re: more Walker trade ramblings

[wayray@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Antoine's leadership during games against the West Coast powers and NJ last
year seems to have been missing. While Antoine exhibited lots of leadership
playing agianst the Pacers and Reggie Miller guarding him, Kenyon Martin seems to have swiped away that leadership. 
Ray


> ** Original Subject: more Walker trade ramblings
> ** Original Sender: Mark Piotrowski <markp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ** Original Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 07:40:17 -0700 (PDT)

> ** Original Message follows... 

>
> the more i think about this trade (and the more Way says he likes it) 
> the more it doesnt' make much sense.  Dallas looks to be adopting the 
> Portland model of overloading on talent that may very well implode.  i 
> don't see how you can start five 20 ppg scorers and not have someone 
> unhappy.  Don Nelson will earn every penny this year.
> 
> one think that is clear is that Ainge is making HIS team -- i'm very 
> guardedly optimistic about this being a addition by subtraction trade 
> -- i.e. that Lafrentz will bring back some of the positives Toine had 
> (rebounding, 12-15 ppg),  add a few positives of his own (Blocks) while 
> losing some of the negatives Toine had (fg% and TO's).  I'm hoping -- 
> and you have to guess this is what Ainge is thinking -- that the loss 
> of Antoine's many missed shots and turnovers will make up for the 
> difference in scoring.
> 
> The one thing we will not replace -- and don't think would have ever -- 
> is Antoine's leadership (never more evident than the New Jersey 20 pt 
> comeback -- though we may not need to come back so much w/o his 41% 
> shooting & 3+ TO's/gm).  There is a part of me that hoped Antoine would 
> be a Celtic lifer, but i guess only Pierce will do that with this team.
> 
> If the trade does go through this certainly opens the door for:
> 
> Mike James -- becomes the starting PG?
> Banks -- will get big minutes, and no more "point"-forward to bail 
> either James or Banks out -- its sink or swim time.
> Kedrick & Jumaine Jones -- have to assume they will be looked to to 
> pick up some of the scoring slack
> Vinny -- A lot of PF just opened up, hope he's ready (Lafrentz has not 
> been the healthiest of players throughout his career).
> Battie -- gets to move back to PF?  I think his Blocks, rebounds and 
> points will improve with a more true PF next to him.
> 
> Even Jiri Welsch (who probably wouldn't have played many mins in 
> Dallas), Brandon Hunter and Kendrick Perkins look to gain from Toine's 
> departure.
> 
> While I expect Pierce will be upset, I don't see him "pulling an 
> O'Neal".  I'm a bit worried that after the success of the last 2 years 
> Pierce may get frustrated early in the season with the resultant 
> learning curve, but hope that he'll be a true leader.
> 
> We will see just how great Pierce is this year.  He will be facing a 
> McGrady-like load offensively and increased (if possible) defensive 
> attention.  Can he be the consumate team player and make the Kedricks, 
> Jumaine Jones, Bakers, Batties and Lafrentz's better or will he try to 
> do too much himself.  I personally think it'll be the former and that 
> he'll take a step up the ladder of "best NBA player".
> 
> (the other) mark

>** --------- End Original Message ----------- **