The Official: Antoine Walker SUCKS thread

[mary]

Taken from thebac's NBA Insider post:

The Bad
Antoine Walker, Dallas Mavericks
Weak work: 1-3 record, 8.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 0.2 spg, 0 bpg, 28.2% shooting

I know he's not a good defender (only 2 blocks in his last 8 games), but I thought he could at least shoot the ball (6-for-13 from the free-throw line in last four games) and was for dang sure that the Mavericks traded for him because he could pass (10 assists last week to go along with 9 turnovers). By the way, Jiri Welsh hits a 3-pointer every 28 minutes and is now shooting 41 percent from long range for Boston as Walker sits at 27 percent in Dallas while making a 3-pointer every 30 minutes.

I'm still glad we did the trade, but it sounds like Jiri is coming along pretty nicely up there.

Dooby, I heard the entire interview as well. I think many that are defending him today (like the Hardline) did not actually hear the audio. Its not just what he says, its how he says it. Its so obvious that he has a real shitty attitude, and I didn't think that until last night.

If I'm not mistaken, the lead off question was a recounting of Nelson's comments about him being in a slump.

The very first word out of Walker's mouth?

A very sarcastic "WHATEVER" (kinda reminiscent of how a teenager would react)


I'm plenty guilty of flip-floping on Walker all year long, but for those of us that have been riding the fence, I think this is the deal-breaker.

He'll be hosting his radio show tonight on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. I'll be interested to see if he tries to recover from last night's tirade, or if he just continues to act like a total puss.

[OutletPass]

Dooby, I'm glad that you heard it and posted your comment. Only a few of us actually heard the entire interview last night and, obviously, the newspapers selected a 10 second portion of it to put in print. In print, it was out of context and you couldn't hear his tone of voice. In all honesty, I can't remember the last time a prominent Mav went public like this with his complaints about PT.

Why didn't he just keep quiet and talk to Nellie today?
The answer, I think, speaks volumes about Walker.

(ESPN radio in Dallas is 103.3 FM for those who don't know)

[PubaNWO]

Originally posted by: Flip3
This is a message to all of the give the man a chance crowd.
1. He can not shoot.
2. He can pass, BUT he commits more turnovers than assists,
3. He shows zero enthusiasm when the mavs make a big shot or play.(No team Support unless he is currently in the game)
4. He bitches after a win,
5. Jamison has been a starter all of his life, so there should be no talk of who has it worse.
6. Jamison has not played in the playoffs, BUT he has been in the NCAA tournament which has it's own pressures.
7. Jamison was the #1 man on his past team, and Walker was the #2.
8. Jamison doesn't bitch about minutes.
9. Fortson doesn't bitch about minutes.
10. Do I need to list the roster?
11. What we have here is a player that thinks of himself first and not his team.
12. His feelings do not need to impede the progress of this team. He is a man, not a child.
13. If he can't get it done in 18 min., Lord help him because I do not see him getting much more playing and acting like a jackass.
14. I do not know who would want this guy this summer, except Isaah who seems to collect bad players like T.Thomas.
15. I do not think that he will hurt Dirk's growth, because Nash will always give him the ball, assuming that he will be here.

