Jackie Mac's take on the Antoine dilemma

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I couldn't disagree more with the points she makes in this column. Here are
my thoughts:

>Jackie:
>Walker was doing just fine against 
>the other 27. He scores points, handles the ball, rebounds better than 
>anyone else on the team, and gives a solid effort every night. In fact, 
>if anything, sometimes he's guilty of trying too hard.

Yep. He was doing fine. Shooting 38 percent from the floor, 32 percent from
3-point range (and leading the league in attempts by a huge margin) and 60
percent from the free throw line. And his rebounding and assists are down
for the third straight season. Yep. He's doing fine.

>Here's something else to chew on. Why trade a player when his value has 
>dipped to an all-time low? It makes absolutely no sense. The time to 
>dangle players is after you've built them up and inflated their worth, 
>the way Pat Riley did when he prodded Jamal Mashburn into a career year 
>in Miami, then sent him packing to Charlotte.

Antoine's value is hardly at an all-time low. He had a lousy series. Before
that he had a great series. There are plenty of GMs out there who know what
Walker is. They won't go solely on the fact he got his head handed to him by
Kenyon Martin.

>There's no doubt Walker is a quirky player. He takes too many threes, 
>and he doesn't go inside enough, but it's not because of obstinacy, as 
>so many believe. Walker goes to the post when he senses a mismatch, but 
>the truth is he doesn't have the size or the strength to operate on the 
>block when he's got a legitimate power forward like Karl Malone or 
>Brian Grant on him.

OK. So now he can't handle Kenyon Martin, Karl Malone or Brian Grant. Anyone
else? So what you're saying is, he's undersized at power forward. Fine. Want
to switch him to small forward? Good luck.

>Walker's versatility could be his most underrated strength. He is, and 
>always has been, a better all-around player than Paul Pierce. He is 
>also the undisputed leader in that locker room. He's the one who 
>rallies the team when things are going sour (witness his rousing speech 
>in the huddle of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals last spring). 
>He's the one who checks in on the rookies, and the veterans who aren't 
>playing, to make sure they still feel part of the team. He's the one 
>who invites young guys to his home in Chicago during the offseason to 
>train. He's the one who has the courage to confront Pierce when he 
>forgets to involve the others, just as Pierce calls out Walker when he 
>starts whining to the refs.

Does Antoine get a lifetime pass as a Celtic for shouting at Pierce on the
bench in that one playoff game? Weren't we all shouting at Pierce during
that game?! Look, I know Antoine is a leader. I'm not underestimating that.
But he needs to lead by example a little bit. How about working harder in
the offseason? How about reining in a game that clearly is out of control? 

>That doesn't mean Walker can stand pat and come back next season as if 
>none of this happened. He needs to do what Larry Bird did when the 
>Celtics got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1983: go home, eat dirt, 
>and come back leaner, meaner, and mentally tougher.

>Walker's love for Harold's Fried Chicken is legendary. When he's home 
>in Chicago, he manages to eat some nearly every day. Time to stop 
>licking those fingers. Walker plays enough basketball already, so that 
>kind of conditioning is not an issue, but it's time to hit the weights, 
>tone the body, make that appointment with the nutritionist. He needs to 
>come back in the best shape of his life -- no matter what changes are 
>required.

Let's see, how many offseasons have we been saying this? Seven and counting?
But I'm sure this time he's going to "get it."

>It's easy to misread No. 8. His expressions are sour, he looks like 
>he's balancing on his tiptoes when he runs, and he's always complaining 
>about some call that went awry. It's too bad that's what people see, 
>because it detracts from how much he truly wants to win. Both Bird and 
>Michael Jordan love this guy for a reason -- because he competes.

No question that he wants to win. He just doesn't want to do all the things
necessary to win. There's a difference. Everyone wants to win. Not everyone
is willing to do everything necessary.

>Ainge undoubtedly will sit down with Walker, the way Jordan and Bird 
>have, and talk to him about his shot selection. My guess is Ainge will 
>succeed where Bird and Jordan have failed, because of one major 
>difference: He holds Walker's destiny in his hands.

This is ridiculous. Pitino didn't hold Antoine's future in his hands? He
tried as hard as anyone to bring out the best in Antoine and all he got for
it was a big, sharp knife in his back. But now Antoine is going to listen to
Danny Ainge? Talk about naove.

>By the way, even if Ainge did want to move Walker, good luck. The 
>latest trend in the NBA is to downsize as the luxury tax looms and 
>teams with bloated payrolls like Portland and New York fail to buy 
>themselves a title. Go ahead and try to find equal value for Walker, if 
>you can -- and please, don't insult him by bringing up Jalen Rose.

Jalen Rose is a lot closer to Antoine's level than you realize. Not that I'm
advocating a trade for Rose, because it doesn't solve your two glaring
problems-power forward or point guard. But if you're comparing players,
that's a pretty fair comparison.

>Ainge said he would exhibit patience in his new role as head of 
>basketball operations. Good. Trading Walker would be impulsive, and 
>ultimately foolish. Better to get to know the collection of point 
>guards who will be available in this draft, and try to grab the one you 
>want, even if it means combining the 16th and 20th pick to move up.

Ah, yes. Kirk Hinrich or Luke Ridnour will solve everything. Does she even
believe this crap? But if you're satisfied with what this team is--- a first
or second-round playoff team in the pitiful Eastern Conference and no better
than the 14th or 15th best team in the league---- then stay the course. Just
like Antoine, the Celtics are doing "just fine."

Mark