The Official: Antoine Walker SUCKS thread

[Charlie Brown]

Bill Simmons was dead on about his assessment of Antoine Walker and his future with the Mavs.

This was article from beginning of the season.


1. Dallas Mavericks


Antoine Walker's got skills, but he may not be the right fit in Dallas.
Before you read everything that's about to follow, let's get one thing straight: I love having these guys in the league. I even enjoy Mark Cuban's work. And they should win 60 games, no questions asked.


I just don't agree with what they did this summer. Here was the logic: Since we can't stop Shaq and Duncan, maybe we can outscore them ... so let's put as many scorers as possible on the floor and see what happens.


That's fine. I just think they brought in the wrong guys. Antawn Jamison hated playing small forward for Golden State ... you think he'll enjoy getting 25 minutes as the fifth option on the Mavs? Yeah, maybe for a couple of months ... but what happens in February, when they're playing their fifth game in eight days, and Nellie "plays a hunch" and gives Josh Howard 35 minutes while Jamison stews on the bench? I can't imagine this working out. You need someone like Eddie Najera in that role, an unselfish guy who thrives on taking charges, getting garbage baskets and tracking down loose balls. Jamison isn't that type of player. He's more of a black hole.


And Antoine Walker ... believe me, I watched him for seven years straight. He can't get to the line. He can't score down low against any above-average defender (Kenyon Martin simply demolished him last May). He launches an utterly ludicrous amount of threes. Statistically, he's a 38-percent shooter who took an astounding 1,554 shots to score 1,570 points last season. Think about that for a second. For instance, Duncan took 1,374 shots to score 1,884 points, and Nowitzki took 1,489 shots to score 2,011 points. Walker barely averaged one point per shot. Was there a less efficient All-Star in the league?


Now throw this in: He's a below-average defender. He stopped rebounding about three years ago. Maybe he'll make "SportsCenter" with an occasional highlight pass, but you won't see the three other passes he bounced off the basket support that same night. And he was such a dominant personality in Boston, his teammates tuned him out after awhile -- did you notice how none of the Celtics spoke up against the trade (not even Paul Pierce or Jim O'Brien)?


Antoine's best quality doubled as his worst quality: His unwavering belief that he's the best player on the floor in every game. That's fine when you're playing in Boston, but watch what happens in Dallas -- in close games, much like Van Exel did last spring, he'll keep launching shots that should have gone to better scorers. Eventually, Nelson won't play him in crunch time anymore, which will destroy Twan because A.) he needs numbers (it's a contract year for him); and B.) he won't handle being an afterthought on a 60-win team. I already feel bad for him and the season hasn't even started yet.


On a bigger stage, I just feel that Twan's considerable flaws will be magnified for everyone to see. It's too bad. He really does care. He just isn't nearly as good as he thinks. In theory, he's perfect for them -- someone who can handle the ball, score down low against the right matchups, drain an occasional big three, and provide some of that swagger that Van Exel gave them. I just don't think Twan will accept being a complementary player. After watching him for his entire career, including about 200 games in person, I feel pretty safe making that statement.


As for the Mavericks, it's all relative: Any team with Nowitzki, Nash, Finley and six decent teammates is going to win 60, and any team that can play Walker, Jamison and Travis Best against everyone else's second string has an enormous advantage in this league. But they will never, ever, EVER beat a Lakers team with a motivated, ticked-off Shaq. Not in this lifetime.

[Dooby]

For those who read Walker's agent's comments in the paper today, the message between the lines was "I ain't opting out." Walker is toning it down today, but this summer there will be a lot of people trying to move Walker, including Walker.

[Charlie Brown]

for anyone interested, here's link

http://espn.go.com/page2/s/simmons/031030.html

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Dooby
For those who read Walker's agent's comments in the paper today, the message between the lines was "I ain't opting out." Walker is toning it down today, but this summer there will be a lot of people trying to move Walker, including Walker.

I'd bet sike's house that Walker lobbies to be traded to Cleveland to be with his buddies EWill, Battie, and LeBron. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: Dooby
Bob and Dan played the whole post-game interview with Walker on their show. Unedited. All 2+ minutes worth. Guys, the guy is sorry. Parts of it at the beginning made me think he was taken out of context, but then he just keeps going and going for two minutes -digging a hole for himself.

"Have the coaches talked to you?" "No. Hopefully someday they will." "Have you tried to talk to the coaches?" "No. Don't plan to."

