Antoine Walker's First Year in Green
Larry's loyal, so you'd expect him to sign on to whatever they do. But Larry's also Larry, which means he's not going to insult our intelligence by running any jive by us.
``I think this is going to be a special player for us,'' swears Larry Bird.
He is talking about Antoine Walker.
That's strong. Larry could cover himself by simply saying, ``He's a nice pick,'' or ``He's got good skills,'' or some other polite, tepid, meaningless assessment that would hide his true feelings.
Larry isn't doing that. Larry is putting his professional credibility on the line. Larry is the 1992 Frank Rich pulling out the superlatives for a Broadway show, thus insuring a solid year's run.
He thinks Antoine Walker has a chance to be a major keeper, a true All-Star.
``We got a very good player,'' Bird says. ``People are going to enjoy watching him play.''
But now hear this: Larry says he would have been equally effusive had the Celtics wound up with Ray Allen.
``At the end of last season, I said Ray Allen would be the No. 1 or No. 2 pick if he were to come out,'' Bird declares. ``That's how much I liked him. Guys here were teasing me all week. They said, `we're gonna go and find something wrong with him -- and they came up blank every time.''
Bird sees no real negatives with Walker. For example . . .
Shooting? ``He's not a bad shooter. He shot about 47 percent from the floor. He's a little bit of a streak shooter, but he'll improve. The pro game is different, and when he gets out on the floor and gets a few easy baskets his confidence will improve.''
Stamina? Walker probably played fewer minutes (27 a game) than any of the premier players in the 1996 draft. ``He may only have played 23 a game in college,'' Bird says, coming close enough to the actual figure, ``But that's like 35 down in Kentucky, the way they play.''
Maturity? Walker won't turn 20 until next month. ``He's obviously more mature than I was at 19,'' says Bird. ``I can't imagine coming out after my freshman year, like a few of these guys. At 19, I wasn't even old enough to drink a beer. Although I did.''
Attitude? ``He likes to play,'' Bird maintains. ``He really likes to play. It's like NOT_FOUNDWalterNOT_FOUND McCarty. He's always happy on the basketball court. NOT_FOUNDRickNOT_FOUND Pitino did a real good job recruiting these players. You need guys who'll be ready to play 82 games, not 40.''
This is Year 4 of the Executive Bird, as opposed to the Athlete Bird. This is the only time of the year vox populi is reminded that Larry is indeed on the payroll, and not just a number hanging in the rafters. The fact is that he is active in the scouting process. He does get out there during the year and during the NCAA tournament. He does sit home and watch college game after college game on his TV. And he is very much an active participant in the selection process. He has signed on publicly to the last three picks, and he isn't about to make apologies for any of them, including the now-departed Eric Montross.
``I like our last three picks,'' Bird reiterates. ``From my standpoint, we've done well the last three years. The thing about Eric was that his style wasn't going to fit with what M.L. wants to do. The trade will work out well for both sides.''
Bird has been able to form a few opinions about the draft process. Like many of us, he is alternately amused and perplexed by the basic methodology, in which people launch annual searches for perfect players, when just plain OK players will do.
``It's amazing,'' he says. ``I will go see a player and either he can score and rebound and run and jump, or he can't. Then I will look at these scouting reports and I'll go half crazy. They keep changing. After I see what I want to see, I make a few notes and then go on to the next one. People like to find the smallest thing wrong with these guys and focus on what they can't do, rather than what they can do.''
Bird is willing to plug into the overall organizational optimism. He thinks the Dallas deal was a very sound move.
``I knew we'd get a good player at six,'' Bird says. ``We got Dallas' pick next year, and I'm a firm believer that if you can get two good picks -- and, let's be realistic -- they should both be good picks.''
And six was good enough for Bird, who believed that either Allen or Walker would upgrade the team. He saw no need to move up a notch or two.
``I think we got a heckuva player at six,'' Bird says. ``Why make a trade? Why move up to four and maybe lose a pick for next year?''
After a decade of disappointment and much more than their share of heartache, the Celtics are finally walking around with smiles on their faces. Eric Williams has a chance to be a decent player. David Wesley took a huge step upward last year. Walker is a very intriguing player. And there are the two 1997 first-rounders on the horizon. Is the Celtic sky finally turning a little blue?
``I hope,'' says Bird. ``God, I hope so. It's time to buckle down and give the fans what they really deserve -- a winner.''
So Larry will be back in the hunt next year, scouring this great land of ours for the next quasi-savior -- wherever he may be. ``Things are moving forward here,'' Bird says. ``We've got the opportunity to get at least one great player next year. He might be in eighth grade.''
