RE:

["John Lyell" <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

The one disturbing thing is this kid can not elevate. Did you see his
botched wide open dunk attempt in one of the last games ? He didn't get up
to even come close. Looked like Larry Bird in a slam dunk contest !   That
was embarrassing.

Maybe a new movie "Employee #8 can't jump" ?

Some one else made a good point AW has played better recently in PP's
absence. Can they both play consistently together ?
If they can, Anderson can continue to play well, and Battie or VP can give
us some decent play at the 5 spot, and if Fortson can be a bull inside, we
could be very competitive. I still would like to see some moves to change
the bench though, preferably for an experienced veteran like Johnny Newman
or Kendall Gill.


Is there still a rule where you can only offer a 25% raise (to rookies
signed to one year deals ?)  as was the case when we got Travis Knight from
the Lakers ? I do not know if it is applicable but this Eddie Robinson has
looked good in Eddie Jones absence. He can leap.


John


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
John Lyell
Sent: Friday, December 24, 1999 3:01 PM
To: 'Jaime Salud Castillo, Jr.'; 'peter delevett'; 'Celtics'
Subject: RE:


I will have to give him credit, I can live with the way he has played the
last few games. If he can shoot 40-50%, score 20-22,  grab 8-10 boards and
give us some inside scoring, this is what he is getting paid to do.

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-celtics@igtc.com [mailto:owner-celtics@igtc.com]On Behalf Of
Jaime Salud Castillo, Jr.
Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 7:22 AM
To: peter delevett; Celtics
Subject: Re:


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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!


----- 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.
> - --
>
>