"Too Proud to Beg."

[Jim Metz <JBMetzEA@AOL.com>]

Title: "Too Proud to Beg."

    Well; hello again.
    I've really enjoyed the last several days posts. I just went through about 300 of them this AM. Tax season is over and I can hopefully stay up with you guys again.
    On my mind are the: Temptations ; two fold.  Like some biblical or mythalogical curse, we can expect; 
    1. The intoxicating purr of the high school centers. 
        How much do we need to wait three years for a possible Shaq? Do you realize that Shaq was almost a bust? Even after he left college, his first two seasons were hardly at the saviour level.
        Moses Malone, yes. Darryl Dawkins, no. It's been a long time since a center made an impact right out of high school.
        Trade the picks. Get Bibby, Ratliff etc.  The best point guard and shot blocker available, but a veteran. 
    2. The logic, of making Antoine the point guard; that if you can't geld the stallion you just put him with the mares. 
        This is why I'm down on O'Brien as coach. With the Celtic's Nation watching him debut at point, Walker jacks up 28 shots. End of story.
        Yes, Kenny Anderson came in out of shape. A high crime, but it doesn't negate the truth of his criticism of Walker playing the point and the system here that was put in to appease Antoine. 
        I've written before that Billups was traded beacuse he wouldn't pass to Antoine over the mid court line. He wanted to make the play, or if necessary, he could jack his own three. Antoine couldn't take that and to ensure peace; Rick tried a veteran point guard to run the team. Walker wouldn't stand for that either. When Anderson first arrived, Walker ran the wing and was rewarded for his effort with easy baskets. The following season when Antoine stopped running(perhaps he was not in the best of shape either) Anderson's effectiveness diminished and another conflict erupted(remember Miami?).
    There are two solutions for Antoinabee. Trade him, or let him play 8 minutes at each of the five positions. At least we'd have some rebounding for the other 40 minutes at power forward, or some fast break, find the open man offense from the other 40 minutes of point guard play, or whatever.........Don't discount this as cynicism. Think about it, Antoine could start at the four and be the number one sub for all four other starters, further shortening the rotation. 
       
-JB-

                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                 Unchain My Heart!