complete players

[Elgin W Booth <ewbooth@hopper.unh.edu>]

I am predicting about 42-45 wins this year due to better team chemistry
and a huge year from Paul Pierce.  I like the overall talent of the team
and I think we will be going places.

However, what we really lack are complete players.  I would say a lot of
our guys are somewhat one-dimensional.  The only real complete player we
have is Pierce, who can rebound, shoot 3's, create his own shot, get to
the line, defend, finish on the break, and play within the flow of the
game.  All our other guys are largely deficient in multiple areas of the
game.

Eric Williams is not an outside shooter and doesn't have much of a jump
shot.  Battie is a great athlete but has few low post moves and has
trouble on defense.  Walter is mainly an athlete and outside shooter, but
has trouble creating his own shots and ball handling. Barros is mainly a 3
point specialist. Kenny is small, can't defend, and is extremely
inconistent with his outside shooting and his effort.  Potapenko doesn't
see to use his size, has few lost post moves, and is happy shooting
mid-range jumpers. As for Antoine, his glaring weakness is that THE GUY
HAS NO JUMP SHOT TO SPEAK OF.  He can dribble, has good quickness, but
has difficulty getting off a good shot becuase of his failure to elevate
when he shoots.  This aspect is often overlooked. Imagine Walker with the
sweet jump shot of a Reggie Lewis and you have one of the top 5 players in
the NBA.  Walker has trouble getting off the ground and this is why his
shot is blocked so often. That clumsy set shot requires him to be very
open to get a good shot off. Throw in that chuck of a shot referred to as
his hook and it seems like he is in over his head at times.  This glaring
weakness of no jump shot will keep Walker from ever being one of the great
NBA players.

This team has potential.  We need to add a few more guys who have a
complete game, possibly not the great game of Pierce, but who are
well-rounded.  Add a first round pick or two to this lineup (say a Micheal
Redd, Scoonie Penn, Terrance Morris, Quentin Richardson, or Melvin
Ely) and we are looking very good.