Re:

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

----- Original Message -----
From: Jaime Salud Castillo, Jr. <jaims@philonline.com>
To: peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>; Celtics <Celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 11:22 AM
Subject: Re:


> I guess all these impatience on Antoine is mainly attributed and seen
during
> the off season conditioning and skill improvements.
>
Nice try.

> As far as I can see, Antoine hasn't improved greatly but showed a little
of
> control in some games this year...but sadly in most games, he still showed
> the old bad habits we all are hoping he'd take out of his game.
>
Antoine has improved drastically in shooting free throws which is noteworthy
since the ball is in his hands alot.  Being able to hit them late in the
game is key.  I guess only some of us have noticed.  There are other
elements that will improve as time goes on, just like any young player.

> I am not a Walker hater but am not also a Walker fan.  I am still trying
to
> be patient with this guy and hopes that he improves on all aspects of a
good
> basketball player and also master the fundamentals of the game.
>
In my opinion, Toine has a solid understanding of all aspects.  There are
many veteran players who have yet to master the fundamentals, but he is
without peer in his ability to handle the ball for a man of his size.  If
you are really trying to be patient, it shouldn't be a game by game thing.

> If we are intent of winning the championship what we need is a well gelled
> first five and a very effective second stringers.  Simply, I am just
saying
> that we must keep the core of this current team and just keep on hoping
that
> it would click this year.  Then, after the season, we can judge who should
> stay because of his being an asset and also, on who should go if he's just
a
> distraction and not of help to the team.
>

> As far as the coaching goes, IMO, it's still very much to be desired.
> Coaching is both an impersonal and a personal thing.  I remember someone
> posting about a coach shouldn't only  be a teacher but also should be
> somewhat a parent to these "kids" nowadays.  Doing both well will only
make
> the player/person more determined to be better or just be best but also to
> grow maturely in a gradual way.  We shouldn't expect Antoine to change to
> better in a year or within the season...that'll be impossible.  The sad
> truth about his growth/development in the NBA is that he didn't and
doesn't
> have the right and proper "teacher/coach" all his 4 years in the NBA.
Like,
> if Larry Bird have had coached him (wow, that would be a dream come true
for
> me) since the start of his career then I am flat out sure Antoine could be
> great right now.  Pitino is a good coach but is not the type that would go
> out of his way and be buddies with his players.  Well, if Pitino either
> leaves or gets axed at season's end, maybe we could lure back Larry to
coach
> and teach our very young and talented bunch how to be great and most
> importantly how to win.
>
You can't paint em all with the same brush.  Did Dr. Jack Ramsey go out of
his way to be buddies with his players?  Is Tim Duncan a fine player only
due to the coaching of Popovich?  Was the great Red Auerbach so successful
because he was a fun kinda guy?  Every coach has his/her own style.  I have
mine, you have yours Riley, Jackson, Sloan, Karl, etc.

> But I guess the best thing to do now is sit back and wait till the end of
> the season...then again, we decide and do some talking if we want to keep
> the coach or junk him.
>
Do you really think it's possible for members of this list to not sling the
barbs when the team/Toine doesn't measure up to their expectations?  How
much would you like to wager on that one :-)?

> For now, let's just hope for the best as our starters are getting back
from
> Injured list and then let's see if we could really kick butts!
>
> Go Celts!
>
> Merry Christmas to everybody!
>
Now you're talking my language Jaime.  When we get everyone back, we will be
in a better position to make reasonable observations about the capacity of
our guys.  Til then, Happy Holidays to one and all.

Cecil

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>
> To: Celtics <Celtics@igtc.com>
> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 8:34 AM
> Subject: Re:
>
>
> > Why not judge him as a 15 year player? He probably started playing ball
> when
> > he was, what, 8? Jeez, he should be a whole lot better. Let's kill him.
> >
> > I'm not trying to offer endless apologies for Walker's youth -- like
you,
> I
> > noticed this is his 4th year in the league. I was merely pointing out
that
> a
> > number of other players who came out at a similar age took a number of
> years
> > to really find their groove.
> >
> > As for the superstar salary comment, Walker is paid the commensurate
> salary to
> > other young players with similar potential. None of them - Raheem,
Finley,
> > McDyess, etc - is exactly making anyone forget Michael Jordan. Even
Peter
> May
> > has dropped the "Antoine hasn't improved" shtick.
> >
> >
> > >Date: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 16:16:22 -0700
> > >From: Jim McMaster <mcmaster@sweng.stortek.com>
> > >Subject: Re: Walker
> >
> >
> > >I am not a "Walker-hater", but I am getting sick and tired of this
"poor
> > >Antoine is young" crap.  He is in his fourth season.  He is a
> self-described
> > >"veteran all-star."  He is making superstar money, and shows no
> indications
> > >of becoming a superstar.  Shouldn't he show some signs of improvement
> other
> > than a half here and there?
> >
> > >It was Walker's decision to come out early.  I judge him as a
fourth-year
> > >player, not as a 23-year-old.
> > - --
> >
> >
>