And the gloomy tone of my original post was due to the fact that Walker
is now just about in his prime and Pierce is getting there, but where will
they be when Shaq decides it's time to pull the plug? On the downside.
THAT'S why I'm glum. With contracts and the Like, Walker/Pierce better get
it done within the next four years or that era in Celtic basketball is gone.
Maybe, maybe not so desperate. First, I wouldn't underestimate the
cumulative effect of someone the size and weight of Shaq starting to
develop arthritis in his feet, as was reported this year. While as to the
Cs: I think Walker's likely at his physical prime, still getting to his
basketball prime. Mainly because of how much his improvement this year had
to do with playing smarter and relying on basketball skills rather than
pure physical ability. With more room to grow in that, and an established
pattern of willingness to tough it out physically that means his prime
could be an extended one. He's like Bird in that he's not exactly going to
be lost when he gets old enough that a few things like his jumping ability
deteriorate <g>. While back to Shaq, I still maintain that there's no way
to match him physically so you don't try - you find other ways to beat him
by taking him out of his game or letting him get his and not let anyone
else beat you. We've some tradition here of that method of dealing with new
physical forces to the NBA, starting with Russ vs Chamberlain. Easier said
than done, obviously, but it can be done.