Re: Emptying out the drawer of my Celtic mind

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

I am disappointed in Baker's performance to date. I think you have summed up 
the probable reasons pretty well. I think you have to add that the league was 
a lot more physical down low in the days when he was an allstar. 

I would have thought that a player of his caliber would be able to adapt a 
little better. But the biggest reason is opportunity. Baker is the last 
option on offense. It is Walker or Pierce no.1 with the kickouts to the 
perimeter to Delk, Shammond and crew, then you got your EWill postups and an 
occasional Shammond penetration. It doesn't matter who is guarding Baker, he 
isn't an option. He barely bothers to attempt to post up anymore. He just 
isn't in the offensive game plan.

You got to hand it to Vin that he is just putting his hard hat on and playing 
his role as the backup center. He just trys to play defense and get offensive 
rebounds. If you have seen the last couple of games, Pierce has to credit Vin 
for many of his drives to the hoop in the second half because Vin is setting 
great monster picks out top. So add just playing his role and trying to fit 
in as a reason.

Still, for the money he is getting paid, you would hope you could have your 
cake and eat it too. I'll say this that regular season play is important but 
playoff play is all that matters. In the playoffs, the games change. The C's 
cut way down on the three point shooting last year in the playoffs. There is 
less fast breaking and more half court play. Kenny, former albatross, became 
a hero in the playoffs. If the Cs get zoned in the playoffs, lose their 
shooting touch, it is great to have another option in the barrel. That is all 
it will take for me. Vinny's best play last year was against Tim Duncan and 
the Spurs. Funny how the Sonics changed their gameplan during the playoffs.

Conclusion:
In the few postups he has had, he has either looked magnificent or more 
mechancial than Artis Gilmore. Unless he has some sort of advanced arthritis, 
I have to think it is a reps thing. But the Cs don't need him right now. 
Let's tuck him away until the playoffs or next year...

DJessen33

> Jessen - Wondering if you still think there is an upside to Baker's 
> future?  
> 
> Do you feel his present problems are due to:
> 
> - the difficulty of a ten-year veteran learning a new system 
> 
> - to Battie having a career year therefore limiting Baker's minutes
> and self-esteem. 
> 
> - to Obie and his teammates not wanting him in the first place - 
> boycotting him on the floor, and then running out of patience with him.
> 
> - to the refs all being against him for no reason.  
> 
> - or, oh no, shhhhhhhhhhhhhh - is Baker permanently over the hill?