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Re:Sick of the Antoine fat/shape crap

> Sorry Chris, I totally disagree.  Walker being out of shape created the poor
> tenor on the team in the beginning of the year.

He could't keep up and called phantom fouls in practice.

He couldn't get off the floor and was stuffed by almost every shotblocker in the
league as well as some not-very-often shotblockers.

When they started blocking his shots because he couldn't get in the air and it was
embarrising for him to go to the line, he started heaving everything from outside.

His lazy shot selections/ball hogging created much of the teams problems.

In a few games he worked hard on passing off instead of shooting an outside shot
with 19 sec. on the shot clock, He passed up open layup's to give his teammate the
points.  It was the basketball that is expected of a Captain.  Unfortunitly it was
displayed only a couple games all year.

I agree with you in that he "could be" a great player in the league.  But he isn't
there yet and I believe that without an attitude adjustment or a different
team/enviornment or team enviornment he won't ever reach his potential.

That said, I think Pitino is trying to create a certain "team enviornment" for the
players.  That was the reason for the new training facility.
That is the method to his maddness in these trades.  All the players he is adding
are hard workers.  If it help elevates the work ethic of Walker, Pierce, Battie and
whatever rookies that are drafted in the next 3 years to thier fullest potential,
you will have a special team.

I think Pitino expected Walker and Mercer together to bring that wok ethic to the
team.  They didn't in Pitino's mind, I would guess.  They didn't in my mind.

I think Pitino wants an apoligy to the coach Walker had the disagreement with.  And
I don't think they will offer Battie an extension until the court issue is fully
resolved.

If what I have guessed is accurate then we owe a certain credit to Pitino in those
regards.

The team is certainly better then it was 2 years ago.  Maybe not championship, but
better.

I'm willing to go another couple years before I change Pitino for another
Pres/GM/Coach.

If Walker doesn't change, his address will.  Pitino would never allow him to
disgrace his legacy.

<Jim

> Hey, folks,
>
>      I don't mean to get off on a rant but...I've been hearing a lot, both
> within (less) and outside (mostly) the list about how fat and out-of-shape, and
> thus awful, Antoine Walker was at the beginning of the season.  Strangely
> enough, during the 11 games of February he had his best statistical month of the
> season, averaging 20.9 points, 9.0 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals over 36.9
> minutes/ game.  During this time, the Celtics went 6-5.
>
>      I'm not arguing that he wasn't heavy.  I think he was. But to credit Walker
> with the demise of the season based on his coming to camp overweight is a crock.
> 11 games into the season he's no longer out of shape, he's pissed at Anderson
> and Pitino and messed up psychologically, not physically.  I think Walker has
> the talent to be one of the top 3 players in the game.  The GAME.  However, he's
> his own worst enemy.  Though this is no defense of him coming in out of shape,
> we do have to look at it contextually.  He thought that a) there was going to be
> no season, and b) that the Celts were probably going to trade him because of his
> contract demands ($100 mil).  Hey, he was fat, but but still a lot better than
> Baker and Kemp.
>
>      Everything changed when Walker and Anderson got pissed, Mercer started
> heaving up 18 shots a game, and Pierce got hurt/depressed/cowed by Pitino.
> March was shot to hell and with it the season.  Plus they traded Ringo, and what
> team wouldn't be affected by his departure.
>
>      Cheaney?  What the hell?  I would've gotten a 4/5 like Smacky, but
> whatever.  Rick's probably not done trading.  Hey, at the worst Calbert is
> better off the bench than Bowen or Minor.
>
>      So what's Walter going to do this season?  Get Pitino coffee?  Carry the
> balls?  There are no minutes for him at all.  Anywhere.
>
>      The first four people off the bench, even going positionally, are:
>
> Barros
> Cheaney
> Williams
> Battie
>
>      This is a lot more than we had last year.  Please, let this team stay
> together and see just how competitive it can be, which I think is very.
>
> Chris
Title: Sick of the Antoine-was-fat-and-thus-out-of-shape crap
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Sick of the Antoine-was-fat-and-thus-out-of-shape crap



Hey, folks,

     I don't mean to get off on a rant but...I've been hearing a lot, both
within (less) and outside (mostly) the list about how fat and out-of-shape, and
thus awful, Antoine Walker was at the beginning of the season.  Strangely
enough, during the 11 games of February he had his best statistical month of the
season, averaging 20.9 points, 9.0 boards, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals over 36.9
minutes/ game.  During this time, the Celtics went 6-5.

     I'm not arguing that he wasn't heavy.  I think he was. But to credit Walker
with the demise of the season based on his coming to camp overweight is a crock.
11 games into the season he's no longer out of shape, he's pissed at Anderson
and Pitino and messed up psychologically, not physically.  I think Walker has
the talent to be one of the top 3 players in the game.  The GAME.  However, he's
his own worst enemy.  Though this is no defense of him coming in out of shape,
we do have to look at it contextually.  He thought that a) there was going to be
no season, and b) that the Celts were probably going to trade him because of his
contract demands ($100 mil).  Hey, he was fat, but but still a lot better than
Baker and Kemp.

     Everything changed when Walker and Anderson got pissed, Mercer started
heaving up 18 shots a game, and Pierce got hurt/depressed/cowed by Pitino.
March was shot to hell and with it the season.  Plus they traded Ringo, and what
team wouldn't be affected by his departure.

     Cheaney?  What the hell?  I would've gotten a 4/5 like Smacky, but
whatever.  Rick's probably not done trading.  Hey, at the worst Calbert is
better off the bench than Bowen or Minor.

     So what's Walter going to do this season?  Get Pitino coffee?  Carry the
balls?  There are no minutes for him at all.  Anywhere.

     The first four people off the bench, even going positionally, are:

Barros
Cheaney
Williams
Battie

     This is a lot more than we had last year.  Please, let this team stay
together and see just how competitive it can be, which I think is very.

Chris