Lowell Sun

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

Here's the Lowell Sun team analysis, with some fun facts 
included. Did you know that Vin Baker won a lip-synching 
contest four times in HS? 

I just pray it wasn't to Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury 
or something like that. :-)

And I didn't know that Bruno Sundov attended prep school 
in Massachusetts.



http://www.lowellsun.com/cda/article/print/0,1674,105%
257E4767%257E958758,00.html

Will dynamic duo be enough for Boston?
By ROB BRADFORD
Sun Staff 

Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 

ROB BRADFORD, Sun Staff

WALTHAM The night began with Donna Summer singing the 
national anthem and ended with Antoine Walker, Walter 
McCarty and Ron Mercer gliding off the FleetCenter floor, 
arm-in-arm. Rick Pitino and his Boston Celtics had beaten 
Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls in the opening game 
of the 1997-98 season.

Five years and one day later the Bulls are back for 
another season-opener. This time, however, there will be 
no championship-style celebration for the Celtics. 
They're saving the champagne for May and June, not the 
day before Halloween.

"That was forever ago. Man, I was young," Celtics' co-
captain Antoine Walker said with a smirk. "I just want to 
be right there in the thick of things when the playoffs 
come around. We're looking for position in the playoffs 
right now because we think we're one of the top teams in 
the East."

If you go by the notion last year's result, when the 
Celtics were a few fresh legs and a zone offense away 
from perhaps reaching the NBA Finals, Boston is in the 
conference's elite. 

But if the pre-season prognostication is based on the 
uncertainties that have accompanied a luxury tax-clouded 
exhibition season, than Walker's vision may be perceived 
as slightly delusional.

We know the Celtics start tonight, but figuring out when 
they finish the 2002-03 season is anybody's guess. Here's 
mine: 48-34, No. 3 seed.

The keys to the car (can't go anywhere without them)

Antoine Walker Positives: Established himself as THE 
team's leader in last season's playoffs, can do something 
very few on the roster can rebound, scores. Negatives: 
Has an 'old' body, shot selection is still poor, 
sometimes too emotional. Useless information: Despite 
professing to be a good shortstop as a youth, actually 
struck out in slow-pitch softball at Paul Pierce's 
celebrity game this summer.

Paul Pierce Positives: May lead the league in scoring, 
has improved rebounding, readily accepting stardom. 
Negatives: Hasn't developed passing, was a 'gunner' at 
World Championships, readily accepting stardom. Useless 
information: Has as many houses as cars (3).

The wheels (nothing fancy, but still the foundation)

Tony Battie Positives: Has developed reliable jumper, 
always attempts to rebound, works on game. Negatives: 
Can't handle the biggest boys, always the concern of 
injury, no go-to move. Useless information: Has been 
traded twice, once for Nick Van Exel, the second time for 
Travis Knight.

Eric Williams Positives: Has found his niche as a 
grinder, when healthy can hit corner three-pointer, 
valuable defender. Negatives: Offense has quickly become 
limited, a tad too short and too slow to be really 
effective much of the time, tends to disappear. Useless 
information: Has seven tattoos.

Tony Delk Positives: Has offensive skills and knows how 
to use them, uses wingspan to give small guards problems, 
jumping ability allows for occasional rebound. Negatives: 
Perhaps worst dribbling skills of any starting point 
guard in league, streak shooter, still feels need to get 
his shots. Useless information: Scored 70 points in one 
high school game. Other team scored 72.

Walter McCarty Positives: Can play every position but 
point guard, can defend every position but center, always 
remains active. Negatives: Offense is limited to 
occasional three-pointer or put-back dunk, trouble 
putting back-to-back quality games together, plays same 
position as best players on team. Useless information: 
Last starting assignment came when Spike Lee gave him the 
nod on Jesus Shuttlesworth's high school team in the 
movie "He Got Game."

The oil change (out with the old, in with the new)

Vin Baker Positives: Can score around the basket, appears 
willing to accept reduced role, a big man on a small 
team. Negatives: Uncomfortable without the ball, can't 
rebound like team really needs, has to withstand pressure 
of contract. Useless information: Won lip-sync contest 
four straight years at Old Saybrook (Conn.) High.

Shammond Williams Positives: Can shoot, can shoot, can 
shoot. Negatives: Hasn't shown ability to be a play-
maker, tends to get too emotional, undersized. Useless 
information: Lists Randy Moss as favorite pro athlete. 
Got to see Moss play basketball while helping his prep 
school coach recruit Moss' high school teammate, 
Grizzlies point guard Jason Williams. He's also Kevin 
Garnett's cousin.

Bruno Sundov Positives: Fills the Rodney Rogers role as a 
big (7-foot-2) three-point shooter, is just 22 yeard old, 
can grab an occasional rebound. Negatives: Isn't 
comfortable in the paint, hasn't proven can excel in NBA, 
offensive moves are limited to jump shots. Useless 
information: First trip to Boston was for a whale watch 
with group from Winchendon Academy. Also, has gained 50 
pounds in last four years.

J.R. Bremer Positives: Has excelled at collegiate level, 
has perhaps best point guard skills on team, as an 
undrafted free agent it's a no-lose proposition for team. 
Negatives: Wasn't deemed good enough to be drafted, could 
be another shooting guard in a point guard body, success 
came at St. Boneventure. Useless information: Has 
replaced Joe Forte as Kedrick Brown's carpool partner.

Ruben Wolkowyski Positives: Doesn't complain, is cheap, 
can grab an occasional rebound. Negatives: Brings back 
bad Vitaly Potapenko memories, is too small to play his 
position (power forward), communication problems (he's 
from Argentina). Useless information: Nicknamed "Colo," 
derived from colorado, which means red, for his red hair. 
It hasn't really caught on in Boston because he is bald.

The fuzzy dice (could be either really good or bad)

Kedrick Brown Positives: Showed flashes before being hurt 
in preseason, showed last season he can at least play 
defense, epitomizes the word 'potential.' Negatives: 
Hasn't justified No. 11 pick, shooting is extremely 
inconsistent, gets hurt every time he starts going good. 
Useless information: Finished second in Louisiana State 
Long Jump Championships in first year of participation.


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