This guy does not want to be here.

He should want to be here because this is the only team that will actually let him play reckless like he does.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs

He should want to be here because this is the only team that will actually let him play reckless like he does.

Well maybe the time has come for Walker to go to a team that has a real coach who will NOT LET HIM PLAY RECKLESS.


THIS ISN'T STREETBALL!! THIS IS THE NBA!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: bernardos70
What's really sad is Walker doesn't really suck, and we know he doesn't........ that's what makes it frustrating watching him play the way he has these last few games [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

This is the best post of this thread. Walker is not this bad folks. I know we hate how bad he is shooting from the filed but this guy is missing 2 footers from the rim. How long will this last? It can't possibly last to long. If Walker would hit the shots he is suppose to he would be shooting in the 46% range. He shoots jumpers here and there but that isn't why his percentage from the field is so bad.

[sike]

I'd bet sike's house that Walker lobbies to be traded to Cleveland to be with his buddies EWill, Battie, and LeBron. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

hey.....bet your own stuff!
on topic: toine does not suck....FOR THE RECORD: he just grew up in a neighborhood where shooting well was considered uncool...their motto was: it cant be slick if it aint an ugly brick.......*sigh*

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: MightyToine

Well maybe the time has come for Walker to go to a team that has a real coach who will NOT LET HIM PLAY RECKLESS.


THIS ISN'T STREETBALL!! THIS IS THE NBA!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]

What? Why are you blaiming Nellie for Walker's horrible play? That's to easy. There is nothing streetball about Walker's game he is just missing layups and put backs. He makes those he benefits us. Nellie is not making this guy play bad.

[sike]

There is nothing streetball about Walker's game he is just missing layups and put backs

exibit 1-A disproving this argument: "he is just missing layups and put backs"
judgement: GUILTY OF POSSION OF A STREETBALL STYLE SKILL SET
sentence: NEXT SEASON, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PLAY FOR MAVS.....
community comment: YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

[MightyToine]

But Filthy,

Walker's strength is rebounding the ball....Why doesn't he focus on THAT and work on his other STRENGTHS(passing, ballhandling...) from that point?

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: MightyToine
But Filthy,

Walker's strength is rebounding the ball....Why doesn't he focus on THAT and work on his other STRENGTHS(passing, ballhandling...) from that point?

I don't know ask Walker but you can't blame Nellie for that. You can blame Nellie for plenty of things but not Walkers play as of late. BTW, how does Walker not focus on rebounding? Doesn't he lead the team in boards? He had 8 in 18 minutes the other day.

[sike]

nope. Dirk and Walker are tied at 8.6 a game.....

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: sike
nope. Dirk and Walker are tied at 8.6 a game.....

Walker has 543 boards and Dirk has 496. I didn't say he averaged the most boards I said he lead the team with boards.

[Evilmav2]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs

Walker has 543 boards and Dirk has 496. I didn't say he averaged the most boards I said he lead the team with boards.

As of today, Dirk and Antoine are tied in their rebounding averages with a rate of 8.60 rpg. Thus Walker is both our quantatative and qualatative (sharing honors with Dirk) rebounding leader.

[sike]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs

Walker has 543 boards and Dirk has 496. I didn't say he averaged the most boards I said he lead the team with boards.

Semantics. *yawn*

[PubaNWO]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
But Puba, I just told you that Dirk and Nash have been in the lineup WITH Walker in almost all of his Top 10 lineups (I didn't mention it but Fin is also in 8 of them). He's getting plenty of opportunities to play with the team's best players.

Yes, Walker does get to play with Dirk and Nash and Finley at the starts of games.......where there have been MANY slow starts in most games this year.


I don't think that was the norm last year.

[grndmstr_c]

Yes, Walker does get to play with Dirk and Nash and Finley at the starts of games.......where there have been MANY slow starts in most games this year.


I don't think that was the norm last year.

You're right. It wasn't. And I have a hunch why...Antoine Walker wasn't starting last year.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: sike

Semantics. *yawn*

Painting your house.....*snore*... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c

You're right. It wasn't. And I have a hunch why...Antoine Walker wasn't starting last year.

I have a different Hunch...Nellie is still coaching this team.

[grndmstr_c]

MT, Nellie's style of coaching was a big reason the Mavs were so explosive last year. Nellie's culpable this year in so far as he has allowed Walker to junk up the mavs offensive flow and take the ball out of the hands of their best offensive players, but it's still Antoine's play that has been the major problem.

