Re: Walker

[Fung Yee Danny Lim <dlim@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>]

Michael, I agree with much of what you wrote. It is good to see that you
are not entirely partial in your appraisal. The problem is, short of
resigning him, there really aren't that many attractive options left out
there. As I wrote before, there aren't many even value trades to be made
out there, especially considering the fact that the team that gets him
faces the problem of resigning him too. I am of the opinion though, that
he has shown the talent and ability to do what is required of a franchise
player and were we to sign him for a long term contract, it would pay off
as he improves. There's one thing that seriously worries me though - his
FG%. I've never seen a player significantly improve his FG% throughout his
career while scoring the same number of points. FT%, yes, but not FG%.
High percentage shooters were that way from the time the came into the
league. I mean, you name him: Bird, Jordan, Webber, Sabonis, Hill, Willis.
Also, low percentage shooters tend to stay that way: Iverson, Wilkins,
Stackhouse. I sincerely hope he proves me wrong now. -Danny

> The main reason for my comments about Antoine is that I haven't seen
> enough of him to convince me that he can be that kind of franchise player.
> On the plus side, I have seen enough to convince me that he will be a star
> player in the NBA (if he isn't already).  
> 
> What worries me about Antoine is the kind of mistakes he tends to make.
> He doesn't pass well out of double and triple teams - is that because he
> hasn't learned how yet or because he wants to score himself on every play?
> He also rarely passes when running the fast break, and as a result the
> Celtics struggle to get easy baskets on the fast break.  Walker often ends
> up taking difficult shots, not easy ones.  Finally, he is a poor free
> throw shooter despite having an excellent shot from the floor - free throw
> shooting is one important part of his game that he doesn't work hard
> enough at.
> 
> Based on that, I am not yet convinced that Walker is capable of being the
> number one star on a championship team (nor am I convinced that he isn't).
> Time will certainly tell, but the Celtics don't have much more time before
> they must make their decision - either commit the whole future to Walker,
> or trade him?  I certainly don't know the answer, but I do think that Rick
> Pitino is as qualified as anyone to make the decision.
> 
> Michael Byrnes
> mbyrnes@stanford.edu
> 
> 
>