Re: Early trouble in Pitino's place

["K. Kveraga" <6166kkver@umbsky.cc.umb.edu>]

- ----------
> From: Georgek27@aol.com
> To: damekmo@teleport.com; celtics@igtc.com
> Subject: Re: Early trouble in Pitino's place
> Date: Tuesday, November 11, 1997 10:01 PM

> this season for the Grizzlies - looks like a great career move!  Maasenburg
> is a role player who could not adapt to the uptempo, frantic style Pitino
> employs so he's gone. He's happy and I will be too as soon as Rogers is
> activated.

The great mystery remains: why was he signed in the first place? 
Also, can anybody tell me why Rogers is on the IL - does he have a legit
injury, is he being brought up to the required conditioning level, or is he
simply stashed away because of the logjam? 

> 
> As far as Billups goes I've read posts about him being unable to jump and not
> being fast enough but Rick made a pretty good point guard out of someone else
> with those qualities - Mark Jackson. Mark has had a significant NBA career. 

I wrote that about Billups, also adding that while it's not necessary to be a
great athlete to succeed in the NBA, it helps. It is true that Mark Jackson has
done well without much athletic talent (as have Hornacek, Mullin, Oakley et
al.), but we'd like our #3 pick to have a bit more than a "significant NBA
career". We're talking MJ, Grant Hill, Penny draft territory here, mind you,
not late second round. 

>I
> hope all this trade talk involving Billups is Pitino's way of lighting a fire
> under a player he feels is underachieving. 

We can only hope this method of lighting a fire doesn't backfire. Some among
the younger generation have a tendency to throw in the towel - sometimes
hitting the coach's face. 

> One more topic - Greg Minor. If Pitino continues to let him rot on the bench
> does anyone think he may ask out of his contract our even ask to be allowed
> to play in europe ala Dino? Even if we eat half his salary like with Dino it
> would ease the roster jam.

I seriously doubt Minor will do that (prove me wrong, Greg, please!) -
especially with that alimony to pay :) He just doesn't have Dino's options, in
Europe, or here. 

K. Kveraga