[OutletPass]

Donnie's comments from the FWST:

Walker said he's never been a high-percentage shooter, so his shooting percentage is always going to cause concern. Nelson contends Walker shouldn't worry about scoring.

"This team doesn't need people to score the basketball," Nelson said. "We have plenty of those. Walker is our triple-double guy. He has to pass the basketball and rebound. We don't necessarily want Walker taking 20 shots a game. We need him to focus in on moving the basketball and defending and rebounding."

-- Ok, NO ONE can say that he hasn't been told NOW. We'll see what happens. In all honesty, I'd rather get back to talking about the rest of the team.

[mary]

Thus Walker is both our quantatative and qualatative (sharing honors with Dirk) rebounding leader.

I guess that depends on your definition of "qualitative".



(6:50) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
(6:49) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed

(9:40) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
(9:38) [DAL] Walker Jump Shot: Missed

(6:39) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:5 Def:2)
(6:38) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed

(5:36) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:5 Def:3)
(5:31) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed


Fat lot of good it does to rebound the ball if you're just going chunk it at the basket.

[Evilmav2]

Originally posted by: mary

I guess that depends on your definition of "qualitative".



(6:50) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:1 Def:2)
(6:49) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed

(9:40) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:3 Def:2)
(9:38) [DAL] Walker Jump Shot: Missed

(6:39) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:5 Def:2)
(6:38) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed

(5:36) [DAL] Walker Rebound (Off:5 Def:3)
(5:31) [DAL] Walker Layup Shot: Missed


Fat lot of good it does to rebound the ball if you're just going chunk it at the basket.

Ahhh... I see the Antoine scapegoating parade is happily marching on today...

Antoine Walker is currently the 20th ranked rebounder in the NBA, and has been a critical, key factor in our improving from the 24th best rebounding team in 02-03 into the 3rd best this season. In my book, that is qualitatively excellent production- particularly when you consider how pathetic Raef's production was last year.

Walker is obviously having problems right now, but I find it patently ridiculous to see how many of y'all are employing weak, intellectually bereft, and often disingenuous arguments to prove your points about how bad Walker "sucks". The above cited post is an absolutely perfect example of this. How does cutting and pasting a couple of in-game snippets from an unspecified game (I assume you are referring to the Phoenix game mary) do anything to show whether or not Antoine is a good, "quality" rebounder?

I would say, it doesn't, and I would further say that Antoine's qualitatively strong production this year should mandate that he be given a little bit of support and toleration by fans as he struggles to adjust his game in the swirling confusion of Nelson's 03-04 substitution patterns.

I have been as disapointed in Walker's recent play as anyone, and of course that three game losing streak has obviously stoked the fire under the cauldron in which Antoine is boiling (interestingly enough, Walker's minutes were paltry in all of those losses- In my opinion, the poor play of the Big Three and our assorted stable of role players lost those games- not Walker), but I have confidence that if given the chance, he is good enough player that can find his game again. In that vein, I hope the coaching staff and the many feckless and foolish Mavs fans who have vocally condemned and disliked Walker all year long (and I am thinking of the idiots in the stands more than anybody on an informed board like this) will give Walker support as he tries to right his ship and hopefully is able to return to being the prolific rebounder and passer that so strongly helped us survive the first two months of this season.

If he isn't given that chance- or if he fails in such said enterprise- I have an awful feeling our playoff goose is going to be cooked this year (well done to burned).

[Bayliss]

Antoine Walker is currently the 20th ranked rebounder in the NBA, and has been a critical, key factor in our improving from the 24th best rebounding team in 02-03 into the 3rd best this season. In my book, that is qualitatively excellent production- particularly when you consider how pathetic Raef's production was last year.

Walker is obviously having problems right now, but I find it patently ridiculous to see how many of y'all are employing weak, intellectually bereft, and often disingenuous arguments to prove your points about how bad Walker "sucks". The above cited post is an absolutely perfect example of this. How does cutting and pasting a couple of in-game snippets from an unspecified game (I assume you are referring to the Phoenix game mary) do anything to show whether or not Antoine is a good, "quality" rebounder?

Just as if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear does it make a sound... if Antoine grabs offensive rebounds and continously fails to capitalize on them do they really "help" our team?

Antoine's Walker's offensive rebounding has the same effect on the Mavs as the opponent's just grabbing the board. He rarely converts his opportunity, and it usually leads to a fast break on the other end.

