Re: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend,Next Celtics Coach,Attack Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

So how is it that every time he gets two minutes, he ends
up with a couple of rebounds and a basket?  How can you
say he would get abused?  How do you know?  He sure wasn't
abused in the handful of minutes they grudginly doled out to
him so far.  And what is abused, anyway?  Someone might
score on him?  Is the guy supposed to wait until he's a full-blown
stopper before he gets five minutes of game time?  Gimme a break.

Josh

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 12:23 PM
Subject: RE: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend,Next Celtics Coach,Attack Of
The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades


> Josh,
>
> From the little I've seen, Kendrick is NOT ready. He hasn't adjusted to
> the speed of the NBA game yet and needs to continue to work on his body
> and develop what little athleticism he does possess to facilitate that
> adjustment. He appears eager to work based on how much his body has
> changed in the five months since training camp so that is a very
> positive sign but he would get abused on the court if he even played
> minor minutes.
>
> At this point, Mihm is a more interesting prospect. He's freakishly
> athletic for a big man, possesses good rebounding and shot blocking
> instincts and is a legitimate seven footer. Needs to work all summer on
> a couple of low post moves to free up his shot and also needs to shoot
> 500-1000 15-18 footers per day to expand his face the basket game.
>
> Ravi
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Josh Ozersky
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 8:43 AM
> To: Berry, Mark S; celtics list
> Subject: Re: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend,Next Celtics Coach,Attack
> Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
>
> Mark, I still don't see how we know Kendrick isn't ready.
> Says who?  He can't get backup minutes behind Mark Blount?
> How now ready is he?  And why?  All players should get a chance,
> whatever their age.  Darryl Dawkins was a big help to the sixers as a
> rookie.  Ditto Moses Malone in Portland.  Not that Kendrick is as good,
> but...they should play him as much as he deserves.  How can you "make
> sure he can hold his own" without playing him? What is he, anyway?
> eight years old?
>
> Josh
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>; "celtics list"
> <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 11:34 AM
> Subject: RE: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend,Next Celtics Coach,Attack
> Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
>
> Josh,
>
> On Kendrick ... I think he could contribute something, and would like to
> see him in small increments. But you play guys that young, you're going
> to lose. That's just the way it works. If your argument is the team is
> losing anyway, why not play Kendrick ... then that's fine. But I don't
> think they're ready to give up on the season. I think it's a stretch to
> believe Kendrick is ready to be a contributor on a winning team. He may
> be ready next season. It may be the season after. But if he plays big
> minutes right now, it's probably a sign they're giving up on the season.
> Is he better than Darko Milicic? There's plenty of time. Let's make sure
> he's ready to at least hold his own.
>
> On Pierce ... Two years ago, I would have put Pierce in the group right
> behind Shaq, Duncan, Garnett (who I love) and Kobe. Now, he's a notch or
> two lower. Like I said, I'd put him in there with Francis, Baron Davis,
> Iverson, Jermaine O'Neal, Stephon Marbury, Dirk Nowtizki, Steve Nash,
> Peja Stojakovic, Ray Allen ... They're the very good players, but below
> the top four, and a tick below Kidd and T-Mac. If they traded Pierce for
> any of those guys in the Francis, Davis group, I might not agree with
> it, but I'd agree the value is pretty comparable.
>
> It's all a matter of opinion. I just think Pierce is in the middle of a
> second straight "OK" season. He was just "OK" last year, when Antoine
> was there, so I don't buy the argument that he's struggling without
> Antoine. Maybe this is what he is. If so, that's still pretty good. But
> it's not GREAT.
>
> Mark
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Josh Ozersky [mailto:jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 11:05 AM
> To: Berry, Mark S; celtics list
> Subject: Re: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend,Next Celtics Coach,Attack
> Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
> Mark,
>
> two points:
>
> 1)  why is Kendrick not ready because of his calendar age?  And how is
> riding the pine going to get him ready.  He looks ready to me.  If he
> plays and he's bad, then you say he's not ready, and send him to Pete
> Newell's camp or something.  But if he can play, he should play.  He
> wouldn't be the first big man who contributed as a hardship case.
