Assists

["Jim Meninno" <Jim_Meninno@hotmail.com>]

----- Original Message ----- From: Gene Kirkpatrick
<gkir@tjc.tyler.cc.tx.us>

> I had the same question, Steve.  Passing off to jump-shooters when you
> control the ball as much as Antoine is not the same as creating an
> opportunity for a teammate as a point-guard would do.  Still, if a
> rebound is a rebound, then to some extent an assist is an assist.

Damn right an assist is an assist.  You people are talking as if Antoine's
the only player in the league that gets an assist for passing to an open
jump shooter.  And, as long as we're on the subject, he loses a lot of
assists because he plays with centers who drop passes that should be layups
and a team full of shooters who can't shoot.  That's just how it works.

Antoine has more assists than any forward in the league other than Jalen
Rose because he handles the ball more.  He handles the ball more because he
does it better.  His size lets him make passes that many point guards can't
and he has the ability to create opportunities for others by penetrating.
Note: I'm not talking hypothetically about things that he can do, but
doesn't.  These are things he's been doing all year.  Hence that fact that
he's second in  the league in assists among forwards.

> My trouble with Walker is merely shot selection.  Last night, Palacio
> and Blount and Vitaly all shot very well.  Couldn't Antoine have taken
> a dribble or two and set one of them up?

He had 11 assists for God's sake.  Do you really think he didn't set people
up?   It's certainly true that Antoine takes a lot of low percentage shots,
but I just don't see the alternative.  Paul Pierce is scoring 40 a night
right now, and they still need as much offense as they can get from Antoine.
Certainly Vitaly could put up a few more hooks and short jumpers but, apart
from that, who else on this team do you want shooting the ball more?  I'm
very happy that Palacio and Blount had one game where they shot the ball
well.  In truth all that happened was that they made their layups, which, I
suppose, is an improvement.

> In the glory days at Kentucky, Antoine average 14 points.  He has the
> all around game; he has the winner's desire; just limit his wasteful
> outside shots and the team is better off.

Didn't that team have more genuine scoring options than the Celtics do now?
Isn't it possible that Antoine would "throw up" fewer shots if someone else
on the team other than he and Pierce had the ability to score?

Jim