Zero Local Interest In The Celtics

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Their TV ratings have bottomed out to an 0.4.  Women's College Basketball 
drew a higher rating than the Spurs game. 

What will change things next season?   

Certainly not a draft of 
not-so-ready-players, but with the real chance
of the Celtics making the playoffs, that's a distinct possibility. 

The return of LaFrentz?  That will help, but he's not exactly an impact player.

A great free agent signing to excite the masses. That would be a step in 
the right direction, but at $5.1 million, options are limited.  I'd give
Nocioni a shot, but there will be an adjustment period.

Marcus Banks improvement: But he's not a natural point guard.

A Brent Barry trade: Not a star, but better than Banks or Atkins.

Ricky Davis packaged with draft picks to bring in a star
or obtain a decent lottery pick: That may generate some interest.

Trading away Pierce: Depends what you get for him.

Finishing in the Lottery and luckily moving up to one of the Top 3 picks:
That would help.

Bringing in Paul Westphal: Very slight nudge up on the radar.

So, I'm not exactly sure what Ainge can do, and that trade for 
Atkins really screwed up a promising lottey pick. But it did help
the Pistons out a lot.
Ray