Re: The remaining games

[Cecil <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hunter:  Get in there and grab some boards, but make sure you don't give it
your best.  We want to tank.
Chucky:  Get in there and help our guys learn the proper way to run a fast
break and move the basketball, but make sure you don't do it too well.  We
want to tank.
Pierce:  Get in there and get us some points, but make sure you miss alot
too.  We want to tank.

C'mon people.  There is no way on earth that these athletes want anything
less than the playoffs and that is precisely where their heads should be.
Show me a player who would rather miss out on the playoffs and I'll show you
someone I don't want on the Celtics.  If management wants to pay out
millions of dollars, I doubt that they would not want the added playoff
revenue.  Wyc may correct me if I'm wrong.

I remember sending a message about Hunter when we drafted him saying I hope
this meant the end of the last 7-foot stiff we had (Bruno) because I knew
Hunter would turn into the best rebounder on the team after having seen him
play.  You cannot teach effort like his.  You either have it or you don't.
You don't lead the nation in rebounding a couple years by fluke, not with
the level of desire and commitment it takes to excel at that aspect of the
game.

If Carroll doesn't frig up the substitution patterns completely, I would not
be surprised if this team makes the playoffs...something that each player
should be setting as their goal.

Cecil

----- Original Message -----
From: Josh Ozersky <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx>; <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: The remaining games


> Funny you mention Bird.  He's the example I always use
> when arguing for the tank.  What would Celtics history
> be like if the 1978 team, with Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe,
> had pulled it together and won a few game late in the season,
> making the playoffs and allowing the young players to get
> winning attitude?  They would have been a better team next
> year, and they would have lost Larry Bird.
>
> Josh
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx>
> To: <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>; <wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2004 10:54 AM
> Subject: Re: The remaining games
>
>
> > I'm on the other side of this one. If you have 60% of your team, they
are
> > very young and they are all except for PP playoff virgins, you want them
> to get
> > in their and see what it is all about. Get the jitters out. Give them
> something
> > to work in the offseason for. You can see incredible growth in the
> playoffs.
> > Having a top 3-5 player never guaranteed anything. That is just a stat
> (Bird
> > wasn't a top 3 pick)....However, we probably don't have to worry about
it
> > anyways with our leaky Harter defense.....
> >
> > DJessen33
> >
> > << Gotta say I'm with Ray on this one.  If you can't
> >  do serious damage, you have to tank.  Have to.
> >  Other than the current Lakers, there isn't a team
> >  in the NBA in the last 25 years that wasn't built
> >  around top five picks.  (And usually top three
> >  picks.)
> >
> >  Josh >>