Fw: Mike Fine : Walker finally 'gets it'

["Josh Ozersky" <jozersky1@xxxxxxxxxx>]

This may already have been posted, but I'm
happy to see it twice.

Josh

----- Original Message -----
From: "Celts Fan" <celtsfan@hotmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.sports.basketball.nba.boston-celtics
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 7:04 AM
Subject: Mike Fine : Walker finally 'gets it'


> PRO HOOPS: 'Toine in tune; Celts' Walker shows that he gets it'
>
> By MIKE FINE
> The Patriot Ledger
>
> It was a couple of weeks after the NBA draft, when the Boston Celtics
> were elated to have picked up the University of Kansas' Paul Pierce with
> their No. 10 draft slot.
>
> Antoine Walker was asked about the selection and immediately grimaced,
> feeling that the team should have chosen former University of Kentucky
> teammate Nazr Mohammed instead.
>
> Pierce is a good player,'' Walker said at the time. He's a guy who
> can come off the bench and give scoring to our second unit. But I know
> what our team needs. We need big people.''
>
> No kidding, Walker didn't even think Pierce could start on that poor
> team. It could happen,'' he said. But I don't see it.''
>
> Walker, of course, has changed his tune on that and many fronts. Once
> brash, cocky, stubborn, very, very young and the person called the
> most hated player in the NBA,'' the Celtics co-captain has changed
> strikingly in his seven NBA seasons. Suddenly, he's wise beyond his 26
> years - both on and off the court.
>
> The forward this season is playing out of his mind. That is, his mindset
> was once to stand beyond the 3-point line and fire away. His mindset was
> to monopolize the ball. His mindset was that he was the team's star and
> therefore should have carte blanche to do as he pleased. This season,
> he's become an unselfish, well-rounded professional who will do whatever
> it takes to win, even if it means taking a subordinate position to the
> player he thought might come off the bench - his fellow co-captain,
Pierce.
>
> Heading into tonight's FleetCenter game against the New York Knicks,
> Walker is averaging 21.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists. They're
> not career totals by any stretch. In fact, much of his statistical
> output is below his career average, but his astuteness in getting other
> players involved, in changing the focus of his own game is evident.
>
> When asked about his frequent forays through the lane Monday in Memphis,
> he made a self-deprecating wisecrack about how he couldn't hit any
> long-distance shots, so why not get closer? It made sense, yet was
> something he was unwilling to do earlier.
>
> Walker's career got off to a flying start in Boston, where the Celtics
> were a pathetic bunch in his first two seasons, but because they were so
> poor he was able to get plenty of time, in every position. It was
> obvious he was the most talented player on the court, and perhaps it
> went to his head.
>
> When Rick Pitino, his old Kentucky coach, took over the Celtics in 1997,
> problems quickly arose. Pitino was unwilling to play favorites, and
> tried to rein in Walker's game. He refused to publicly acknowledge that
> he wanted to extend Walker's rookie contract. He suggested that Walker
> was not untouchable in the trade market. He wanted Walker to come to
> Boston to attend summer workouts in 1998.
>
> Walker was upset with trade talk and didn't handle himself well when he
> suggested that as a veteran All-Star'' he shouldn't have been asked to
> attend those workouts, which he deemed unorganized and unnecessary when
> he was working out in his hometown of Chicago with a number of NBA
> stars, including Michael Jordan. Walker later explained that he was
> forbidden to travel out of state with his then 4-year-old daughter, whom
> he didn't get to see often during the regular season.
>
> The Celtics eventually signed the veteran All-Star'' to a six-year,
> $71 million deal, but his relationship with Pitino remained stormy. When
> Jim O'Brien replaced Pitino more than two years ago, Walker was
> noticeably relaxed, but his game remained stagnant. He remained planted
> on the perimeter, handled the ball all too much and seemingly refused to
> trust anybody but Pierce.
>
> It was puzzling because Walker has a brilliant basketball mind. He
> understands the game completely, yet seemed unable to translate his
> understanding of the team's needs to the court. He knows every player in
> the league and what he can do. He knows where each team is in the
> standings. He knows what's coming up for his team. Ask him tonight and
> he could probably even tell you the Knicks' field goal percentage on
> Thursdays. He's totally attuned to the game.
>
> Finally, his game has blossomed this season. He's tenacious in going
> after loose balls and rarely loses anything that's in his hands. He's
> taking the ball to the basket regularly, and even though his shooting
> percentages remain low and he still throws up a lot of long-distance
> stuff, they're more in the flow of the game. He also no longer throws up
> the absolute junk he once did under the basket, is rarely blocked and
> has developed a nifty eight-foot hook that's been very effective.
>
> Nor does he display his much reviled wiggle any longer. Indeed, the
> softer side of Walker has been on display - if you can overlook his
> major league whining that's cost him a league-leading 20 technical
> fouls. Off the court, he's a nice guy who will give the shirt off his
> back to a youngster. He has bankrolled youth programs in Chicago and
> Boston. Once he shelled out $12,000 to fund a trip for a Chicago AAU
> team. Recently, he sponsored the family of an active U.S. armed forces
> soldier at the Atlanta All-Star Game, where he made his third
> appearance. Suggestions that he's a punk are the ravings of someone
> looking from the outside without any knowledge of the true person.
>
> He's not perfect. His defense isn't always there, and sometimes he tries
> a little too hard to work a one-on-one grudge with an ill-advised
> offensive move. Occasionally he'll revert to the old 'Toine. But Walker
> simply loves the game. He works out assiduously with a trainer (Jordan's
> man, Tim Grover) in the summer and is dedicated during the winter. He's
> on the court for 42.3 minutes a game, and not even his recent knee
> strain could keep him out of action for long.
>
> I never thought I'd say this, but, gulp, I love watching this guy play
> these days.
>
> Mike Fine may be reached at mikefine@ledger.com.
>
> Copyright 2003 The Patriot Ledger
> Transmitted Wednesday, March 05, 2003