Re: Jackie Mac On Likely New Celtics President Danny Ainge

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Let's see you keep Antoine, but get AND PLAY
an effective traditional power forward.  If Obie
hadn't done everything to ruin Baker short of
pouring him Jagermeister shots, Antoine could
be playing some minutes at the three, abusing
Jefferson, and K-Mart would have to cover
Vin on the block, or let him abuse Jason Collins.
I'd fire Obie before I'd trade Antoine.

Josh

"KBMartin73" <kbmartin73@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20030508110040.26857.00000018@mb-m04.aol.com...
> I was an advocate of Ainge a couple years ago when Pitino was floundering.
I
> think he is an honorable guy who isn't afraid to take a step back in order
to
> take a leap forward, much like Bill Belichick has done with the Pats. I
haven't
> seen as many games this year as in the past but what I have seen is a team
that
> will finish with between 45-50 wins and exit the playoffs with GLARING
> weaknesses. If trading Walker is the answer I don't think Ainge would
hesitate.
> With all that Pierce brings to the table (especially toughness) a more
> complementary group of players would push him even higher. How many times
has
> Walker stalled this offense with his wild forays into the lane? How about
that
> shot-put layup hard off the glass? Or maybe the quick three with 19
seconds on
> the clock? I don't know how many times I've watched him make an easy shot
look
> impossible or dribble wildly off himself and turn the ball over. It
sickens me
> that this team has no REAL ball movement. It was the one thing that
endeared me
> to Adrian Griffin...he moved the ball and complemented his teammates
better
> than anyone else while he was here. He had a "knack" for getting it done.
He
> almost single-handedly shamed the team into sharing the ball. Until he
sprained
> his ankle in Chicago. He's healthy in Dallas and is the "key" on their
bench
> along with Najera. The perfect role player. Ainge would make this team
faster
> and more athletic. He went West and liked the speed and athleticism of his
new
> teammates and saw what could be done with it. After playing in the
mid-eighties
> with arguably the best passing team in NBA history Ainge has been able to
> reflect a bit more on what could be. A big athletic team that shares the
ball,
> gets to the line (Pierce), has a proven superstar (Pierce),and hurts other
> teams with speed. With two first rounders and Walker as trade Ainge SHOULD
be
> able to take his step back and leap forward almost immediately. He's also
gonna
> make sure Kedrick Brown...the most unknown commodity in the NBA...gets a
> chance. I'd be looking for the C's to let Wallace go almost right after
the
> playoffs and then immediately put Walker on the trading block for a first
> rounder and a big body. With Ainge being hired I would expect Obie to be
shown
> the door as well. In fairness, with this team, nobody could've done better
than
> him, and it will speak volumes on his resume when looking for another job.
> Unfortunately for him Wallace never got his ducks in a row and gave him
the
> players that could put him over the top. There is a saying in boxing that
> certain guys have a "puncher's chance". Meaning, that if he throws enough
> punches, he might get lucky and connect with a knockout blow. It does
happen.
> The C's will always have a puncher's chance in the playoffs IF their shots
are
> falling. Ainge will make sure they don't need it.