Boston Metro on Pierce & Walker Doing The Heavy Lifting

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

http://www.boston-metro.com/page.php?pgname=sports_celts1007


After the Celtics drafted speedy point guard Marcus Banks and adding free agent pickup Mike James, fans spent the off-season with visions of fast-break basketball in their heads. 

But that doesn't mean the scoring burden will be shifted from co-captains Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce. Between them, Walker and Pierce averaged 46 points, nearly one-half of the team's 92.7 points per game last season. No other team was so dependent on two players for the bulk of their offense. 

So even if the Celtics do end up doing more running this season, don't expect Pierce and Walker  who thrived in a halfcourt set last year  to take fewer shots than they did last season. 

"I think for the most part, the offense will still flow through me and Antoine. But I think we're going to try and run a little bit more this year," Pierce said. "We have a couple of point guards who can really set a tempo for us so we can find opportunities on the fast break, help us get easier buckets, and make things easier on me and Antoine." 

Critics say that Walker's game does not suit an uptempo style. But he said he's comfortable with any style Head Coach Jim O'Brien chooses to go with this season. 

"I'm a basketball player," he said with a shrug last week. "Whatever style we play, we play." 

Walker believes real fast-break basketball died in the 1980s with the Lakers and "Showtime." These days, it's all about "easy opportunity baskets." 

"No team really runs," he said. "If you really look at it, it's not like it was back in the 80s when the Lakers were scoring 120, 130 points per game. With the zone rules, no team is really running. As long as you can get some points on easy opportunities, we're going to be great. No matter what system we play in, we'll be fine." 

While Head Coach Jim O'Brien didn't promise fewer offensive opportunities for Pierce and Walker, he did say the addition of Banks and James means fewer ballhandling chances for the co-captains. 

"I think that they will handle the ball less with the additions of Marcus Banks and Mike James," commented Head Coach Jim O'Brien. "But I think we have a tremendous weapon in Antoine Walker from the standpoint of his ability to rebound and push the break himself, which is a great strength." 

Christopher Price