Re: random things make you say Hmmmm

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Ravi,

I don't know where you and Mark get the idea that
Pierce is a ball-hogging offense killer.  He does
do that without a coach, but so would any top-flight
scorer.  If anything, Pierce's flaw is in being too comfortable
as another cog in the machine.  The guy was schooled
well by Roy Williams, and knows what it means to 
play within a team context.  You're talking about Jerry
Stackhouse, not Paul Pierce.

Josh

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Celtics@xxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 10:03 PM
Subject: RE: random things make you say Hmmmm


> Josh,
> 
> Assuming, as you say, Pierce does deliver, the point is, I don't believe
> he fits with the type of game Ainge wants to see in Boston.  Pierce's
> game appears to be best suited to the Michael Jordan style of
> one-star-dominating-the-ball type of basketball with all other scoring
> options feeding off of that star.  In any event,  I think, well at least
> I hope, that style of basketball is a thing of the past and that the NBA
> is moving towards TEAM basketball again. The Paul Pierce show needs to
> stop in order for a real offense to start, in my opinion. Can a new
> coach remake him?  Perhaps, but I'm not so sure and how long does Ainge
> want to wait to find out?  
> 
> Ravi
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Josh Ozersky
> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 6:36 PM
> To: Celtics@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: random things make you say Hmmmm
> 
> 
> No way.  Put me down as unalterably opposed to these
> two deals and anything like them.  The Celtics need a 
> legit superstar.  You can talk about Pierce's bad habits
> all you want, but he delivers.  I don't trade him for anybody that
> doesn't deliver.  There are plenty of big bodies and fluid jumpshooters
> out there, but only a handful of legitimate
> stars.   
> 
> Josh
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "R. Singh" <keltsfan@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <Celtics@xxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 8:15 PM
> Subject: RE: random things make you say Hmmmm
> 
> 
> > Mark,
> > 
> > I'm of the opinion that at his age, and at this point in his career, 
> > Pierce will not be able to make the adjustment necessary to facilitate
> 
> > Ainge's vision of smart, running-based basketball.  Not as a Celtic 
> > anyway.
> > 
> > I think the Celtics need to see what is available for Pierce this 
> > summer and make a blockbuster deal that brings in a player(s) that 
> > better fits what Ainge wants.  I think guys like Welsch and Davis fit 
> > the plan given their solid basketball IQ's and their all-around 
> > offensive abilities and it appears there is some high school, college 
> > and Euro-talent that could fit in the longer term.
> > 
> > I still like the thought of the Celtics proposing a Pierce for Ray 
> > Allen and the Sonics lotto pick. I think the Sonics would seriously 
> > consider it given they are concerned that Allen, who is a free agent 
> > after next season, will demand more than they can pay.  The Sonics get
> 
> > a young star locked into a long term deal.  The Celtics get Allen, a 
> > better fit for Ainge's master plan, and a another first round pick to 
> > use to swing for the fences. The concern with Allen is that he is 
> > injury prone and several years older than Pierce but the additional 
> > lottery pick mitigates against these issues.
> > 
> > Also, I wouldn't be opposed to a deal involving Eddie Curry, the Bulls
> 
> > lotto pick and cap fodder.  Curry is a huge talent and with the proper
> 
> > coaching (i.e. Phil Jackson or someone of that stature) might just 
> > become a monster inside. It's a gamble for sure, but with Curry, a 
> > potential #1 pick in the draft to add to the three other first round 
> > picks, Ainge may be able to very quickly remake this team with the 
> > players that are required to play a Kings style game.
> > 
> > Ravi
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-celtics@xxxxxxxx] On Behalf
> 
> > Of Berry, Mark S
> > Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2004 11:16 AM
> > To: Celtics@xxxxxxxx
> > Subject: RE: random things make you say Hmmmm
> > 
> > 
> > This is a great point. I've been down on Pierce this season, but I 
> > would like to see what happens with the new coach. If it's the same 
> > old thing, then I think Pierce is the guy you'll have to trade. It 
> > would be nice to know that now, but instead we have John Carroll - who
> 
> > is like a fourth-generation photocopy of Obie.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > The announcers on the Rockets-Suns game said a couple of really 
> > interesting things last night. First, late in the game, the Rockets 
> > took a couple of bad three-pointers. I think Francis took one, and I 
> > know Mobley took one. The two color guys - Steve Kerr and Mike 
> > Fratello - talked about those being bad shots, especially with Yao 
> > dominating inside, but said the players had developed bad habits after
> 
> > so many years under the Tomjanovich system. Rudy T had embraced that 
> > kind of play late in his career, allowing Francis and Mobley to bomb 
> > away. Kerr and Fratello said the players took those shots in the past,
> 
> > and still don't recognize them as bad shots now. This is my fear with 
> > Pierce. Have Obie and Carroll created too many bad habits? Is he going
> 
> > to be able to resist the coast-to-coast drives, the quick 
> > three-pointers, the step-back 20-footers? Tommy questioned it the 
> > other night, actually saying "I don't know if he's ever going to get 
> > it ... " when Pierce drove wildly into traffic. Anyway, I hope a new 
> > coach changes Pierce, but I fear that the damage is done.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Secondly, they said the key relationship in a team is the relationship
> 
> > between the head coach and the best player. If that best player buys 
> > into what you're doing, everyone will follow. If the best player 
> > doesn't buy in, you're doomed. Again, this comes back to Pierce. Is he
> 
> > willing to change his game? Will he accept having the ball out of his 
> > hands, sharing the load offensively and becoming a finisher instead of
> 
> > a creator? If so, great. But if not, he'll have to go. That's for 
> > Danny and the new coach to figure out.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Mark
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- --- ---
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Ravi wrote:
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I think the more important point with respect to impact is whether or 
> > not Pierce has a positive or negative one with respect to Ainge's 
> > vision/plan.
> > 
> > Once that is determined then the Celtics will have a better idea of 
> > whom they might/should trade.