[mary]

Evil, with all due respect, I'm part of no scapegoating parade. I'm not trying to place the weight of the entire season upon poor "I need more than 18 minutes" Antoine Walker. I myself at times have thought he's the brunt of entirely too much criticism. At that time, I believed he was honestly trying to scale back his game and become the role player we so desperately need. His play has totally frustrated me, but I at least thought he was willing to sacrifice just at much as everyone else has to make this thing work. Hell, to tell you the truth, I've mostly just felt sorry for the guy.

But after the Phoenix game, I think A-Dubya made it pretty clear, that role playing is not what makes Antoine Walker happy. Breaking a 3 game losing streak is not what makes Antoine Walker happy. Staying in the race for HCA is not what makes Antoine Walker happy.

There's one thing that makes him happy - and that's minutes. Without enough minutes and enough shots, he simply can not put any points on the board - he's a self-proclaimed volume shooter. And now, he's a disgruntled volume shooter and that's not what the Mavs need right now.

You know, its not that he got upset about sitting on the bench. I'm sure every player gets pissed about it. I just really detested the way he handled it. Its also the fact that he refused to admit that there was a link between his production and his minutes. He even suggested that perhaps he was getting sat so Nelson could take a look at other guys. That's just really stupid. I just find it astounding that a player can play poorly for so long and be in denial about it. On his radio show last night, even though he spent most of it backtracking and being the "team" player, he still refused to say there was anything wrong with bitching about PT after a WIN.

Even after having a full day to sit and think about what he said, I still feel like he just didn't "get it".

As far as his rebounding goes, yes he can fill up that little space on the box score. But surely you see that there's a difference between qualitity rebounding and quantity rebounding. Surely you see that if Walker's rebounds result in a Walker miss or a Walker TO, the rebound is quite useless.

In the Phoenix game, a missed shot was the result of half of his rebounds. Is it an anomaly? I don't really think so. I think we've all seen AW miss put-backs and lay-ups on a pretty consistent basis. And we've all seen him grab a defensive board and race down the floor to jack up that three that everyone knows has very little chance of falling through the hoop.

Its great to grab a rebound, but unless you make a good decision after you grab that rebound, its really just another wasted possession.

[Evilmav2]

Originally posted by: Bayliss

Just as if a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear does it make a sound... if Antoine grabs offensive rebounds and continously fails to capitalize on them do they really "help" our team?

Antoine's Walker's offensive rebounding has the same effect on the Mavs as the opponent's just grabbing the board. He rarely converts his opportunity, and it usually leads to a fast break on the other end.

With all due respect, I say that is absolute hogwash.

I was originally talking about the great rebounding productivity of Antoine for this year's Mavs, and I say you can't ingenuously dilute or dismiss the impact of twentieth best rebounder in the league by saying he, "continually fails to capitalize" on his offensive rebounds, or implying that somehow his offensive rebounding is a liability for the Mavs because you bizarrely think his offensive rebounding has, "the same effect on the Mavs as the opponent's just grabbing the board."

Were all 157 offensive rebounds that Walker snared this year a benefit for our foes and a detriment to the Mavs? Were they all just as beneficial to our opponents as if they themselves, "just grab[bed] the board"?

It severely strains my imagination to see how that could be...

Also, does your perception of the inability of Walker to convert his offensive rebounds, significantly detract from how positive you think the impact of his prolific snaring of 386 defensive rebounds has been for the Mavs this season (Raef got a total of 205 all last year)? And do you really think that bringing in a second double-double stalwart into our lineup has had nothing to do with this year's Mavs drastically improved rebounding numbers and abilities?

In my opinion Walker is far from a perfect player, but the one area where I just don't think that the complaints of any of y'all Walker critics have any legitimacy, is in criticizing the man's rebounding production.

I'll say that I have also disapointed with Walker's recent regression, but for my part, I just don't think that this Anti-Walker tar-and-feather party (and this thread is a great example of it) is justified considering the year-long positive impact on our team that Walker has made. In the light of his past productivity, and most importantly, because of the fact that we are really, really going to need this man in April, I am not going to join the parade and turn on Antoine the way the majority of Mavs fans seem to be doing lately.

Walker is an indisputably flawed, but also indisputably skilled and talented player, and mark my words- we are going to need him greatly by the time our disjointed and inconsistent Mavericks face the test of fire that will be this year's Western Conference playoffs...

