Re: Byron Scott doesn't know when to shut up

[Cecil <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Mark,

Byron is an idiot, was an idiot when he was with the Lakers and is lucky to
be coach of a team who has been blessed with some decent talent.  It's not
as if he is outcoaching Obie but rather his team is playing well when it
must.  Some will credit him for this fact but that is like giving credit to
Riley for having Magic on his team.  Or Jackson for having Jordan and now
Shaq/Kobe.

Regarding Bob Ryan...I saw Sports Final when it was broadcast Sunday night.
I'm not so sure you would be blaming Lobel had you seen it.  In no way did
Lobel try to egg him on.  In fact he said "you don't really mean that" to
which Ryan stated "yes I do".  He was wrong and he had to have known it for
he has simply been around too long not to know better.  His comments were
stupid just like Jimmy the Greek Snyder and that other dickhead, Al
Campanis.  But another poster made a good point in stating that Jason Kidd
assaulted his wife and did not miss a paycheck.  Allen Iverson chases down
his wife with a gun and he doesn't miss a check.  Jose Canseco rams his
wife's (ex-wife's) car from behind and gets more chances.  Blazer teammates
beat the crap out of each other, get caught smoking grass and still play
after a game or two.  Bob Ryan opens his big yapper and he gets suspended
for a month WITHOUT PAY?!?!?!  Doesn't anyone have a problem with this?  He
never touched Mrs. Kidd yet he loses a month's wages.  I don't know how fair
that is.  Better than getting fired I spose but a tad excessive even though
I did not agree with his comments when I was listening to them live.  But it
wasn't Lobel who kept prodding the issue.

There is no racial angle to this story AFAIC.

This team WAS built around Walker....until Pierce played like Superman last
year in the playoffs.  From that awesome game against Jersey to this point,
this is Pierce's team.  Even Walker has mentioned that Paul is the go-to
scorer.  He is willing to play a subordinate role.  But he is playing poorly
at the moment.  For whatever the reason, he must pick it up starting right
now.  I believe the Nets will foul the crap outta Pierce each time he drives
and try to wear him down physically.  I know this is no news flash to anyone
but I fear it could be particularly brutal in Boston just to make their
statement.  I'd like to see us ride Delk's hot hand, if he's on, later in
the game, rather than earlier because we know they are going to collapse on
Pierce.  I've also noticed that Delk seems to be making an attempt to get
inside a bit more and get a bunny for a teammate.  I like that.

Cecil


----- Original Message -----
From: Berry, Mark S <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>
To: <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 5:54 PM
Subject: Byron Scott doesn't know when to shut up


> Very smart. Piss off an entire city and the opposing team's fans just
before
> you travel there for two playoff games. Great strategy.
>
> And the black-white thing is so clichid and, as usual, uncalled for.
Celtics
> fans hated Bill Laimbeer as much as they've hated any player. For MOST
fans,
> it has nothing to do with race; it's all about hating guys on the other
> side. There are a few racist idiots everywhere, and in that sense, Boston
is
> no different. But I refuse to believe it's a collective thing. I hate this
> kind of crap.
>
> One other thing on the non-basketball items in the news during this
playoff
> series... Bob Ryan was dumb for saying what he did, but Bob Lobel did him
no
> favors by jumping on what obviously was something said for affect and
> pulling his Ted Koppel "I'm going to give you a chance to retract that...
"
> act. That's what got Ryan in trouble. If Lobel simply continues the
> conversation, it never becomes an issue. But he drew a lot of attention to
> what, in reading about it (since I didn't see it), sounds to me like just
a
> dumb turn of phrase someone might use to make a point. Another thing about
> this... flip around the talk radio dial for 10 minutes and see how many
> things you hear said that, if taken out of context and magnified through
> commentary, are 100 times worse than what Ryan said. You'll be surprised.
> But Ryan got caught by the PC police, and the Globe went overboard in
> reacting to it. It stinks.
>
> Finally, Josh I don't think anyone is suggesting the Celtics will be
better
> simply by getting rid of Antoine. If anyone is saying that, I missed it.
But
> trading Antoine is the one way to help this franchise take the next step.
As
> for Antoine playing his heart out for the Celtics... When the ball goes
up,
> yes. But how many times was Antoine asked to either slim down to play
small
> forward or bulk up to play power forward? How many times did he come into
> camp out of shape? He quit on Pitino, and he owns Obie. No question he can
> be a warrior when the ball goes up (although that effort isn't always
> directed toward the best for the team), but it's not as if Antoine has
> always been the loyal, hard-working soldier. He's a mixed bag, and
everyone
> has their own opinion. Personally, I just don't believe this team will
ever
> progress much beyond where it is now as long as he's calling the shots
(and
> he is calling the shots). The whole team is built around him, and whether
> you love him or not, you have to admit he's a flawed player. Like you
said,
> he'd be best as a complementary player. Instead, the team is constructed
> around him and the offensive strategy is dictated by his preferences.
Until
> you change that, the team you see now is the team you'll be stuck with.
>
> Mark