Chiquita Boy

[Joe Hironaka <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

I sense how  passionately Celts list-members dislike "Chiquita Boy"
(thanks, Jim Mennino) but I think it would be a mistake to ship Travis
Knight back to Tinseltown for an old dog like Eldon Cambell.

IMO, Travis Knight is a 24-year-old tyro who doesn't deserve yet to get
starter minutes for our Boston Celtics, but for sure he has plenty of
upside as an NBA player. For example, he may be a genuinely natural and
productive shotblocker and rebounder per minute (at least compared to
DeClerq) and he is a fine passer and distance shooter, which are rare
"bonus" skills for a center.

The big problem with "C-boy" is that he plays soft like a big Faker
pansy. But this problem may be curable:

1) He never played center in the NBA before last season. Without
technique and experience, you lack confidence with your eyes away from
the rim. Not everyone has Antoine's learning curve (although Toine also
has a long way to go in that department). I say give "Chica" another
year to learn the position. He needs to minimize herky-jerky movements
and he needs to lock his eyes on the rim (target acquisition) no matter
the big distractions. When Travis fully concentrates on the target, he
is actually pretty accurate (free throws etc). Someone else on our list
mentioned it first, but I think Travis should have gone to Hawaii to
attend Pete Newell's big-man camp (and also get some sun for goodness
sake). Plus, he should rent Jack Sikma videos, if they exist.
2) I've read that athletes (generally) cannot attain maximum size,
strength and explosiveness until they are 26-28 years old, no matter how
hard they train. This is true with pro body-builders/weight lifters. Or
just look at how Bird, Walton, Mailman,Ted Williams etc.'s physiques
changed at around that age, compared to when they entered the league.
Without strength you get pushed out of your shooting zone and rhythm.
Intense all-year-round mass-building is bound to affect the accuracy of
your shot a little too. I say let Bananarama-Boy's body fill out. He's
got a decent frame to build on, compared to a young Shawn Bradley or
Ralph Sampson.

For all we know, Travis might develop into the intense Celtics player we
ALL want him to be once he reaches a comfort zone in terms of technique
and strength. Then again, maybe not, but we shouldn't treat the big
white kid like some throw-away salary-cap refuse after just one season.
After all, it's easy for even pretty intense guys (and women) to lose
intensity and "game face" when you're thinking too hard about new
techniques or feel a bit overmatched physically.

Go Celtics,


Joe Hironaka


N.B.    I want to see how good Tim Duncan is the year Mr Robinson
retires, gets hurt or is traded. If Kevin McHale had been forced to play
center for a weak lotto team, his career path might have been totally
different. For the same reason, I think Marcus Camby could be an
absolute terror next year playing with a healthy Ewing. But I'm willing
to be wrong, of course.

****