Re: Walker weighs in on summer plans

["R. Bentz Kirby" <bocelts@usit.net>]

Well, if Walker actually means this, then I say don't trade him.  If he doesn't
follow through, then he should be traded for someone who is hungry.

kevin wrote:

> http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/cs04172000.htm
> Walker weighs in on summer plans
> by Steve Bulpett
> Monday, April 17, 2000
> Rick Pitino was talking about Antoine Walker the other day. Told that 'Toine was
> planning to add a better 15-foot jumper this summer, the coach smiled.
> ``I'm glad he didn't say weight,'' joked Pitino.
> He and Walker had pretty much agreed this season not to discuss the conditioning
> issue publicly. But the Celtic captain raised it willingly when talking about
> the all-too-soon arrival of the offseason.
> After watching Walker struggle on defense and fail to explode at the end of
> drives, it became very evident this season that he must make a stop at the body
> shop if he is to reach his potential.
> While Walker again will be based for the summer in the city of big shoulders, he
> intends to return to Boston with a slimmer torso.
> ``I'm going to be back at home in Chicago,'' he said, ``but I'm going to be
> working on the plan that the Celtics feel is necessary for me to take my game to
> the next level and help this team get to where we need to get.
> ``My whole thing is that I'm going to get with coach (Shaun) Brown and try to
> get a program that fits what we need and go with that,'' added Walker, referring
> to the Celts strength and conditioning director. ``I don't want to pinpoint a
> certain weight or certain way I want to be. I think if I'm in great shape coming
> into the season, that's going to enable me to play any position on the court.
> ``Obviously you're going to have to be strong to guard the fours and quick to
> guard the threes, but you're going to have to be strong and quick for all of
> them. It's not one or the other. I don't want to just focus in on one thing. I
> just want to get on the program with coach Brown and stick with it.''
> Walker came into this season wanting to see more time at small forward. With
> proven rebounder Danny Fortson on board to play a good deal at the four spot,
> the move seemed logical. But even after Fortson came back from a right foot
> stress fracture, the maneuvering was scuttled by Walker's defensive issues with
> quicker opponents.
> ``I would rather him be thin and quick than bulky,'' Pitino said. ``Antoine's
> very smart. He'll know what the guy with the ball's going to do, but he needs
> his body to match his intelligence. So if he wants to play three, he'd really
> have to trim down. I think it would benefit us to be able to play him at
> three.''
> It's clear that Pitino and Walker have achieved a meeting of the minds on this
> subject.
> ``I have to get comfortable with that position and be able to do all things I
> need to do to play it,'' Walker said. ``When I'm playing as a four man, you get
> used to guys just posting up with their back to the basket. Then if you have to
> guard somebody on the perimeter who's cutting and moving, you've got to be ready
> for that.
> ``What I'm going to try to do this summer is guard some quicker guys when I'm
> playing pickup ball. I'm going to chase some smaller guys around screens and try
> to get used to playing that kind of defense.''
> At the other end of the floor, there is the aforementioned jumper.
> ``Basically I know I have to get a consistent 15-foot jump shot to where it
> makes the defense more honest,'' Walker said. ``I'm not saying I can't shoot it
> now, but it's about building confidence and getting to that point where it's
> there consistently.''
> Added Pitino: ``He's right, the 15-foot jump shot's very important to him
> because guys can't guard him off the dribble, so they've got to back off. That's
> a part of his game he has to add. He's always open from 15 feet.''
> More importantly in the long run for the Celtics, Walker now sounds open to
> suggestion in regard to his body.

--

Bentz Kirby
bocelts@usit.net
http://www.public.usit.net/bocelts/