can run an offense.
	Travis Best is still unsigned. Kenny Anderson, Mark Jackson and 
Jacques Vaughn are also pure point guards who could play 15 to 25 
minutes a game and give us consistency of, not just style, but the 
message that Walker will not be the focus of the offense and that we 
will have a distributer on the floor, that will not defer to our high 
turnover, poor shooting, captains, but will look for the open man and 
encourage motion of players, off the ball, to get free for open looks.
	I am afraid, as I said, that if we don't get 48 minutes of point 
guard, it will be the same old "stuff." How can a team play 24-30 
minutes of point guard oriented ball and then 18-24 minutes of O'Bie 
ball? It sends a rotten message. It won't work. Vested interests may 
attempt to sabotage the point guard, to make the other option look more 
successful.
	I like Jimmy O'Brien. I think he has done a great job, in spite of 
poor personnel decisions, poor drafting and a limited offensive system. 
The players like him and have worked very hard for him, particularly on 
defense, where the team has performed admirably and earned their 
playoff appearances.
	It is my opinion that you are leaving O'Brien out to dry and that 
without another "pure" point guard, the offense will degenerate into a 
"schizo" tractor pull and Danny will have to fire O'Brien, to 
straighten out the mess, but too late; the damage will be done and the 
team will be split into factions and all will suffer. The "three year 
plan" may drift like sand on a dessert and not only will we lose our 
big hearted captain; Walker, but our true superstar; Paul Pierce, may 
not resign, when his contract comes up in two years.
	I know you don't operate in a vacuum, but Danny likes you, he will 
listen.
		
	JB

Unchain My Heart!