Re: Walker is a shorter shaq

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.andara.com>]

Perhaps Toine should get a few pointers from Andrew (Mr. Perfect) DeClercq
who is 9-9 from the line so far.

Cecil (did I just jinx Ringo or what)

-----Original Message-----
From: Todd Crane <tcrane@isis.unc.edu>
To: Celtics@igtc.com <Celtics@igtc.com>
Date: Thursday, February 18, 1999 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: Walker is a shorter shaq


>
>
>>
>>
>> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 1999 15:48:02 -0500
>> From: Mike Dynon <mdynon@ix.netcom.com>
>> Subject: Re: Walker is a shorter Shaq
>>
>> Todd Crane wrote:
>> >
>> > (snip)...Players who can't hit
>> > their free throws at least 70% of the time have no right wearing a
>> > professional uniform.  Never mind being given the title "veteran all
>> > star."
>> >
>> > Now that my ranting is over let me profess my love for Mercer and
>> > Pierce.  (snip)
>>
>> Well, thank God that Pierce is now shooting .714 from the stripe, so we
>> don't have to rip that jersey off him.  And by the way, did you love
>> Mercer with 30 seconds left in the second OT when he went in for a
>> completely open lay-up that would have iced the game, but MISSED it,
>> then committed a foul on a 3-pt shot to allow Vancouver back in the
>> game?
>
>If Pierce is shooting around 50% from the freethrow line in his 3rd year on
the C's
>you can bet I'll get on his case too.
>
>The foul on the 3pointer looked like a weak call to me.  Nonetheless,
Mercer goofed
>up big time.  But, given that this is second game back after sitting out,
his all
>around performance was outstanding.  Every player makes mistakes.  I have
no problem
>with that.
>
>There is a big difference IMNSHO between committing a mistake in the course
of the
>game action and being a complete loser when it comes to shooting
freethrows.  A free
>throw is a very simple shot, 15 feet from the basketball with absolutely no
defense.
>Why can't Walker make 7 out of 10!  It's all mental right now.  This kid
has a sweet
>stroke so there is nothing mechanically wrong it's all in his head.  This
is why I'm
>so concerned and a bit harsh on Antoine.  If Walker has a mental block
about shooting
>freethrows, he will certainly be a liability in any run for a championship
the C's
>make.  I have always contended that no team with Shaq will win a
championship because
>of his freethrow shooting..  Antoine is suppose to be "the man" for the
C's.  I'm
>afraid the statement that applies to Shaq applied to Antoine.  Of course,
the C's are
>much more than Walker shooting 75% or so from the freethrow line away from
winning a
>championship, but that area of his game needs to improve and it needs to
improve
>now.  We are not talking about a post player needing to develop his
turnaround jumper
>or his hook shot.  We are talking freethrows here.  Games are won or lost
on the
>boards and at the freethrow line.  The C's are averaging 99.3 points per
game while
>their opponents are getting 102.3 a game.  The C's are doing a great job of
sticking
>in games and Walker deserves much of the credit, but if he only could
improve his
>freethrow shooting the C's would win a lot more of these close games.
>
>It's a simple request.  When Walker hits the 70% mark, I will be the first
one to
>stand up and congratulate him.  Until then, it's my opinion that there is a
gapping
>weakness in his game that will prevent him from becoming the truely great
player he
>can be.
>
>Todd
>
>