>
> 2)  Pierce:  I thought your list was interesting, because while I agree
> that Kobe, Shaq, and Duncan are clearly on another level, I don't think
> I would put Garnett in Pierce's league.  For all his stat-stuffing, you
> can't give KG the ball in the 4th quarter and tell him to carry the team
> to a win, let alone in the playoffs.  I would say that there is a 2nd
> tier of MVP players to  which Pierce belongs:  Iverson is in there too,
> along with Jason Kidd, Baron Davis, and maybe T-Mac, although he's never
> proved anything in the playoffs yet either.  Pierce needs another star,
> not just a big animal in the post.  Baker actually complemented him
> really well when he was sober...as did Antoine, for all his faults.  I
> think if we trade, it should be for a scoring big man, not lust another
> ox.
>
> Josh
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>; "celtics list"
> <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 10:46 AM
> Subject: RE: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend, Next Celtics Coach,Attack
> Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
>
> Believe me, Josh, I'm not saying you give Pierce away. I'm not even
> saying they should trade him. But I'll be watching very closely the rest
> of this season, and I'm betting Ainge will be too. Pierce had a great
> half-season after Pitino left, a great season after that, and has been
> good-not-great for the season and a half since. He hasn't made
> adjustments or added to his game. And he certainly hasn't responded well
> to adversity this season. He desperately needs an impact point guard -
> someone to be the leader on the floor and keep the team and Pierce
> focused. Pierce too easily becomes distracted and disinterested. If he's
> not going to be the leader, they need someone who will be. And that guy
> needs to be the point guard.
>
> On the big guys ... I don't consider Dampier just another guy,
> especially in the East. I think he'd be a nice bridge until Kendrick is
> ready. I wish that was today, but realistically it's hard to expect too
> much of the kid just a few months out of high school. No one is more
> excited about his potential than I am, but let's give him some time. You
> turn the season over to high school kids, and you're writing off the
> season altogether. And next season, too.
>
> Hunter is different. That's a four-year college guy with an NBA body
> losing minutes to Walter McCarty. I'm completely on board with playing
> Hunter some serious minutes.
>
> Anyway, let's watch this season and see what happens with Pierce. You
> consider him an MVP caliber player, and I'm not so sure he is. He's not
> on the Shaq-Duncan-Garnett-Kobe level. I'd argue he's a notch below
> T-Mac and Jason Kidd, as well. I'd put him in a group with Steve
> Francis, Baron Davis,
>
> Mark
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Josh Ozersky [mailto:jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 10:17 AM
> To: Berry, Mark S; celtics list
> Subject: Re: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend, Next Celtics Coach,Attack
> Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
> Mark,
>
> re Pierce:  I don't think it is that simple.  I remember you saying, in
> the twilight of the Pitino period, that Pierce was sulky and soft, and
> had quit on the coach, etc.  Afterwards, Pierce became an MVP type
> player for Obie.  You don't trade a guy like that except for another guy
> like that.  Period.  Pierce isn't a leader, isn't fiery like Bird or
> Antoine, doesn't respond well to pressure.  We know all that.  But we
> know what he is as a basketball player, and when all is said and done,
> he's also a good guy.  The Celtics need to get him an enforcer, not
> another big body like Erick Dampier.  Why does everyone take it for
> granted that Kendrick can't play for another three years?  He looks to
> me like he can play now.  Same with Hunter. Give him the minutes, and
> he'll give us the rebounds and toughness we need.  Even the point guard
> situation would resolve itself under a real coach.  The only trade we
> need right now is John Carroll for a pile of earth.
>
> Josh
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <Celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 9:38 AM
> Subject: Re: News Synopsis: Mills Cap Godsend, Next Celtics Coach,
> Attack Of The NY Trades, Best Player, Ainge Trades
>
>
> > Several things to mention:
> >
> >
> >
> > 1. The Knicks trade ... This is why I don't care about the media
> > criticism of Ainge. They actually seem to LIKE this trade for New
> York.
