Re: Ainge - I think he does have a plan.

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 01:09 AM 7/27/2003 -0400, GuyClinch@xxxxxxx wrote:
> He certainly has a plan. He wants to turn the Celtics into a fast breaking
> team modeled after Phoenix and the Nets. Makes sense considering on how 
> Phoenix
> played and his experience with JKidd. Banks is the first step in that. 
> Kedrick
> fits in with that plan as well. I think it's a great plan because it fits
> with our personel, and the fans will love it.

I was somewhat boggled by the insistance that he didn't have a plan, 
myself. The moves may not all work out or you may not agree with them. But 
after a couple of years of management by committee muddle on top of 
Pitino's management by personal agenda, the one thing I've thought was 
crystal clear was that we DO have someone in charge with a plan. With some 
demonstrated some ability to implement it, starting with the Banks draft 
maneuvers. That wasn't Pierce falling into our laps by luck. While any good 
plan has multiple options and planned fallbacks if a primary target falls 
through, so you aren't left like Pitino, with nothing to do but whine about 
not getting Tim Duncan. Maybe the number of names and rumors floating 
around and things like turning elsewhere when Best was insisting on more 
money than we could offer is confusing the issue for some people.

Anyway, back to the draft and things like the subsequent signing of Hunter 
- not only did he clearly focus in on our biggest needs -PG, rebounding, 
long term solution at center especially if Tony continues to get injured. 
But those are also key holes to fill with his avowed plan --as Pete points 
out- that we are going to run more. We've got people who can fill the other 
roles on the wing and as trailer, at least to some degree. But to be most 
effective a running game needs a PG who can get out there, control of the 
defensive boards to set it off, and some control of the defensive middle to 
force outside shots with long rebounds. That's straight out of Red's book 
and lord knows we should know well enough how helpful those long rebounds 
can be to the other team.

Like I said, you may not agree with aspects of his plan or about particular 
players/moves - I wish we had let Walter walk, although I can understand 
the value of his bargain priced flexibility when you have roster 
constraints. And he warned up front that this was going to be a process, 
not a one year miracle, which may also have people tearing their hair out. 
But I don't see how you can see him as having no plan.

Kim