It's a shame how fiercely judgemental people / "experts" and others are when it comes to these young guys.
What were they saying about Whiteside?
I was and still am confounded by the negativity on Austin at such a young age. Have we not learned that the NBA is super tough and some guys need time?
I'm not saying Austin is amazing .... but he's certainly proven he's nowhere close to the dog doo he's been characterized by many Internet experts (not even referring to Celticsblog). The 2nd rounder didn't seem like much at the time. I'd rather have kept him to see what we had and have a chance at a cheap resign or for use in a summer trade bundle.
There's not much room for middle ground for most online posters. It's either "hate him" or "love him". If you're not a star immediately, you're a bust.
While there are some players whose college careers will never translate to becoming a premier NBA talent, there are others who still need to be chiseled here and there, rough edges smoothed, flaws corrected, etc. Sometimes these take years...but in our generation of "give me what I want yesterday", it's hard to afford them the time to reach their potential.
Enter Austin Rivers...how much of what we are seeing lately with him is his talent level and how much is his relationship with his dad? We will see in the coming years.
I wish all NBA players, as I do all people, to be the best they can be...you look for the best in all people and express that to them, then that gives them incentive to reach that kind of goal. It's how I can look at our mish mashed team of players and realizing...they ARE a team, and that gave them the success they had late in the year.
You're right...there is a lot of negativity. Would that we could turn a switch and change that to positivity, across the Internet. Think about all the good that would come of it.
Congrats Austin...keep up the good work...make your dad proud, and your mom too since it's Mother's day
Rak
