Re: AW - late bloomer or peaked?

[kevin lok <bostonceltics17@yahoo.com>]

I think how a player performs has to do with whether he WANTS TO PLAY
FOR the coach. Talent and ability can only take you so far (see JR
Rider), players got to be properly motivated (some called it babying)
to maximise all those God given skills.

I think Antione's first 2 years in the nba , under ML Carr, was a
"licensed to thrill", as he played all 5 positions. I think it was a
"you have my blessings to do what you want" from ML, with management
knowingly tanking to get Duncan. 

Under Pitino for the next 3 years, Antione was playing as instructed,
like a robot. 
(I know from experience working under such "authoritian" boss, you are
damned if you do as instructed but failed, and damned if you excersied
a little of discretion - meaning not following 100% on given
instructions. That's the only way I can explain the weird substitution
management of Pitino)

I think to Antione, OB's (and in a way Wallace and management) way or
methods is a breath of fresh air as compared to the (lost) 3 seasons
under slick Rick. It was evident from the way Antione conducted
himself with "we want to make the playoffs" chase, since OB called the
shots.

To all the Antione bashers - we need to give Antione 01/02 season to
*prove* himself. We will see if AW is the *real* deal or as Wallace
said a *phoney*.


"BoSox#1" <smoke69@earthlink.net> wrote:

>>This is what I am wondering this summer as I hear about Antoine working out
>>with Jordan personally and competing against other stars in a pretty
>>exclusive camp.
>>
>>I am wondering... Is he really learning more?  Is he improving his game?  Is
>>he finally getting his head on straight?
>>
>>I know this NG is full of Walker bashers but I do wonder if because of his
>>size and multitude of talents that Walker just needed more time to really
>>bloom and to work out his 'true game'.  If he learns to play within himself
>>from all those intense summer competitions, to maximize his strengths and
>>minimize his weaknesses we could be looking at an ENTIRELY new Antoine
>>Walker in 2001.  Now that's something to think about.
>>
>>Of course he has already had 5 seasons and the other argument has been that
>>he's gotten as good as he's going to get and he just will never get it.  I
>>think that a player can keep getting better as long as they are willing to
>>work on their game and they actually do stuff to hone their skills.
>>
>>So what is your opinion?  Do you feel that AW has yet to bloom or do you
>>believe that he has already peaked and will never be as good as the promise
>>he showed in his rookie season?
>>
>>-V-
>>