Re: Is it all worth it?

[Kim Malo <kimmalo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 04:29 PM 2/20/2004, Sean Giovanello wrote:
> Kim,
> I deleted your post after reading, but then decided I wanted to respond.
>
> Are you saying that we had less talent last year but played better and 
> less talent earlier this year and played better and now have more talent 
> but it translates into poorer play?

Nope, I may be verbose, but I'm actually shockingly straightforward and 
generally mean pretty much what I say. Which in this case never mentioned 
recent history or such comparisons. I was responding to the increased talk 
that Ainge's plan, if it even works, will take longer than people 
originally thought to do so. As in years and years and years. That seems to 
be largely a response to the increasing shipwreck we see on the court now, 
which IMO is distorting perceptions of what the real problems are vs what 
assets/positives we have.

Put another way, my point was that there are two different things that 
determine how good a team is. Any team. Talent and how it is used. Short of 
getting a franchise changing player like Bird, the one that takes the 
longest for change to fully blossom is talent. You not only have to get new 
and better players, you have to integrate them and develop them (even if 
they're veterans, they probably still have things to learn and learn not to 
do or they wouldn't have been available). OTOH, maximizing the effective 
use of what you do have can cause a much faster change for the better, even 
if it won't get you championships if you don't have enough talent. Look at 
when Obie took over from Pitino. Look at Phil Jackson's effect on the Bulls 
and Lakers, who had the talent but couldn't win before he arrived. Look at 
all the talk about why the Patriots won even though they didn't have the 
most talented players at most positions. Therefore once the Cs can get 
their act together about how to more effectively use what they have, and 
given the fact that Danny has actually improved the talent - we're deeper 
and more athletic no matter what you may think of individual deals (just 
compare last year's bench options and number of player with any hope of 
upside)- paired with a reasonable assumption that he will continue to do 
so, I think the improvement can be much faster than people think. And in 
fact will snowball once the organization and utilization is in place. It's 
unquestionably an if with the Cs though, and not one I'm sure Danny 
understands how to implement, because I don't think it's just about coaching.

As to playing better, it's not a straightforward yes or no and it's largely 
different players you'd be comparing anyway. I don't think there was the 
same chaos there is right now, but I disagreed with Obie on a number of 
things about effective use of what he had even though I don't think he's 
the total idiot source of evil many others do. And no, for cripes sake, 
that does not put me in some pro Obie or anti Obie "camp" where I only see 
things because of the camp I'm in. Man I am soooo tired of that sort of put 
down.

Kim
<snip for length>