Re: Mike Fine : Walker finally 'gets it'

[Cecil <cecil@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Quickly...trade him...straight up for Carlos Boozer or Drew Gooden.

Cecil



----- Original Message -----
From: Josh Ozersky <jozersky1@nyc.rr.com>
To: celtics list <celtics@igtc.com>
Cc: <Dave@thecon.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2003 7:00 PM
Subject: Fw: Mike Fine : Walker finally 'gets it'


> 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