Larry's loyal, so you'd expect him to sign on to whatever they do. But Larry's also Larry, which means he's not going to insult our intelligence by running any jive by us.
``I think this is going to be a special player for us,'' swears Larry Bird.
He is talking about Antoine Walker.
That's strong. Larry could cover himself by simply saying, ``He's a nice pick,'' or ``He's got good skills,'' or some other polite, tepid, meaningless assessment that would hide his true feelings.
Larry isn't doing that. Larry is putting his professional credibility on the line. Larry is the 1992 Frank Rich pulling out the superlatives for a Broadway show, thus insuring a solid year's run.
He thinks Antoine Walker has a chance to be a major keeper, a true All-Star.
``We got a very good player,'' Bird says. ``People are going to enjoy watching him play.''
But now hear this: Larry says he would have been equally effusive had the Celtics wound up with Ray Allen.
``At the end of last season, I said Ray Allen would be the No. 1 or No. 2 pick if he were to come out,'' Bird declares. ``That's how much I liked him. Guys here were teasing me all week. They said, `we're gonna go and find something wrong with him -- and they came up blank every time.''
Bird sees no real negatives with Walker. For example . . .
Shooting? ``He's not a bad shooter. He shot about 47 percent from the floor. He's a little bit of a streak shooter, but he'll improve. The pro game is different, and when he gets out on the floor and gets a few easy baskets his confidence will improve.''
Stamina? Walker probably played fewer minutes (27 a game) than any of the premier players in the 1996 draft. ``He may only have played 23 a game in college,'' Bird says, coming close enough to the actual figure, ``But that's like 35 down in Kentucky, the way they play.''
Maturity? Walker won't turn 20 until next month. ``He's obviously more mature than I was at 19,'' says Bird. ``I can't imagine coming out after my freshman year, like a few of these guys. At 19, I wasn't even old enough to drink a beer. Although I did.''
Attitude? ``He likes to play,'' Bird maintains. ``He really likes to play. It's like NOT_FOUNDWalterNOT_FOUND McCarty. He's always happy on the basketball court. NOT_FOUNDRickNOT_FOUND Pitino did a real good job recruiting these players. You need guys who'll be ready to play 82 games, not 40.''
This is Year 4 of the Executive Bird, as opposed to the Athlete Bird. This is the only time of the year vox populi is reminded that Larry is indeed on the payroll, and not just a number hanging in the rafters. The fact is that he is active in the scouting process. He does get out there during the year and during the NCAA tournament. He does sit home and watch college game after college game on his TV. And he is very much an active participant in the selection process. He has signed on publicly to the last three picks, and he isn't about to make apologies for any of them, including the now-departed Eric Montross.
``I like our last three picks,'' Bird reiterates. ``From my standpoint, we've done well the last three years. The thing about Eric was that his style wasn't going to fit with what M.L. wants to do. The trade will work out well for both sides.''
Bird has been able to form a few opinions about the draft process. Like many of us, he is alternately amused and perplexed by the basic methodology, in which people launch annual searches for perfect players, when just plain OK players will do.
``It's amazing,'' he says. ``I will go see a player and either he can score and rebound and run and jump, or he can't. Then I will look at these scouting reports and I'll go half crazy. They keep changing. After I see what I want to see, I make a few notes and then go on to the next one. People like to find the smallest thing wrong with these guys and focus on what they can't do, rather than what they can do.''
Bird is willing to plug into the overall organizational optimism. He thinks the Dallas deal was a very sound move.
``I knew we'd get a good player at six,'' Bird says. ``We got Dallas' pick next year, and I'm a firm believer that if you can get two good picks -- and, let's be realistic -- they should both be good picks.''
And six was good enough for Bird, who believed that either Allen or Walker would upgrade the team. He saw no need to move up a notch or two.
``I think we got a heckuva player at six,'' Bird says. ``Why make a trade? Why move up to four and maybe lose a pick for next year?''
After a decade of disappointment and much more than their share of heartache, the Celtics are finally walking around with smiles on their faces. Eric Williams has a chance to be a decent player. David Wesley took a huge step upward last year. Walker is a very intriguing player. And there are the two 1997 first-rounders on the horizon. Is the Celtic sky finally turning a little blue?
``I hope,'' says Bird. ``God, I hope so. It's time to buckle down and give the fans what they really deserve -- a winner.''
So Larry will be back in the hunt next year, scouring this great land of ours for the next quasi-savior -- wherever he may be. ``Things are moving forward here,'' Bird says. ``We've got the opportunity to get at least one great player next year. He might be in eighth grade.''
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