Re: Forte

[Francis Hsu <francis@ai.mit.edu>]

Most recent article I've seen regarding Forte:

Eager Forte pines to play
by Steve Bulpett 

Friday, January 18, 2002

Joseph Forte's antennae went up when Kenny Anderson went down - and
when Milt Palacio twisted his ankle and Erick Strickland banged his
shin. 

Any chance to get back on the court has to interest a player. But
Anderson's lower-back soreness has subsided enough, and Palacio and
Strickland are both fine, so Forte will continue to confine his game
to the quiet court far from the crowd - practice. 

Barring any meteor showers, the rookie from North Carolina will miss
his 29th straight game tonight when 12 of his Celtics friends suit up
against the Rockets. Forte, who last took the floor against Atlanta on
Nov. 21 (four minutes, one rebound, no points), is technically on the
injured list with a sprained right ankle, but growing pains would
probably be a better way to describe his affliction. 

Thankfully for the health of his head, the 20-year-old understands the
situation with a perspective beyond his years. 

"Never. Nothing like this," he said when asked if he's ever gone this
long without playing in an organized basketball game. "But at the same
time, I've never gotten paid anything like this either. So it's a
double-edged sword." 

Leaving Carolina after his sophomore year offered no guarantees,
especially for a guy who was picked No. 21 overall in last June's
draft. 

"I had this in mind when I chose to go pro," Forte said. "I looked at
both sides of it. I mean, it wasn't going to be all peaches and
cream. This is the down side of it. But we're winning, so that's a
good thing. I'm paying my dues, which is something I can look back on
and use as motivation. And I'm just learning. It's not going to be
like this forever. Eventually I'm going to have to go out there and
play." 

The learning deals mostly with his move from shooting guard to point
guard, a switch necessitated by his slender 6-foot-4 frame and his
attributes. He will not be tested on his lessons until he gets back
onto the active list and the court, but Forte believes he's tackling
the curriculum well. 

"I think there was a lot I needed to get in the beginning, but as time
progresses, what I have to get shortens because I'm learning," he
said. "And it is a different position, so it does take time." 

Forte is taking his time and trying to make the best use of
it. Yesterday, he went through shooting drills with six of his
teammates after the regulars were given the day off from oncourt
work. He's also taking time to see how he fits as a point guard. 

"I don't know if there's anyone's game I watch, but my perspective on
it would be that I'm playing with Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce, so
my main job is to get them the ball and play defense," Forte said. "I
wouldn't be a scoring point guard. I'd just get the ball upcourt, get
it to the right people and hit the open shot when it's there. I think
for this team it's a very simple job. It's probably different on other
teams. 

"Defensively, I need to stay in front of my guy, contest all
shots. I'll be bigger than most point guards, so I think that will be
main focus." 

For now, the main focus is on getting back into a Celtics uniform - or
getting ready for when that time comes.