[grndmstr_c]

Edit: newer version of the article posted.

[mary]

I have one of those Basketball Encyclopedias that's a couple of years old. It was published in 2001. Here's Antoine Walker's listing in "The Great Players" section.

Antoine Walker

Yet another perplexing personality, Walker is part of the new breed of players who enter the NBA way too cocky. Yes, he is good, very good. But all too often Walker tends to think he is better than he is. A rembarkable ballhandler for a player of his size, Walker can score from almost anywhere on the court. He just as easily can knock down the 3 pointer as score off an offensive rebound. But many opponents loathe a style that tends to draw attention to himself. Indeed, if there is one word most often used to describe Walker, its immaturity. It is why, despite talents that led Walker to being named first-team All-Rookie in 1997, the Celtics spent the next few seasons seeking possible trade options. Despite the off-court concerns, Walker is unlike many other talents in the league. He is at his best with a series of finesse moves around the basket, but also must be honored for his ability to hit the jumper. He also has the athleticism to paly the pressing defense style that was employed when he first joined the Celtics.

Some things have changed, while others have not.

[Day1MavsFan]

Originally posted by: FilthyFinMavs
Walker just said what was on his mind due to frustration. He has been holding back this whole season he has been here and he is just coming out saying it right now. This isn't Antawn Jamison we have here. A whole different personality here. Jamison got a taste of what is going on with the Mavs now at North Carolina. This is Walker's first time not being the big show. I'm all for Nellie benching the guy when he is playing bad. He has benched Dirk, Finley, and Nash for playing bad this season. Walker is no exception. I see were he is coming from however. He feels that he should be able to work out of his slump as others were given the chance. Keep at the boards and stay in the post Walker. You had 8 boards in 18 minutes last night. When your shot isn't falling find other ways to contribute.

What!!??? Be given a chance to work out of his slump? Nobody has been given more of a chance than Walker! He's been in a slump all season and Nellie keeps giving him 38 minutes. Only with 20 games left has Nellie finally cut his minutes. Anybody else that has slumped has seen their minutes reduced almost immediately, with the exception of Finley. And, Finley's slump was just a relatively short post-injury slump.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: Day1MavsFan

What!!??? Be given a chance to work out of his slump? Nobody has been given more of a chance than Walker! He's been in a slump all season and Nellie keeps giving him 38 minutes. Only with 20 games left has Nellie finally cut his minutes. Anybody else that has slumped has seen their minutes reduced almost immediately, with the exception of Finley. And, Finley's slump was just a relatively short post-injury slump.

I'm just assuming what the guy is thinking. Maybe he isn't thinking that but thats the impression I get by listening to him.

[Chiwas]

Don Nelson and Antoine Walker sat down for 30 minutes Wednesday to discuss life and basketball.

"Life: something that happens within 18 minutes of basketball; got that?"

[Bookit]

Briefly: Dirk Nowitzki missed practice today due to a stomach virus but did travel with the team to Sacramento, according to the team.

Great, Dirk finally starts playing agressively and he get sick. I hope he doesn't lose his aggressiveness.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: Bookit
Briefly: Dirk Nowitzki missed practice today due to a stomach virus but did travel with the team to Sacramento, according to the team.

Great, Dirk finally starts playing agressively and he get sick. I hope he doesn't lose his aggressiveness.

I hate to hear that. I want a healthy Dirk against the Kings.

[FilthyFinMavs]

Originally posted by: sike

Semantics. *yawn*

Yawn all you want but he leads this team in rebounds and he deserves credit for having his best rebounding season in his whole career. What you tried to do was give the guy no credit but sharing the lead honors with Dirk is not bad. He still leads the team in rebounds regardless.

[MavsFanFinley]

An updated version of the article grndmstr_c posted earlier today with quotes from Finley and Jamison.

Nelson attempts to clear air with Walker
Coach and player have 30-minute chat

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

Don Nelson and Antoine Walker sat down for 30 minutes Wednesday to discuss life and basketball.

The one thing that remained clear – and hasn't changed since James Naismith nailed up the first peach basket, really – is that Nelson has only one thing that Walker wants. And the coach made sure Walker understood that more playing time will not come from rocking the boat or voicing concerns publicly.

"He's my starter," Nelson said. "He's going to continue to start. But he's no different than anybody else. If a player is not playing well and somebody is playing better behind him, that guy is going to play.

