Re: Antoine vs. Kings

["Cecil Wright" <cecil@hfx.eastlink.ca>]

Why would those comments be silly Jim?  There are far too many people who
make fun of Toine for everything from his conditioning, to his choice of
friends, to his loyalty, to his shot selection, to his ballhogging, etc.  I
am probably in the minority but I do not question his effort like you
obviously do when you say he should bring it each and every game.  Which
player shouldn't?

I question his effort no more than I question Pierce's or anybody else on
the team.  Players of this caliber want to win, unlike some of the fans on
this list who seek long term solutions through a better draft selection,
even though there is a risk that the draftee may not even remain with this
franchise, if they are that good, after 3 years or so ala McGrady.

My opinion, which I have stated many times, is that the effort has been
there all along, including most games with Pitino at the helm this year.
Effort is not the problem.  Shot selection, however, is a different story.
Last night, for example, near the end of the game, with Toine obviously on
fire, Pierce comes down and jacks up a couple misses.  The Kings come down
and score on both possessions and take control of the final few minutes.  If
the situation was reversed, there are members here who would have crucified
Walker for not feeding the ball to Pierce when he was hot as hell.  But I
see no such comments from them today in that regard.

Some will seek to use this game as trade bait for Toine, forgetting, for the
moment, that the goods received in return are not likely to have the kind of
night Toine demonstrated against a player of CWebb's stature.  Now I grant
you that I am not a major fan of him jacking up 14 treys but didn't I read
that O'Brien had Toine taking shots closer to the hoop?  RIGHT!!

Joe is right.  It is not the coach who makes the difference in most cases.
They are making so much money that they have difficulty accepting direction
from anyone apparently.  But it is not because they do not put forth a solid
effort, especially Walker.

Cecil


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Hill" <jahill@leasingservice.com>
To: "Celtics-Talk List" <celtics@igtc.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2001 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: Antoine vs. Kings


> To all the silly "I told you he is wonderful" comments being made to
rebuke
> others on this list.
>
> Last night was a wonderful Team game and an outstanding individual game by
> Walker last night.
>
> No one questions that he has skills.  But many would like to see him come
in
> to camp in basketball shape and bring his A game (like last night) for
more
> then a couple games a year.  Instead of working into shape during the
> season.
>
> It's not just the individual match up that should motivate the Captain to
> bring his A game.
>
> Walker is a talent.  No one questions that.  When he plays like he did
last
> night it shows.  Now let him put a season of them together and he'll get
> recognized as a talent.
>
> >or the tired excuse that the woman who helped raise Walker is still
> hospitalized and in a coma.
>
> Cheap shot Joe.  Show me a quote from anyone on this list that reflects
that
> statement.
>
> >Walker lives as the NBA poster-child of the uncoachable, selfish,
unintelligent
> player.
>
> And that's by his "friends" in the NBA.
>
> He has the skills and being released from Pitino may release those skills.
> I like the results of the team and the individual players so far.  Walker,
> Pierce, Blount, Williams, Brown.  All having better results.  Looking
> forward to Herron being back and more time for Moiso.
>
> >Antoine deserves better than Boston fans.
>
> The Boston fans deserve to have Walker work that hard every game.
>
> Boston fans know who is giving 100% and who isn't.  Let others settle for
> less.
>
> <Jim
>