Re: The Off-Season: The Baker Buyout

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

Here's one thing I won't lay at Obie's feet. (Not that Ray is doing that either.)

Vin has no one to blame for this but himself. Obie gave him every opportunity early in the season and kept playing Vin even after he clearly had started regressing. Obie was Vin's biggest cheerleader early in the season when Vin was doing well. He used Vin pretty well and consistently praised his play and effort.

But Vin started to play like he played last year. He's put on eight pounds since the start of the season (how could anyone possibly play NBA basketball and put on weight? Unless they're drinking... but he's being tested, right?). It might as well be 80. He's slow laterally, getting up and down the floor and getting off the floor. He's bobbling the ball and making boneheaded plays when he does manage to catch it. He looked like a different person in November. Now he looks like the Vin of a year ago. That's not Obie's fault.

I hope the team is testing him every day. If one test comes back positive for alcohol, I hope they void that contract before Baker can blink. The Celtics, by all accounts, were very good to Vin through this process. If he's drinking again, that's his problem. The team doesn't owe him anything more.

More likely, though, is the typical Vin Baker scenario. I forget which writer it was - Frank Hughes, maybe - but one of them said Vin plays hard just long enough to make a good impression, then quits and starts making excuses. I think that's what's happening here. Typical Vin Baker. It's like I said before the season started, when he looked so good - the second you start to count on Vin, that's when he breaks your heart.

You'll never again see me lobby for more playing time for Baker. He's already sabotaged this season. If he had maintained his early-season level of play, he'd still be logging 30 minutes, dropping in a high-percentage 15 ppg and giving the team the low-post presence it needs. And Walter still would be buried at the end of the bench. Nope. I'm finished with him and I hope the team is, too. If he slips, void the contract. If he doesn't, buy him out. Whatever. I want him as far away from my team as he can get.

Mark

P.S. In his chat today, Dr. Jack answered a long question about the Celtics from someone who could be a list member. Same complaints we all have, although this guy harped on the Harter defense more than most of us. Anyway, Jack said this is a hard team to coach and not the team Obie wanted... GASP!!! I thought he and Ainge were on the same page? Obie has to go. I'm sure there's a GM and team out there that would gladly hire the guy and let him do things his way, but Ainge doesn't want them done that way. He's giving Obie an Ainge team (like we all want). Obie wants an Obie team (like Walter and Blount the Blitzer want).