RE: Ainge On WEEI

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's my problem: There seems to be this suggestion that a new GM is going
to change the style of play for the team. When has that ever happened? Obie
will say what he has to say now, but when the season rolls around, we'll
still see the same guys out there. His answer will always bee the same:
"This style gives us the best chance to win." And in terms of the fast
break, he's probably right. There's no way this collection of players should
be pushed to run more-they're terrible at it. So they're not trading Walker
or Pierce, they're not using the mid-level exception, yet we are supposed to
expect a coach who has been to the playoffs each of the last two seasons and
was just rewarded for that with a contract extension worth $6 million to
scrap his system? And tell those same players that, despite what he said the
last two seasons, things are different now? Does anyone think a point guard
drafted at 16 is going to make a difference next season? Of course not.

No, I still think Ainge looks hard and long at what he can get for Antoine.
It's not as simple as saying "We want to run more." To run, you have to have
players capable of first, rebounding, and second, running. The Celtics are
the worst rebounding team and probably the worst running team in the league.
You have to change the personnel if you're going to change to a running
style.

Now, having said that, my biggest problem with the team isn't the lack of
running game (although that drives me crazy). My biggest problem is with the
half-court offense. No movement. No passing. Strictly one-on-one for the
captains and, if they can't get a shot off, a kick out. It's terrible
basketball. Unlike the lack of a running game, which I can understand with
the players on the roster, you'll never convince me that this style of
half-court offense gives them the best chance to win. Never. As long as I've
been watching basketball, I've never seen an example where a stagnant,
motionless, one-on-one, no-passing approach worked better than a
free-flowing, passing offense. Never. And I refuse to believe that this team
is so uniquely structured that this is the first time in the history of
basketball that the one-on-one, no-passing style is the best way to win. And
if the argument is that in order to get them to commit on defense, you have
to let them play that way on offense, then the players have to change.
Period. Nothing is going to change if you have the same coach and the same
players. And it's naove to think it will. 

The one encouraging quote from Ainge was about not paying attention to
comments about a coach made by players "who get to shoot whenever they
want." He sees it. He sees that those guys aren't being coached at all on
offense. But seeing it and doing something about it are two different
things. Obie won't change if the same players are back next season. He's
going to have to be forced to change-and I still say that means trading
Antoine and, most importantly, finding a point guard (and not one named
Kenny Anderson, Travis Best, Eric Strickland or Kirk Hinrich).

Mark

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Shawn Niles [mailto:shizzjr@hotmail.com] 
Sent:	Thursday, May 22, 2003 9:21 AM
To:	Celtic4Hire@AOL.com; Berry, Mark  S; celtics@igtc.com;
celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject:	Re: Ainge On WEEI

Here's what I think:

Danny probably realizes, as most of us should, that this team, is still 2-3 
years away at the earliest from competing for a championship. Even spending 
the mid-level right now does not change that. Signing someone there might 
win us a few more games, maybe even an extra playoff round, but I think 
Danny realizes that is not the ultimate goal. Why spend an exrta 13 million 
this year if it will not get you a championship? I think Danny figures don't

spend it now, take the lesser record, and better draft pick. Then in a year 
or 2 when the salary cap situation isn't as bleak, and you have better 
talent and a better team, then that is when the mid-level gets you that last

piece of the puzzle where you can really compete for a title.

If you were in Vegas and you were making a bet, but somehow you knew 
beforehand that you were definately going to LOSE the bet, would you bet $10

or $1000?


>From: Celtic4Hire@AOL.com
>To: berrym@BATTELLE.ORG, celtics@igtc.com, 
>celticsstuffgroup@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: Ainge On WEEI
>Date: Wed, 21 May 2003 17:41:10 EDT
>
>Then I would like to know how we are going to get any better. Same coach,
>even if we go up-tempo, we don't have enough talent to compete with the 
>Nets,
>especially with bargin basement players and point guards. Great job, Danny,
>of suckering those fool owners out of 15 millions dollars. Yeah, right, you
>are so much smarter than than the 15 GMs picking ahead of you that we are
>going to get a impact player at 16 that is going to solve all of our
>problems. Don't forget that Orlando is looking for a point guard picking at
>15...
>
>DJessen33
>
> > >- THE CELTICS ARE NOT USING THE MIDDLE CLASS EXCEPTION.>

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