Shareef don't like it

["j.hironaka" <j.hironaka@unesco.org>]

Boston is travelling to Atlanta, Georgia, for a game Saturday against the 
2-6 Hawks. The Celtics's main concern going into the game is not knowing 
what to expect from the "canteloupe-headed" power forward who won't stay 
down in the blocks and is shooting a disgraceful .342 from the field 
through 7 games and counting. I'm talking, of course, about Shareef 
Abdur-Rahim.

Since no one else mentioned it, midway through the 3rd quarter of the 
Pacers game Antoine Walker got audibly booed by fans for missing a 
three-pointer (he was 4-9 on treys at that point) despite having already 
racked up over twenty points and ten boards to that point. Cedric Maxwell 
was absolutely incredulous. That's Boston's homecourt advantage for you. 
What a relief for bin Walker to be able to play in front of neutral fans 
this weekend.

Back in the 80s in Boston, I'm fairly sure I watched every televised game 
between Bird and Magic Johnson (or the Sixers Dr J). Rooting against those 
opposing players (I'm ashamed to say I had a picture of Dr J pinned on a 
dart board), I'd naturally analyze their every weakness. If Magic scores on 
an end-to-end layup, I'd usually note that his defender was just napping on 
that play. If he missed a three-point balloon set shot, I'd note what a 
weak shooter he was compared to Bird. Great pass?...Well that was just a 
set play anyway. Or if Dr J extinguishes Boston's hopes with a showboating 
dunk to turn a sizeable lead into a rout? That's just your typical cherry 
picking and pad statting.

All those years of rooting against Magic and Dr J., I reached the 
conclusion that they were a bit over-rated by the media compared to Bird. 
But I guess if I were a Celtics hater and I watched Bird miss the majority 
of last second shots (he did), struggle to 40% shooting games against 
Michael Cooper in the Finals, or drive to the basket, get blocked and 
collapse clumsily on his ass for a totally phantom foul, I could actually 
imagine thinking to myself that his legend exceeds his ability. The fact is 
that players make tons of mistakes, if that's what you choose to harp on.

It goes without saying that Magic, DJ and Bird were much better player than 
Walker is now. They are Hall of Famers while Walker isn't even close.

But thinking back on those days, I can understand why different Celtics 
"fans" on this list can watch Antoine playing in the same game and come to 
totally different conclusions about how well he played, or how he plays in 
general. No one is making this stuff up. Walker really does make a lot of 
bad plays. So did Pierce against Indiana, but its different. But no one is 
making stuff up either in saying he has improved year by year (free throws, 
assists, three-point shooting etc.) against those who say he isn't 
improving at all.

One guy on the IGTC list wrote after the Wiz game that he would still root 
for Walker to fail up until the day he finally gets traded (because Walker 
has proven beyond doubt he is ignorant, selfish, too lazy to improve etc). 
That's an unusual approach to supporting a team, to say the least, yet I 
know what he's talking about.

If I were also rooting for Walker to fail (he'd make an awesome Lakers 
villain for instance), I'd also notice his weaknesses and would have a hard 
time grasping why others don't choose to magnify them as much as I do 
(while ignoring anything in his game that would balance his weaknesses). 
Like I say, that's a really odd approach to be being a basketball fan, but 
that's how I was back in the 80s with Magic. I'd tell people with a 
straight face that Magic (five rings and all) was clearly inferior to Bird 
(three rings) and that the Lakers were a bunch of pansies. There was no 
comparison between the two.

Like Gene (I think) said, let's support all our players. Let's support this 
team. It is one of the youngest, most talented and interesting teams in the 
NBA. Plus its Boston, which is where we're all from (at least at heart).

Go Celtics Go!

Joe

Sorry guys, this was intended to be a "scouting report" of the Atlanta 
Hawks, but I got kind of side tracked. Maybe someone else can do one in my 
place?

I'll just say that the Hawks do pose more dangers than their 2-6 record to 
date suggests. They just obliterated the Utah Jazz this week, for instance. 
The Celtics need to take care of business on Saturday, something they 
haven't done well in the past.

I'm posting the CNN-SI preseason scouting report below and that's it. I 
hope someone else can offer more previews of this important game.

(copyright CNNSI)
-This is probably the most improved team in the league. The Hawks have the 
best front line in the East, and they go eight or nine deep.

-It's a long way for them to climb, from 25 wins to the playoffs, but it 
won't surprise me if they make it.

-Shareef Abdur-Rahim is going to shine. In the West he had to play against 
all of those great power forwards -- Rasheed Wallace , Antonio McDyess , 
Chris Webber , Kevin Garnett , Tim Duncan -- and he still dropped big 
numbers. He's not going to have to deal with that caliber of talent in the 
East.

-I've got to think that somewhere in Theo Ratliff's heart there is a 
burning desire to prove himself after Philadelphia traded him away last 
year. That's a good thing for Atlanta.

-You could tell the Hawks liked playing for Lon Kruger last season: They 
lost, but they didn't play like losers.

-The only question is about the point guard. Emanual Davis is big, and if 
they go with him, he can flip-flop on defense and guard the two and let 
Jason Terry guard the one.

-But the point guard might not matter so much if Toni Kukoc is running the 
offense as a point forward. Kukoc hit 48% of his three-pointers after he 
came to Atlanta last year. He can shoot, he has scorers he can distribute 
to, and if he gets beat defensively, he's got Theo back there protecting 
the rim. I think this situation might bring out the best in Kukoc.

-The Hawks play 11 of their first 17 on the road, so they're going to find 
out fast how good they are. If they can hold the ship there, it will give 
them a lot of confidence."

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