Re: Ron or Antoine?

[opi@unesco.org]

> G  MIN   FGA   PCT   FTA  PCT    3PA*  PCT   BLK   ST   TO   PF   OFF  TOT
> AST  PTS
> 8  34.3  16.9  43.7  4.1  63.6   34    38.2  0.3   1.8  3.4  2.8  1.6  6.6
> 2.0  19.0
>
> 7  39.4  16.9  43.2  3.4  95.8   18    44.4  0.1   1.0  2.9  2.6  0.6  4.1
> 2.0  19.0
>
> So which is which?
>
> I figured out why Ron had to go.  We certainly didn't need two of him.  I
> mean who needs a younger less expensive guy that does exactly the same thing
> as your $70 million "STAR" player?
>
> These where taken from ESPN.com...
>

This is interesting and troubling info, but you are comparing a very limited
number of games and discounting an effect on winning chemistry (Denver may be
weaker, but McDyess is probably the best player on either team).

Judged over the longer-term time-span that Ron Mercer has actually played in the
NBA,  he has achieved only one "double-double" (a 10 rebound game in exactly 56
minutes in a no defense, utterly meaningless double OT game to end last season
against Charlotte). Despite his lately uneven play, Antoine Walker (I guess
quietly) has racked up around 70 such games in the same time frame of his
career, along with at least three double-figure assist games that I can recall.
So if you are waiting for Ron to catch up, the scoreboard reads at around 70-1
right now.

Ron Mercer is a good player. But comparing Antoine's career to Ron's is exactly
like comparing chocolate to shit. Same kind of color, same kind of
texture......but something should smell a little different.

Now if you want to compare Paul Pierce to Antoine, you can spark a debate with
compelling arguments on either side (the early numbers still overwhelmingly
favor Antoine, but Pierce has so much talent, hunger and discipline).

But bringing up Mercer is dumb. Sadly enough for them, a Bowen or McCarty can
also try to guarantee you a double-double every 140 NBA games or so. But at
least they don't need 39.4 starter minutes per game to make good on that
promise. To the extent that non-scoring stats are relevant in terms of team wins
and losses, Ron Mercer has stood out within the entire NBA as one of the least
well-rounded players, even when we gratuitously add into the equation all the
benchwarmers and scrubs of the league in an effort to make Mercer's case seem
more palatable.

-----