Shammond on Baker

[Eggcentric@xxxxxxx]

No one has come out smelling very good from the Baker debacle - not 
Wallace, not the owners, not Obie, not Baker.  Should we be surprised 
that its stench has now infected the entire roster?

Egg
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Williams plays defense
Ex-teammate sticks up for friend Baker

By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 3/23/2003

DENVER - Shammond Williams and Vin Baker are good friends. And that 
hasn't changed since Williams was traded to Denver Feb. 20 and Baker 
was suspended by Boston Feb. 27 for alcohol problems.

When asked what he thought about Baker being suspended, Williams 
spoke his mind: ''To be honest with you, I just felt like it was a bunch 
of nonsense, really. Once he started having his problems [playing], he 
wasn't drinking. The last three weeks I was there, we were together 
and he wasn't drinking like they quote-unquote said Vin was drinking. 
He wasn't drinking like that.

''Other [Boston] teammates were with us. My past teammates know that 
he wasn't drinking like that. He drank no more than probably anybody 
else who drinks. But I guess when you look at production and he's only 
getting 4 points a game, somebody wants to blame something ... I don't 
know if they were trying to force him out, but I think it's more made 
up than it actually is.''

Williams wondered whether Baker was the only one to blame for his 
downturn in production, questioning the system.

''I've talked to him and he's doing fine,'' said Williams. ''Vin's a 
great individual, a God-fearing individual. When you have God on your 
side, no matter what people say about you or how they try to treat you, 
things are always going to work out for you. He's cool.''

Williams also essentially said he's cool with his new team and his new 
role in Denver. He may be on the worst team in the Western Conference, 
but the Nuggets are giving him a chance to play. He entered last 
night's game averaging 8.8 points per game and 4.8 assists in 26.3 
minutes.

In Denver's 90-80 victory over the Celtics last night, Williams had 9 
points and eight assists.

''It's going good,'' said Williams. ''I'm biding my time and trying to 
take advantage of the opportunities I have as a basketball player. It's 
a young basketball team and I've been allowed to be somewhat of a 
leader on the team, which is a strength for me.''

That said, Williams harbors no ill will toward the Celtics.

''I heard some things that were said about me,'' said Williams. ''I was 
like, ` Damn.' Stuff like my attitude. Everybody has their own opinion. 
That's fine. I have no hard feelings to [the Celtics], especially my 
teammates.''

A Long view

As the playoffs approach, O'Brien is rounding his rotation into shape. 
And he is looking carefully at Walter McCarty and Grant Long at backup 
small forward. Lately, there has been a little more Long and a little 
less McCarty. ''We're trying to get him ready for a good end of the 
year,'' said O'Brien. ''And trying to see in any particular game 
whether Walt or Grant is the person that we need at the backup 3-spot. 
A lot depends on whether the other team is trapping; then you want 
Walt, a deep shooter, in. So Grant's going to continue to get a look at 
both forward spots.'' Long had 2 points in 18 minutes last night; 
McCarty had one rebound in seven minutes ... So what exactly did Mark 
Blount say to the Lakers' Rick Fox late in the third quarter Friday 
when both picked up technicals? Well, Blount wouldn't exactly say. 
''Not one word is printable,'' he said. ''Not one word. As a matter of 
fact, I've got to call my mom and apologize.''

This story ran on page E3 of the Boston Globe on 3/23/2003.
) Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company.