Bulpett: Grover praises Walker

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

As you all know, the Boston Celtics training camp opens today for the 
2001-02 season. There are a lot of good quotes from Tim Grover in today's 
Bulpett article. BTW, whatever happened to the Sesame Street's Grover? Its 
like Elmo came along and suddenly he wasn't getting any more good parts. Go 
Celts Go!!

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http://www.bostonherald.com/sport/basketball/cs10012001.htm
Walker is Air-conditioned
by Steve Bulpett

Monday, October 1, 2001

With the Celtics opening their training camp today, we offer this to whet 
your appetite:
``I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised with Antoine Walker.''

The author of the quote is Tim Grover, famed as the trainer for Michael 
Jordan and operator of Hoops: The Gym in Chicago.

 From all accounts, the Celtics have scored their first victory of the 
season - a month before the regular season even begins. Any way you look at 
it, the offseason work of Walker and Paul Pierce is a giant step forward 
for the club.

In particular, Walker's regimen in Chicago - hitting the weights under 
Grover's guidance and playing in games with Jordan - should yield great 
benefit. Pierce, meanwhile, was better able to hit the weights this summer 
after more fully recovering from his stabbing last September. He was 
scheduled to be in Chicago for some work, as well, but travel problems 
after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks prevented that.

``From everything I know, I think that our captains have dedicated 
themselves at an extremely high level to come in and physically and 
mentally lead us,'' C's coach Jim O'Brien said. ``I had no doubt that 
that's what they would do. I'm very pleased that that's their mindset.

``They also understand that a lot is on their backs, and they want that. As 
a result, they have prepared themselves for that responsibility.''

While there may be a decent change in Walker's outward appearance, Grover 
said what's on the inside could be even more important.

``I was excited all the way through with Antoine,'' said Grover, leader of 
ATTACK Athletics. ``He worked tremendously hard. He totally changed his 
eating habits and his work ethic toward the game. He lifted weights 
consistently and went through all the drills and did everything.

``I mean, I was very impressed with the turnaround he made.''

Walker's work was focused largely on the Celtics' needs. O'Brien wants him 
to handle the ball, so dexterity was a huge key as Walker worked on his 
strength.

``We put a lot of emphasis - if the plans are to use him as a point forward 
at times - on his ballhandling skills and also his speed work,'' Grover 
said. ``We want him to be able to beat his man off the dribble and also be 
able to defend some of the smaller, quicker guys. There was a lot of 
emphasis on lateral movement, quicker first step, reaction time.''

Having been with Walker at both Kentucky and Boston, O'Brien was aware that 
there was more to come if certain offseason changes were made.

``I think Antoine has really helped himself this summer more than others, 
despite the fact he'd play the game all summer before,'' O'Brien said. 
``Anytime a guy can come in and play 81-82 games for you, you know he's 
working.

``But I think he has taken a real stride forward in what he did with Tim 
Grover out there, and he will be probably in the best shape he's been in 
since high school. That's not to say he wasn't in good shape, but it's a 
different kind of shape now.''

Under Grover's plan, those who wished to play at Hoops had to sign a 
contract and commit to off-court work, as well. With Jordan leading an 
All-Star cast on the court, the deal was well worth it.

``What we did is we were able to capture the highest level of competition 
in pickup games anywhere - organized pickup basketball with a shot clock 
and referees and the whole bit,'' Grover said. ``Guys wanted badly to play 
in those games.''

But the work isn't over. Walker and others will continue their programs 
outlined by Grover.

``I feel a bond with every individual I train,'' Grover said. ``If they're 
not playing well, I have to sit down and evaluate and see what's going on 
and see if it was something that we did in the training that we'll have to 
adjust for next year.''