Vin Baker Wants to Wear Da Green

October 19, 1997


Vin Baker would like to be a Celtic. Everyone knows that. But that had nothing to do with the Bucks trading Baker to the Sonics and winding up with Terrell Brandon and Tyrone Hill from the Cavaliers, said Milwaukee coach Chris Ford last night.



"Vin has two years left on his contract. Maybe the Celtics will be able to work something out with him," Ford said. "But we had the opportunity to get two good players for one and that's what we did."

The result is a Bucks team that appears to be a solid 43- to 45-win bunch. They have improved defensively with the addition of Michael Curry and Ervin Johnson. "This is new for all of us," Ford said. "So far it's been great with Terrell. Guys are happy because he can get them the ball."

It was mentioned to Ford that Brandon is still an unknown great to many basketball fans.

"Who doesn't know by now?" he said. "They should."

As for Baker, Celtic fans should watch his dealings with the Sonics. If he doesn't sign an extension, he would love to play in his native New England.

Packed it in early

With the way they played in last night's 118-96 loss, the Celtics could have used three or four Vin Bakers. The Bucks outscored them, 35-17, in the first quarter and the ugliness continued from there. Dee Brown and Travis Knight paced Boston with 16 points apiece. Celtics coach Rick Pitino said he expected his team to look like it did on Wednesday night in Lexington, Ky. The Celtics looked worse. In fact, they looked just as bad as they did in the first exhibition game in State College, Pa. The good thing for the Celtics is that no player looked demonstrably worse than another. And no one looked good in the first half (the Celtics trailed, 59-42). It's not as if the Celtics were busy touring Lambeau Field and the Packers Hall of Fame. They flew into town yesterday morning, watched film and prepared for the game. Their exhibition record is 0-4 . . . Bruce Bowen fell hard in the first quarter after a collision with Bucks rookie Jeff Nordgaard. He did not return and was diagnosed with a mild concussion . . . The Celtics had 13 turnovers in the first half and the Bucks scored 25 points off them.