1. He can shoot. He just can't MAKE more than 40% of his shots.
2. He is getting more asts than tos pal.
3. He hasn't been a "cheerleader" because the team has not been winning lately...get a clue!
4. He only bitched after this win because coincidentally it was the game which he had his season low in minutes! Woulda happened after a loss pal.
5. Jamison came off the bench in college. He knows how to play the role. Its hard for him but it's MUCH harder for Walker.
6. Walker has played in the Tourney as well and his team won it all.
7. Jamison being number one on a bad GS team is not news.....or hard to do either. Walker WAS the number one guy till Paul Pierce showed up and Walker gladly deferred to him.
8. Jamison has not complained about minutes because he knows his role. Walkers role has been changing ritually all season long.
9. Fortson has bitched enough about minutes on past teams....he's learned it doesn't help.
10. Only if you don't know it.
11. Totally wrong. If he thought of himself first he'd be taking 25 shots a night and complaining from day one about not GETTING 42 minues a game which is what he averaged in Boston. He'd be griping about how he needs to get his stats up because his contract is about to be up....but he hasn't done that. He's played like an All-Star early on in the season when needed. He's cut back on his 3's from the start of the
season from 8 to 5 and now he's been taking 3 at most regularly. He's worked on his free throws all year but hasn't showed good results till recently. He's had to play back-up PG as a Point Forward recently in Nash's absence. His assists and rebounds were up at one point in the year while he scored and shot less to accomodate the team. Walker's only chemistry "problem" is that he wants to win so bad and that he wants to help contribute to the win that he gets too down on himself and probably makes Dirk and Nash feel bad about themselves too (hard to fathom). In the end Walker is a Mav and he's not going to want to play anywhere where he is getting 18 min and not being appreciated for playing a role......I'm telling you guys he will continue to play "bad" because he won't be given the minutes to break out in the game he's struggling in. You have seen for yourself Walker can score in bunches and get on hot streaks but after a streak of 7 misses. He can also rebound like mad and cut up the defense with his penetration and creative passing. He is not a cancer like you think he is.....get over it!
12. They're not. No one is making a big deal about this but the fans and the media.
13. He isn't acting like a jack ass just guy frustrated and wanting more time to show he can help this team.
14. If the Mavs "get rid" of Walker they will never win a championship in their history of existence.
15. Walker isn't good enough to hurt Dirk's "growth" that is a stupid assumption from the get go......

[mary]

14. If the Mavs "get rid" of Walker they will never win a championship in their history of existence.

Are you saying what I think you're saying?? The Mavs will never ever win a championship if they get rid of Antoine Walker? The only impact AW will have on the future of this team, is in terms of what we can get in exchange for his expiring contract. Period.

Buh-bye credibility.

[PubaNWO]

Is there a link I can listen to 103.3 on the web??

[DNNF]

Originally posted by: PubaNWO
Is there a link I can listen to 103.3 on the web??

PubaNWO = the Old Mighty Toine

[Chiwas]

Please, keep this thread on topic.

The topic is "Antoine Walker SUCKS".

[DNNF]

Originally posted by: Chiwas
Please, keep this thread on topic.

The topic is "Antoine Walker SUCKS".

PubaNWO = the Old Mighty Toine

and Antoine Walker still SUCKS.

[Chiwas]

It wasn't for your post about Mighty, DNNF. (Btw, where is Mighty, was banned?)

It was for the Mighty's club. He opened the "Cudos to Walker" where we had to talk good sh... stuff about Walker.

Now this is for supporting the "Walker SUCKS" line.

I'm just kidding, but Nelson has had a relief with this thread. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: DNNF

PubaNWO = the Old Mighty Toine

and Antoine Walker still SUCKS.

oh yeah?

welll...umm..umm..uhh...you suck...or something. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]




If anyone listens to his show, PLEASE INFORM THOSE WHO CANNOT what he says and what the fans that call in say. Okay? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

I'm curious as to whether he will backtrack on his statements or just expound on them....



Oh and I think my IP was banned on the ESPN Messageboard for some reason.... [img]i/expressions/rolleye.gif[/img]

Too much negativity is bad for the soul.....and the bandwidth, apparently. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[Chiwas]

Hey, Mighty! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Well, it's the turn of Walker. Every Mav passes through the D-M doghouse sooner or later. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: Chiwas
Hey, Mighty! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Well, it's the turn of Walker. Every Mav passes through the D-M doghouse sooner or later. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Yep. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt ONLY because I'm counting on him Turning it up a notch come playoff time when the Games REALLY matter....


(Yeah I know what I said earlier but after thinking it over, I still have that to hang my hat on)

[mavsman55]

Originally posted by: PubaNWO

14. If the Mavs "get rid" of Walker they will never win a championship in their history of existence.

Don't get me wrong... everyone's opinion is important... but maybe you should find another way to word that. Did that come out wrong or something? Walker's +/- rating is so horribly pathetic right now I couldn't see Dallas winning a championship if he ever did get more than 18 minutes in a game. Good player, but not the right style for Dallas.

[PubaNWO]

Have Dirk run the point and play with the second unit, while Walker gets to sit with Finley and Nash.....see how Dirk's plus/minus turns out.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: PubaNWO
Have Dirk run the point and play with the second unit, while Walker gets to sit with Finley and Nash.....see how Dirk's plus/minus turns out.

