Spreading the Wealth: C's Post Nine Players in Double Figures

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Spreading the Wealth: C's Post Nine Players in Double Figures

March 7, 2002

News Flash: Antoine Walker acknowledges that the acquisition of Rodney Rogers and Tony Delk, and the Celtics' emphasis on spreading out the offense, will give him fewer attempts each game.

Real News Flash: Walker doesn't mind.

   Last night, as Boston blew out Orlando, 130-110, and placed nine players in double figures, Walker was 5 for 11 from the field. Circle the number 11. It was the fewest shots Walker has attempted in a game this season. His previous low was against Detroit Jan. 11, when he went 1 for 14. Paul Pierce went 6 for 11 against the Magic, though that did not beat his season low of 10 attempts, in the same Detroit game. Kenny Anderson finished with the most attempts, going 6 for 12.

"We've been a team in the past, especially in the last two years, that has been dominated by me and Paul," said Walker. "To finally be able to get nine guys in double figures is a great thing. Every night's going to be different. But with us, me and Paul, you're going to see our shot attempts come down. I'm not saying dramatically, but it's going to be a situation where we believe in each other and we believe other guys can step up and score for us. Oh yeah, [it's fine to have fewer attempts]. I'm just trying to win, man. There's 22 games left. It's all about W's right now."

General manager Chris Wallace was not surprised by the offensive depth the Celtics showed. "It was tremendous," said Wallace. "I remember looking up and we were around 100 points and Paul and Antoine had scored like 30 something at that point. It was great. Everybody seemed to feed off of each other. There's been a lot of strides made integrating [Delk and Rogers] into the team here over the last five days." Raging Rivers

Orlando coach Doc Rivers arrived in Boston $7,500 poorer, but certainly got his money's worth protesting the officiating during Tuesday's Magic-Pacers game. Stu Jackson, NBA vice president of basketball operations, announced yesterday that Rivers was fined for failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his fourth-quarter ejection and publically criticizing referees Violet Palmer, Mike Callahan, and Ron Garretson. "It was one of the worst officiated games I've ever seen," said Rivers, following the 111-98 loss at Indianapolis. "I thought it was horrible. If [the play on] Darrell Armstrong wasn't a charge, I haven't seen a charge. If Jermaine O'Neal was not grabbing Darrell by the face, I've never seen a foul. If I can see that from the bench, you can't tell me the officials can't see that. They just decided we're not going to make any calls. I had to get it [the fine] the way they were treating Darrell. I felt it wasn't right. Tracy [McGrady] was frustrated all night, and Darrell was out of his mind. We got bad calls. It absolutely had an effect on the game." . . . Horace Grant did not dress because of back spasms . . . The Magic are finishing a seven-game road trip, the longest in franchise history . . . Tony Battie missed his second game with lower leg swelling. The Celtics hope he will be ready for tomorrow's contest vs. Detroit.