> > Look, I like Nazr Mohammed. He's a solid big guy. Not spectacular, but
>
> > solid. The contract isn't great, but it's not terrible either. He'd be
> a
> > decent pickup for anyone. BUT ... He is NOT a good pickup when he
> comes
> > attached to Tim Thomas. Tim Thomas may have the worst, most
> untradeable
> > contract left in the NBA now that Vin Baker's deal is being voided
> (more
> > on that in a minute). He has talent, but he doesn't play hard, shows
> up
> > about every fifth game and doesn't do anything that helps a team win.
> > Does this deal make the Knicks better? Maybe a little. Maybe not. But
> > are they a championship team? Are they even close? The answer,
> > obviously, is no. But where is their future? Thomas and Houston are
> > unmovable. Marbury could be traded, but he now is the face of the
> > franchise. Penny Hardaway's contract is ridiculous and has two more
> > seasons on it. Shandon Anderson is overpaid for three more seasons.
> > Mutombo has two more seasons. Moochie Norris' ridiculous deal has
> three
> > more seasons. Kurt Thomas is their best frontcourt player and he's a
> > free agent after the season. There are no young, tradeable assets left
>
> > unless you count Mike Sweetney. This roster is a mess, and I don't see
>
> > any way out. Isiah has guaranteed them Eastern Conference mediocrity
> for
> > years to come. On the other hand, I really like this deal for
> Milwaukee.
> > They not only dump one of the league's worst contracts, they add a
> > better player with a much better contract. I think Van Horn is a nice
> > fit there. Great deal for the Bucks.
> >
> >
> >
> > 2. Paul Westphal ... OK, I know I reneged on my "Westphal for coach"
> > push when I looked into his Seattle days, but do I get any
> credit
> > at all if Jersey Red's prediction comes true? Just a little?
> >
> >
> >
> > 3. The Mills contract ... The story from the Contra Costa Times is
> > interesting in that it came from the Contra Costa Times. That's a Bay
> > Area paper covering the Warriors. The Celtics are after Eric Dampier.
> > You wonder if there's a connection there.
> >
> >
> >
> > 4. Vin Baker ... Granted, I'm no lawyer, but this union grievance
> > that's forthcoming just baffles me. It was my understanding that the
> > union signed off on the agreement between Baker and the Celtics. Isn't
>
> > that right? The original agreement didn't pass muster with the union,
> so
> > they hammered out one that was acceptable to the union. So, when Baker
>
> > fails miserably under the terms of this agreement, and the Celtics
> > exercise their rights under the terms of that agreement, what grounds
> > does the union have for a grievance? Do we have any contract lawyers
> on
> > the list? Can someone explain this to me. I MIGHT be able to
> understand
> > if the agreement was unfairly punitive, but this one was exceedingly
> > forgiving. It took FOUR indiscretions by Baker to trigger this final
> > move. I just don't get it. Seems like a slam dunk to me. Of course,
> I'm
> > always wrong about this legal stuff.
> >
> >
> >
> > 5. Paul Pierce ... Forget everything else around this team. Forget
> > Ainge and trades and Ricky Davis and Vin Baker and the rookies. The
> rest
> > of this season has to be dedicated to finding out if Paul Pierce is
> the
> > guy to build this team around. I'm becoming less and less convinced.
> > He's had a pair of truly shameful performances in the past couple of
> > weeks - games where he basically lost/never had interest and didn't
> put
> > forth satisfactory effort. Add to this the fact that he hasn't made
> > necessary adjustments for a season and a half and the fact that teams
> > built around swingmen generally are also-rans (unless that swingman is
>
> > Michael Jordan), and you have to seriously consider the future and
> > Pierce's place in it. If Pierce plays like he did two seasons ago,
> he's
> > a building block. If he continues to play like he has the past season
> > and a half - and to lose interest like he has in the past month - he's
>
> > not. It's that simple.
> >
> >
> >
> > Mark