----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2001 9:04
PM
Subject: [Celtic_Pride] article from
Globe
I found this in the Celtic notes at the Globe. Sorry for
the format
problems that most likely will occur.
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/061/sports/Walker_pitches_for_coach+.shtml
CELTICS
NOTEBOOK
Walker pitches for
coach
He says O'Brien has earned
keep
By Shira Springer, Globe Staff,
3/2/2001
EW YORK - The head coaching
tenure
of Jim O'Brien reached 24 games
last
night at Madison Square Garden. And
Antoine
Walker has seen
enough.
The power forward would like O'Brien
back
next season. Although Walker
reserved
comment earlier in the year when it came to
the
fate of Rick Pitino, he lent as much
vocal
support as possible to O'Brien before the
game.
''I think he definitely does deserve a
contract
extension,'' said Walker before the 95-88
loss.
''I think it would be foolish to let him go, to
be
honest with you. He's done a great job and
he's
been put into a bad position with all
the
negativity and things that were going on. He's handled
it real
professionally.
The players believe in what he's taught us and that's
what you
want.
''I think it's important - because we seem to play very
well under him -
that
[the ownership] really consider it. They should give
him an extension
and
get it done and out of the way. But you never know with
our situation
what
they're going to do. They might wait till Sept.
15.''
The Celtics have a 13-11 mark under O'Brien - one more
win than
Pitino
earned in 34 games this season. Boston had a six-game
winning streak
in
January, its longest in eight
years.
The Celtics currently hold a six-game win streak at
the
FleetCenter,
matching their best mark at home in three years. Most
significantly, they
are
contenders for a playoff spot for the first time since
reaching the
postseason
in
1995.
Walker said he felt the future of the franchise would
be better if the
head
coaching matter was settled. Meanwhile, management has
said a
decision
will come after the season. But another team in a
similar situation has
acted
much quicker. According to reports, Seattle removed the
''interim''
from
coach Nate McMillan's title by reaching agreement on
a
four-year
contract worth approximately $12
million.
''I want him back 110 percent and I wish they'd do it
right now,''
said
Walker. ''It would be nice to get that situation
sorted
out.
''This is an important summer for us as far as draft
picks and as far
as
developing the team and this organization turning the
corner. I think
we're
finally starting to turn the corner a little
bit.
''I think the additions to this team and making sure we
make the right
moves
in the free agent market and that type of thing are
important. So, let's
get
the coaching out of the way so we know what direction
we're going
in.''
Peer praise for
Pitino
When the Celtics visited New York before Christmas,
Knicks coach
Jeff
Van Gundy praised Pitino. It was no different prior to
the teams' fourth
and
final meeting. Van Gundy called Pitino a ''Hall of
Fame
coach.''
''I don't think you know about coaches totally until
you either play
against
or coach with them,'' said Van Gundy. ''I had the
privilege of doing
both
[with Pitino]. That guy is not good. He's great, great,
great. What gets
lost
in the fact is that everybody talks about how it ended.
I always tend to
look
at how much he changed there for the positive. He came
in there and
they
were in total
disarray.''
The kudos spread to the play of Walker, who was
bypassed for
the
All-Star Game. Despite that, Van Gundy felt No. 8's
talents are more
than
recognized in the NBA. ''He may be underrated from
outside, but
I
certainly don't think within the league,'' said Van
Gundy. ''There's no
more
versatile forward than him ... He's got the
whole
thing.''
Point
taken
More than a decade ago, as an assistant with the
Knicks, O'Brien
didn't
hesitate to suit up and practice as a point guard when
perpetually
tardy
Rod Strickland wasn't ready. That experience led to
one
memorable
Mark Jackson story. ''We had Rod Strickland the second
year and
Rod
was always late for practice,'' said O'Brien. ''So we
were shorthanded
one
day at practice. So, Rick told me that I had to play
point guard
against
Mark. He made a move on me and really just went by me
and I didn't
have
a chance. He turned to me and said, `Look, if you had
to play me
every
day, you would be late, too, wouldn't you?''' ...
Vitaly Potapenko,
who
mildly sprained his left ankle at practice Monday and
again Tuesday, had
6
points and 7 rebounds last night ... The Knicks' win
pushed Van
Gundy
past Pat Riley on the all-time coaching list. Van Gundy
now has 224
wins.
He trails Red Holzman(613) and Joe Lapchick(326) ...
Bill Russell
was
in attendance last night.
--
R. Bentz
Kirby
bocelts@usit.net
http://www.public.usit.net/bocelts
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