Here's a partial repost from JB's list (in case you missed it)

[Eggcentric at aol.com]

> I think Ainge has done a better than average, though by no means 
> outstanding, job picking players. 
>      - Asterix

The lost years... four and counting

OK, so I'm impatient. When Ainge was hired, like most of you, 
I felt there was no hinge nor loop to hang a doubt on.   He was
an appealing ex-Celt and he spoke with confidence of a 
three-year window, not four years, six years, eight years, 
or ad infinitum.    And I believed him.

But then on horror's head, the horrors accumulated.   After Danny's 
first few moves, I began to question his strategy of returning 
our team to something even near equal to its past glory.   And 
although most here have tired of the fury in my words, I have 
found it frustrating that most have not understood my words.   
I have scorched the snake, but not killed it.   And all during
a period when the snake was killing himself. 

I have questioned how Danny could spend 90% of his time traveling 
around the US viewing college games, assuming that the best 
and ONLY WAY to improve our team was simply to stockpile late 
first-round or second-round picks.   And even if they were 
as Kim put it "drafted remarkably well, especially given where 
we've been slotted," most have turned out to have blatant flaws 
suggesting why they fell so deep in the drafts.  I have also wondered 
how some can still feel that our Dir. of Ops is all that terrific after 
fiddling/diddling with our roster for four seasons and yet to
come up with one satisfactory long-term answer at any position. 
Our needs essentially remain the same as four years ago.      

Only after failing to land a talented veteran with his accumulated 
“chips” this summer, has Danny realized ... you guessed it ... that
we better 

START OVER
START OVER
START OVER
START OVER

Starting over normally has an upbeat, optimistic ring to it. 
Unfortunately in this case, it translates into our   El Jefe being 
reduced to frenetic telephoning around the league, 
groveling/begging other teams to trade us ONE REAL PLAYER 
for any or all of our recent draft picks and overpriced cap fodder
(Theo, Wally).   

Quel pathetic.   This team exists to break our hearts.   Like Iraq, 
the damage has been done though faulty strategy, faulty 
appointments (Rivers), an undernourished budget (bottom-line 
owners), poor trades, poorer FA signings, and way way too much 

ARROGANCE
ARROGANCE
ARROGANCE
ARROGANCE

There is no quick-fix solution.   While my appetite has long been 
hoping for good digestion, my digestion is now hoping for 
the return of my appetite.    So, I'm just going to take a happy 
pill and keep repeating:    

THE VISION is coming 
THE VISION is coming 
THE VISION is coming 
THE VISION is coming 

Let's hope by then that Al Jefferson will not be working behind
a counter with a net over his long white beard, asking, "Would you
like fries with that?"   

Egg