Transcript: Press Conference

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

Baker, Williams Press Conference
http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/baker_pc_020723.html

Chris Wallace:
Welcome, and thanks for coming out today, the Celtics are 
pleased to announce our latest additions to the team. To 
my immediate left Shammond Williams and one over from 
Shammond a native from New England, who is ecstatic about 
coming home, Vin Baker. These are players that have 
established themselves in the league for their offensive 
gifts. Shammond has been one of the better three point 
shooters among the point guards in the league of the 
three years that he has been in the NBA. You might 
remember him in the Shaws Pro Summer League where he 
made his debut in the league three years ago. He is 
someone that we have tried to trade for in the past and 
been unsuccessful up until this point. Vins 
accomplishments speak for themselves; hes been an all-
star in the league and Olympian, and the best part about 
this whole situation is the look of joy I see on his and 
his fathers face since they have been here yesterday -- 
that they're back home and getting the opportunity of a 
life time playing for the Celtics. So if you have any 
questions feel free to fire away. 
 Vin Baker:
Well Im very ecstatic as Chris mentioned about playing 
for the Celtics. A large part of the reason is because I 
grew up here in New England, Connecticut, about an hour 
and 45 minutes away. I have an opportunity to play in 
front of my family, and I also have an opportunity to 
play for one of the story franchises in all of sports, 
the Boston Celtics. Growing up in this area and being a 
fan of the Celtics, with those things combined and how 
they are a very good young team made it to the Eastern 
Conference finals last year. With those things combined, 
I think it makes for great situations being home and 
playing for the Celtics. 

I think coming back East and playing out West for five 
years, I have gained more experience. I think my game at 
this stage in my career really fits the Eastern 
Conference. I think playing in Seattle and playing for a 
fast-paced team and playing on the West Coast offense, I 
think Im going to suit this team well. I think this team 
likes to run. Theyre an East Coast team but I think 
theyre a team that plays Western style. I think my game 
at this stage of my career, being a low post presence for 
this team and also being able to play in an up-and-down 
system, I think it's going to be a perfect fit. Four 
years in Milwaukee I was an All-Star, but never played in 
the playoffs. The last five years in Seattle I have been 
able to play in the playoffs three times, so somewhere in 
the middle of that road of being an All-Star and having 
playoff experience, I hope to bring that to Boston. 

No, there are no concerns at all. My only concern is 
coming here and helping this team with the continued 
success that they have had. Those two guys Antoine and 
Paul are great young basketball players, and I just found 
out from Leo and Chris last night that Im the oldest 
person on the team. I want to make this team, get this 
team over the hump. I think this team can make the 
finals, and hopefully Im a piece of the puzzle to get 
them there. 

Im not sure yet, Ill probably know by the time training 
camp starts. I know Antoine and Paul are very versatile 
players who like to handle the ball a lot, so Ill find 
out in the locker room who I have to kiss up to to get 
the ball a little bit. 

 Shammond Williams:
For a young guy like myself, its a great opportunity and 
its been something have been waiting on for a long time. 
I have had the opportunity to play sporadically in the 
past and to just have the opportunity to be here in 
Boston, I can see myself becoming a better basketball 
player. And with the things I have to offer, it suits 
this team. It always feels great to be part of another 
one, not just somebody thats winning year in and year 
out, but somebody thats going to be consistent winners 
over the years. I think its going to be a great 
opportunity for myself, as well as Vin, to be in a 
situation where we're appreciated and we can go out and 
do the things that were customed to doing helping this 
team reach levels that they want to reach. 

Theres a goal for me. Im here to make this team better. 
There is an opening there, and Im looking forward to 
filling that void. But the most important thing is me 
becoming a better basketball player, and like I said 
before, to help Boston get a world championship. They 
made it to the Eastern Conference Finals and the thing 
were here to do is make them go to the next level. And 
being a winner thats what Im about, try to win 
championships. 

 Vin Baker:
I definitely dont think there was a problem with 
confidence. They also mentioned a problem with the 
marriage that we had in Seattle, myself and the Sonics, 
but my confidence is at an all-time high, and right 
before the three dislocated toes last year, right before 
the playoffs, I though I was playing the best basketball 
I played in the last three years. My confidence is still 
there, I feel like I can be a terrific player in this 
league, and Im going to work the next two months to get 
ready for that coming this season. 

Right now Im about 260, my playing weight is about 255 
so by the time camp hits, I should be right around 255 or 
well under 255. I probably got to about 275 during the 
lock out. 

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