Nashua Telegraph: C's Could Use Leadership Change

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Thanks to Boston Sports Media Watch....



Wednesday, January 08, 2003

Celtics could use leadership change

By GARY FITZ, Nashua Telegraph Staff
sports@telegraph-nh.com


Now that the Celtics have new ownership, its time for new management.

Heads must roll because since Day 1 of the Rick Pitino regime, the
current decision-makers  including general manager Chris Wallace and
player personnel director Leo Papile  have scored poorly in terms of
talent evaluation, especially before a draft.

The opportunities missed will haunt this team for years. When Len Bias
dropped dead of a cocaine overdose the day after the 1986 draft, it set
the entire franchise back on its heels for at least a decade.

The 2001 draft may have a similar effect on the current franchise.

In one of deepest drafts in league history, the Celtics had three of the
top 21 picks. Certainly with one of those picks, youd have thought
theyd fill the obvious need at point guard. The Celtics passed  three
times  on both Jamaal Tinsley and Tony Parker, players they had seen up
close, in private workouts, just days before.

Both Tinsley and Parker have gone on to enjoy pretty solid starts to
their NBA careers in Indiana and San Antonio, respectively. Boston used
those three picks to select Kedrick Brown, Joe Johnson and Joseph Forte,
the latter two already having been traded away.

Who are the 2002-2003 Celtics? They are Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce and
a host of castoffs.

Dont forget, the best of the lot, Tony Battie, was given to Boston by
the Lakers for Travis Knight, easily the best move during the Pitino
cataclysm. But one of the worst moves was one of the first: signing
Knight to a ridiculous seven-year deal.

M.L. Carr, through all his buffoonery, made a brilliant move before the
1996 draft, moving up two spots to nab Walker with the sixth pick. Two
years later Pierce, projected to go in the top three, fell into Pitinos
lap at No. 10. Those two moves continue to keep the team competitive,
but the two all-stars are being overused and abused because theres so
little help. Should either player go down with an injury for an extended
period of time, last years Eastern Conference finalists could be right
back in the draft lottery.

Wallace and Papile are affable and approachable. They talk a great game.
They have also benefited from an incredible alibi machine.

All the early bad moves, from drafting a point guard who couldnt play
the point (Chauncey Billups) to the Kenny Anderson and Vitaly Potapenko
trades could be blamed on Pitino, who had the final say on everything.

But did Red Auerbach really convince them to take Forte over Tinsley and
Parker? And why would they listen?

When the Celtics pulled the trigger this summer on the trade nobody else
in the NBA would have made, strapping themselves to Vin Baker and his
bloated contract, it was all former owner Paul Gastons fault. Gaston
wouldnt exceed the salary cap and sign Rodney Rogers, so the Celtics
needed Baker to fill the void. They also felt they stole Bruno Sundov
from the Pacers.

The team has a way of compounding problems. Rather than keeping Anderson
and letting his contract run out this year, creating future cap
flexibility, they put themselves in salary cap hell for four years by
adding another eight-figure contract.

The Celtics need new leadership everywhere but the bench. Jim OBrien,
finally given a chance outside of Pitinos shadow, might be among the
top five coaches in the league. Its a shame he has to rely on two
players to be his top two scorers, rebounders and play-makers. Heck,
Pierce and Walker also lead the team in steals and turnovers. Pierce is
second to Battie in blocks.

Plus, because Walker and Pierce are the only two players defenses have
to stop, it may explain why both are shooting under 40 percent.

Facing a tough road trip, with stops in New Orleans, Dallas, San Antonio
and Houston, the Celtics (19-14) are in danger of slipping back toward
.500. In February they have a stretch when they play eight of nine on
the road.

By June, they may have a draft pick worth using.

Gary Fitz can be reached at 594-6469.