Re: [Celtics' Stuff ] Re: Courant article on Baker

[Celtic4Hire@xxxxxxx]

Wow, Snoopdog. You are good. I think I forgot to mention when I wrote these 
posts that I was talking about 2004 instead of 2003 <g>.....

DJessen33


> To save Eggy the trouble:  For the IGTC group, go back to July of 2002 and 
> good luck.  For the "stuff" group, go to the homepage on Yahoo, and look 
> through the messages around the end of July, 2002, when Baker was traded.
> 
> This time, I've decided to be a Good Beagle and look this up:
> 
> You posted several reports from the Sonics in advance of the trade, only 
> the first of which I've copied here (at the bottom of the post).  On July 
> 20, you reported about how Rashard Lewis was making things tough for Seattle.
> 
> Later that day, in reply to a Hoopsworld article suggesting a three way 
> deal with the Knicks, you wrote: Hoopsworld is notorious for reading the 
> tea leaves and then writing on their own speculation. At any rate, if we do 
> this deal just to get Thomas and Ward, I would say it was time to get out 
> the tar and feathers. I like the original Baker deal because it is a deal 
> to get the final piece of the puzzle. It would be a risk, only because we 
> lose future flexiblility. Getting Thomas and Ward are just adding fringe 
> players, with slightly less years on their contracts. Kenny adds more than 
> these guys would so if we can't do the original deal, just wait for a 
> better one...
> 
> 
> On the 21st, you offered several different trade scenarios without stated 
> preference.
> 
> In reply to one of Josh O's articles, you wrote:
> Having a guy who can score inside and demand a double team is worth a lot 
> more than what Kenny and Vitally can give us on their best nights. If you 
> want to argue against the trade, stick to the future cap flexibility 
> issues. It is no doubt we are a better team with Baker than Vitally/Kenny 
> not considering the possible chance of resigning Rogers with a little cap 
> clearance during the trade...
> 
> Then, on July 22, you wrote the following:
> From:   Celtic4Hire@xxxx
> Date:  Mon Jul 22, 2002  5:46 pm
> Subject:  I don't mind being the first on the Vin bandwagon
> 
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Hey, you losers.  I want to go on record that I like the trade. I don't 
> like them including Forte and I would prefer a no. 1 to come back. However 
> regardless, I'll wait for you all to get on the Baker bandwagon and I can 
> say I told to so.
> 
> Just like I told you so when I said the JJ for Rogers deal was a good deal 
> for the short term and bad for the longterm. I think it was just me and 
> Celtsteve who felt this way.
> 
> Not to put words in Celtsteve's keyboard, but I think it is just him and me 
> again liking this trade.
> 
> Sure I'd like the C's to trade Kenny for Shaq but it ain't gonna happen. 
> Sure I'd like the C's to trade Kenny for Candiman but it ain't going to 
> happen. Vin is available. His contract is a risk. But on the talent side, 
> Viola. I love the "cancer" comments, just like when we traded for DJ. Their 
> are other similarities of the trade for Walton.
> 
> I don't like trading young, blooming talent for one shot deals like the 
> Rogers deal. However, I love trading bums for former All-stars, especially 
> those that can play inside. A play who can draw fouls on centers and 
> forwards which will open up Pierce's game to slash. One who will demand a 
> double team that will open up the three point shooters. Why do those Laker 
> and Spur scrubs shoot those 3s so well? It is because everyone is so 
> focused on the inside game of Shaq and Duncan that they are standing wide 
> open at the line focusing in for an eternity. (Vin, of course, isn't in 
> their class but has the same kind of game.)
> 
> Of course, Vin could show up being fatter than pig and I could be wrong. 
> But I prefer the team GO FOR IT AND TAKE THE RISK rather than living in 
> mediocority and luxury tax hell. If the cup is half full, we are the 
> Eastern Conference champions...
> 
> 
> Your original Sonics post:
> 
> From:   Celtic4Hire@xxxx
> Date:  Fri Jul 19, 2002  1:19 pm
> Subject:  Sonics daily scribe on Feburary 2
> 
> Baker's scoring rebirth spurs trade interest
> February 2, 2002 Print it
> 
> Even a strained left shoulder has hardly slowed down Vin Baker's low-post 
> scoring this season. Although the 6-11 power forward hasn't been able to 
> help Seattle solve its rebounding troubles, Baker is having his best 
> offensive season in three years.
> 
> Before the injury on Jan. 24, Baker was among the league leaders in 
> field-goal accuracy. And he entered the weekend shooting 49.1 percent.
> 
> It's a stark contrast to last season, when Baker averaged career lows in 
> scoring average (12.2 points) and shooting (42.2 percent) while coming off 
> the bench.
> 
> The biggest reason for Baker's improvement is a focus on scoring in the 
> paint, after prodding from coach Nate McMillan early this season.
> 
> Instead of relying on his jumper -- a bad habit over the past two seasons 
> --Baker fights harder to get in the paint.
> 
> "This team needs a low-post presence, and I've got to be it," Baker said. 
> "So I can't settle for jump shots. I have to get as deep as I can. Coach 
> McMillan and I talked in Boston (on Nov. 9), and that's the way it's been.
> 
> "I'm not relying on jump shots or fadeaways. So as long as I do that, I'll 
> keep the percentage up."
> 
> McMillan said: "He's still a guy that likes to step out and shoot the jump 
> shot. That's a part of his game. I don't want to take that away from him. 
> But for us to have any success, he needs to establish a low-post game. 
> Hopefully, he'll continue to stay down in the post."
> 
> Baker's success has forced opponents to double-team him, which helps 
> Seattle's perimeter players get open looks. The last time a team used 
> single coverage on Baker, he responded with 32 points against Cleveland on 
> Jan. 11.
> 
> "I feel right now that if I'm not double-teamed, and I'm in the paint I'm 
> going to score," Baker said.
> 
> So where was all this last season?
> 
> "There was a lot of things," Baker said. "It was a bad situation not 
> knowing if I was going to be here. The coach is giving me more touches this 
> year.
> 
> "Obviously, I was coming off the bench, which was a different thing for me. 
> And I've made my mind to get as deep as I can. My jumper is now a second 
> thought." . . .
> 
> POSITIONAL ANALYSIS
> 
> Power forward: When Baker sits, the Sonics suddenly find their shots more 
> difficult to take and make. Because of a resurgent offense, Baker's 
> presence forces teams to double-team him. It frees up players like Rashard 
> Lewis and Brent Barry, who normally have trouble creating their own shots. 
> Baker's contributions have an asterisk, however, because of his poor 
> rebounding.  Seattle is one of the worst rebounding teams in the NBA partly 
> because Baker doesn't do a good enough job on the boards. Grade: B
> 
> TRADING PROSPECTS
> 
> When the Sonics made the unusual announcement they would try trading Baker 
> last summer, the interest was similar to that for a dot-bomb company. Now 
> the power forward is having his best season since being an All-Star during 
> 1997-98. And Baker's value has shot up, spurring calls to the Sonics from
> several Eastern Conference teams, specifically the Knicks, Pacers and 
> Celtics.
> 
> Seattle must decide whether Baker's return as one of the best-shooting big 
> men in the NBA is long lasting, or whether to unload the rest of his $87 
> million deal that expires in 2006.
> 
> For more news on the Sonics, visit the Seattle Times at
> www.seattletimes.com/sports.
> 
> 
> 
> Snoopy the Celtics Beagle