which coach?

[Eric Albert]

>Mark Berry wrote:
> 
>I thought Tommy was going to punch Cousy a couple of times last
>night. Cous was calling the Celts out on their terrible play and Tommy
>kept making excuses. It was even more awkward than usual.

Huh.  I didn't get that at all.  I thought Tommy was mostly agreeing.
In general, I think Tommy's been pointing out the flaws with the
Celtics much more this year, starting during the preseason.

A bunch of times, for example, Tommy's talked about Telfair not
pushing the ball, and, in almost every game, he's called out in
exasperation when Telfair doesn't seem someone ahead of him up
the court.  (Tommy did this several times last night.)  He's talked
several times about Tony "trying to do too much."  (Is there a
better candidate for understatement of the season?)

My experience with Tommy is that he makes excuses when the
team is bad (or, to be more charitable, he explains why they're
doing the best they can) and is fairly straightforward when the
team has some talent.  So, I think his increasingly pointed
comments are a good sign.

Of course, Tommy is always going to see things on the sunny side.
A bit of that's spin, but most, I feel, is his actual personality.
Personally, I like it.  I can understand why he drives some people
crazy, and why Cousy's no-spin style can be refreshing.  But I
watch basketball for pleasure, and I prefer my companions to be
cheerful, even when (especially when) I'm not.

-- Eric