Apples and Oranges

[Berry, Mark S]

Danny and Doc have made it very clear that Al didn't work hard enough
last offseason -- and I think that showed. He was out of shape all
season. When the organization is questioning his work ethic, I take it
seriously.

Jermaine's Indy teams have been close to the Finals. He has been undone
the last two seasons by Ron Artest and a group of chronically injured
teammates. As I've said, the only question I have about JO is his own
injury history. Will he hold up?

He's not Duncan or Garnett, but short of those two he's right there with
the best PF/C types in the league (Shaq, of course, being in a league
all his own).

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Josh Ozersky
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 2:54 PM
To: The Boston Celtics Mailing List
Subject: Re: Apples and Oranges

I just don't see this.  How is Jermaine a game-changer?
What game has he ever changed?  and how has Al's
lack of desire showed itself?  In his willingness to have
a devastating ankle injury?  or what?

Josh

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Berry, Mark S" <berrym at BATTELLE.ORG>
To: "The Boston Celtics Mailing List" <celtics at igtc.com>
Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 10:45 AM
Subject: RE: Apples and Oranges


> Gene, if you want to argue Al will be better someday, fine. But come
on.
> Al was a colossal disappointment this season, and part of that is
> because of his lack of desire. Al is going to have to work very, very
> hard to ever reach Jermaine O'Neal's level. 
> 
> I'm not sold on trading Al but if you do it, then a guy like O'Neal is
> exactly who they should be targeting. He's a sure thing in the prime
of
> his career. A game-changer. 
> 
> Now, do I have questions about his injury history? Sure. But that is
the
> extent of my concern on Jermaine O'Neal. He handled the Artest stuff
as
> well as any player possibly could. He carried a bad Indiana team last
> season and this (when healthy). 
> 
> I'll in no way be disappointed if we start camp with Al on the roster.
> But to get this attached to anyone -- to the point where you argue
he's
> better than Jermaine O'Neal (he wasn't better than Raef LaFrentz!) --
is
> counterproductive.
> 
> Mark
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
> Behalf Of gene kirkpatrick
> Sent: Monday, May 08, 2006 10:14 AM
> To: celtics at igtc.com
> Subject: re: Apples and Oranges
> 
> I interrupt my reading of this discussion to state my firm belief that
> Al is better than O'Neal right now.  Sure, if they were on the same
> team, you would start O'Neal but you would see Al doing things (mainly
> on offense) that JO can't do.  Do any of you remember the games when
Al
> overwhelmed JO last year, or again early this year?  Al is better
> offensively than JO is defensively right now.  Sure Al has to fill in
> the gaps of his defensive game, but we're looking at a superior talent
> in Al and that can be seen already--the preceding is an opinion based
on
> watching Al eat JO's lunch in various games.  Furthermore, Al has the
> desire that JO doesn't seem to be able to call upon.  Sometimes, I
think
> you trade potential for actual, but not Al's level of potential.
Let's
> recall this thread next December and note Al's progress.  I've seen
> enough to crown him.  Now, back to reading your interesting
discussion.
> Gene
> 
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