Auerbach endorses Antoine deal

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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                  Raef LaFrentz leaves the court.
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      Auerbach endorses Antoine deal
      By Mark Murphy
      Wednesday, October 22, 2003

      Red Auerbach, asked if Antoine Walker [news] was better off being traded
to Dallas, lapsed into a long pause yesterday.

           But when the 85-year-old Celtics president resumed talking, it was
with the clear tone of frustration over the positive and painful aspects of
Walker's Boston legacy.

           As much as he appreciated the former Celtics captain's talent,
Auerbach's feeling didn't always connect to Walker's on-court deeds.

           ``I don't know - I really don't,'' Auerbach said. ``He's got a lot
of talent. But he also has his own way of playing.

           ``Instead of being an inside player, like a lot of people wanted,
he's out there taking 3's,'' he said. ``If you can't win with him, then you've
gotta do something.''

           Auerbach, like many past and present members of the organization -
Bill Russell, included - used to pull Walker aside to advise the forward on
how to adjust his game, not to mention his physical conditioning.

           According to Auerbach, Walker's reponse was generally an
inconsistent one.

           ``Sure, I talked to him, but so did Jimmy O'Brien - a lot,''
Auerbach said of the Celtics coach.

           ``Jimmy has told him things all the time about how to do this or
that. And then (Walker) would go out there and do things the way he was told
for a little while, but before long he would go back to playing the way he
always has before.''

           That won't work in Dallas under coach Don Nelson.

           ``He'll do what Don says,'' Auerbach said. ``Antoine is no dummy.
When you get traded, there's a reason. You'd better do what they tell you.''

           The one change - much ballyhooed once Celtics management types
first saw the new, trimmed-down Walker at a golf tournament this summer - was
the noticeable improvement in the power forward's conditioning. He has lost
approximately 20 pounds since the end of last season.

           ``Not to knock him, but this is the first year that he came into
training camp in shape,'' Auerbach said.

           At the same time, Auerbach admitted that the trade - which sent
Walker and Tony Delk to Dallas for 6-foot-11 Raef LaFrentz, 6-7 guard Jiri
Welsch, the injured Chris Mills and a 2004 first-round draft choice - may
initially favor the Mavericks.

           ``Some things you just gotta do,'' he said. ``Eventually we'll be
all right.''

           The main problem now facing the Celtics, according to Auerbach,
will be the need to fill Walker's sizeable shoes on offense.

           ``It might hurt us, right away, to get those points,'' he said.
``Guys like Eric Williams will get a few more. But Jimmy is pretty sharp.
He'll figure something out.''

           Though LaFrentz' scoring, rebounding and minutes declined after his
trade from Denver to the Mavericks one-and-a-half seasons ago, Auerbach
believes that the forward/center could easily revive his game in the Celtics'
opportunity-laden situation.

           ``There was only one basketball in Dallas,'' Auerbach said. ``When
he was playing in Dallas, it was a question of who was going to get the ball.
But I liked him coming out of college. He's a talented kid - gung ho.''












Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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