More than one, less than four

[Berry, Mark S]

I don't completely disagree. I was really down on Al at the end of the
season, but there is a reason the term "sophomore slump" exists. Guys
often slack off after a successful first season and learn a hard lesson
the next. I think -- hope -- that happened with Al. I'm willing to give
him the chance to rebound.

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: celtics-bounces at igtc.com [mailto:celtics-bounces at igtc.com] On
Behalf Of Ryan, Patrick S Maj RES USAFR 439 MSG
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 1:11 PM
To: celtics at igtc.com
Subject: More than one, less than four

It appears I am less forgiving then most. That's okay - to each their
own.
My basis of belief is NOT just this summer league as is the contention,
it
is two years of past work in season (three summer leagues total as well)
wherein overall improvement has not been evident to me, in fact just the
opposite in some areas (post play especially).  

 

Much the same can be said for many of our youthful players...all of the
talk
is "oooooh, keep our young players they're so full of potential".  I
agree
on that point, but potential unrealized after three years isn't
potential
anymore.  I'm not advocating a Billups - trade em after 6 months, but at
the
same time I am not patient enough to wait six years before a player
fulfills
that potential (just in time for a contract year wherein we get outbid
by a
better cap positioned/larger market/warmer climate team).  In other
words I
don't want the Celtics to be the rest of the league's farm system like
so
many other franchises have become.  

 

The progression should be: first year - learn the NBA, see the speed,
get
some playing time but be terribly inconsistent.  Second year, big leap
in
consistency (instead of yo-yo-ing the points, rebounds, assists what
ever
that players skill is, stay pretty much around their average every game)
with some slumps that last a week or so of games, much better "NBA
body",
better conditioned.  Third year, the "breakout" consistently hits
averages
which are increased over first two years, definite "NBA body", adjusts
to
new wrinkles other teams throw at him, very few games off average, (if a
"Star" one or two WOW games per month where the averages are totally
eclipsed).  I don't think any of that is expecting too much.  You
play...to
win...the game! I see it in my college girls every year - if they don't
"get
it" by their junior year - they never will with maybe 1-2 exceptions
every
couple years.

 

And just to let everyone know - I'll be just as hard on the other
"potential
stars" in their third year - Green especially. For me it's the price of
hype
- if your agent tells everyone "he should've been the number three pick"
-
then that player darn well better outplay the number three pick and
everyone
else taken before him too.

 

Okay, enough negativity...I'll say no more on the subject and let it
die.

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