"I'm not going to be intimidated by somebody yelling or screaming or pouting. That doesn't affect me. I'm going to do what's right as a coach. That's not going to get him any more or less playing time. We'll play the players who are producing. That's the way it should be and the way it has to be."

If that sounds like Nelson is drawing a line in the sand, so be it. At 63 and with two years on his contract to coach the Mavericks, playing time is Nelson's ultimate hole card. And it should be noted that he's not handling the Walker situation any differently than he has addressed playing time questions in the past.

"We all go through that stretch," Eduardo Najera said. "Whoever is playing the best is going to play. It's been like that ever since I got here. I'm used to that. Walk's probably not used to that. But he'll come around."

Walker declined to speak to media members after Wednesday's practice. The team then left for tonight's game at Sacramento, which will be the next chapter in the Walker saga. With Nelson making it clear that Walker will not play without upgrading his production from the 7.8 points he's averaged in the first five games in March, the onus falls on the 6-9 forward.

He said Tuesday that he did not want his individual struggles to become a distraction to his teammates.

But there is little doubt that Walker's decreased playing time – an average of 23 minutes in the last four games – has compounded his troubles on the floor. He's shot 13-of-48 in March, and while Walker has never been a high-percentage shooter, this is a poor stretch no matter how it is dissected.

"I'm a volume shooter," he said Tuesday. "But I want my teammates to be able to depend on me. And I want to win more than anything in the world."

Those attitudes will serve him well, although Nelson fingered several of Walker's teammates as having gone through similar struggles this season and said those players handled the situation better.

"It's not difficult for me," Nelson said. "It's obviously difficult for Walker, but not me. If Walker is not playing well, then somebody else is.

"And I'll tell you who is playing well, it's [Antawn] Jamison. If Jamison had complained, I wouldn't have liked it. But I wouldn't have been surprised. If anybody needs to play more, it's Jamison. He's shooting 51 percent. He's doing all the things we've asked him to do. But he hasn't cried about minutes.

"And [Josh] Howard deserves to play. He's a dominant young player right now. It's not that you're penalizing somebody. You're playing your best players in a particular stretch."

Jamison went through a down stretch in February which he appears to have snapped out of.

Earlier this season, Dirk Nowitzki struggled. So did Michael Finley. Admittedly, members of the Big Three are given a little more latitude by Nelson because of their successes in the past. But Jamison dealt with decreased minutes. So have Najera, Howard and Shawn Bradley.

"There's 240 minutes per game the last time I looked," Nelson said. "There's only so many to go around. There are players who deserve some of these minutes. And I'm going to [give] more minutes to guys who are playing the best. It doesn't matter who it is. And if somebody plays more, who's going to play less? It's the most undeserving [guy], the guy who is least productive or having a bad game. And that varies from game to game."

Finley, who has known Walker since the two were growing up together in Chicago, said he spoke with his friend briefly to discuss the matter.

"This is a different situation for him," Finley said. "He came from a situation where he was the focal point of the whole team to where now he's just a piece of the puzzle. He's going through some things right now, but he'll be OK. He's willing to put aside for the betterment of the team."

Considering that his teammates have done the same, Walker may have no choice.

"I had to sacrifice," said Jamison. "Mike has had to sacrifice. Dirk. Steve. You guys [in the media] have been right that there aren't not enough balls [to go around]. But the one thing that has made this work is we have unselfish guys, and the most important thing in that locker room is to win.

"We don't have anything to prove as individuals. The only thing we have to prove is how far we can get in these playoffs."

Starting tonight in Sacramento, we'll find out if the Mavericks are capable of keeping their focus on that, rather than Walker's situation.

[Murphy3]

During Nellie's show with Norm today, Nellie said that he had summoned Walker into a meeting previous to the Mavs last game but Walker did not show up.

[Murphy3]

what's amazing is that Nellie made a consciencious decision to make Walker the focal point of the offense going into the season instead of allowing Dirk to further his development as the go to guy.

[grndmstr_c]

Originally posted by: Murphy3
During Nellie's show with Norm today, Nellie said that he had summoned Walker into a meeting previous to the Mavs last game but Walker did not show up.

Any stated reason why Walker didn't show? That sure makes Walker's whining about not having been spoken to by the coaching staff ring a pretty hollow.

[Murphy3]

Nellie did say that the message supposedly didn't get to Walker. However, Nellie sounded very sarcastic when saying that the message to meet with him didn't get to Walker IMO.