Touche, Puba. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: Chiwas
Hey, Mighty! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

Well, it's the turn of Walker. Every Mav passes through the D-M doghouse sooner or later. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

Its strange; Najera was in most peoples' doghouses for a while and now he is playing better than anyone could have expected in the last couple of games and Walker (the three time allstar) is underperforming worse than anyone could have imagined.

At least we are happy with one of them.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: EricaLubarsky

Its strange; Najera was in most peoples' doghouses for a while and now he is playing better than anyone could have expected in the last couple of games and Walker (the three time allstar) is underperforming worse than anyone could have imagined.

At least we are happy with one of them.

Maybe Walker will emerge from the Doghouse come playoff-time and revert back to the Triple-double threat we had earlier this season, Erica... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]


(I'm not holding my breath though....but I'm still hoping)

[grndmstr_c]

Oh, for god's sake, Puba. The team has made its runs in recent games with Walker being benched in favor of those second unit guys. And besides that, who do you think AJ has been forced to play alongside all year? He's managed to maintain a very respectable +/- despite getting less minutes alongside Dirk than Walker. In fact, in every single one of Walker's Top 10 lineups minute-wise he's played alongside Dirk. By contrast, in only five of AJ's Top 10 has he been on the floor with Dirk. In nine of Walker's Top 10 he's played alongside Nash. For AJ it's only 6. If you want to preach patience with Walker that's one thing, but to act like he hasn't been playing poorly and hurting the team with his inability to play intelligently just makes no sense.

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
Oh, for god's sake, Puba. The team has made its runs in recent games with Walker being benched in favor of those second unit guys. And besides that, who do you think AJ has been forced to play alongside all year? He's managed to maintain a very respectable +/- despite getting less minutes alongside Dirk than Walker. In fact, in every single one of Walker's Top 10 lineups minute-wise he's played alongside Dirk. By contrast, in only five of AJ's Top 10 has he been on the floor with Dirk. In nine of Walker's Top 10 he's played alongside Nash. For AJ it's only 6. If you want to preach patience with Walker that's one thing, but to act like he hasn't been playing poorly and hurting the team with his inability to play intelligently just makes no sense.

Amen to that

[tartufe]

Talk about changing the tone of a few comment by an upset player and twisting them into something they weren't.

Antoine was upset and was asked a question and he answered it. He was as politically correct as someone like Antoine can be.
The below quote says it all to me and puts everything he said into perspective. He might be upset right now but he is still going to give it his all. If I felt I was wronged I wouldn't be giving this kind of effort I would be telling everyone to go to hell and I would be doing what I want.

Antoine is as upset as he is because he is an competitor. He hates to lose and he hates to not contribute. If Dirk had that kind of drive we would have a title already.

"It's the first time I've dealt with this in my career. I've never played 18 minutes in my life. It's hard for me to adjust to it. It's kind of late in the season, so I'm just going to have to deal with it. My goal has to be to try to keep focused and help this team win. It's tough, man. I'm trying to grind through it."

[MightyToine]

A lot of 'Amens' today... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

[MavsFanFinley]

Mavs say they'll support slumping Walker
Agent says this isn't start of bigger problem; team lending support

By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News

As the Mavericks started cleaning up the mess from Antoine Walker's gripe of decreased playing time, the forward's agent said Walker's irritation is not a deep-rooted problem that could fester the rest of the season.

Michael Higgins, Walker's Virginia-based agent, talked with both Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson after Walker aired his thoughts. A commitment among all parties to ensure Walker has a fighting chance to escape the slump he's in had a therapeutic impact Tuesday.

"Antoine had to change his role a lot from what it was the last seven years in Boston," Higgins said. "Sometimes it's tough being the new kid on the block who has to do a lot of the adjusting. Antoine's an emotional player. He gets criticized for that sometimes, but it's what makes him go. There are times he gets frustrated with himself when his shots won't fall.

"His frustrations have been from the past week to 10 days. It's a combination of losing minutes and losing games on the road trip. Every team goes through this at some point and this happens to be the Mavericks' time. But Antoine's going to be fine."

Donnie Nelson said the Mavericks are going to do whatever is needed to support Walker. However, he said the player's pent-up emotions will not leverage the coaching staff at the expense of losing games.

"He's one of the best players on this team," said Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations/assistant coach. "And without him playing well, plain and simple, we're not going to be able to go as far as we want to.

"So it's in everyone's best interest, especially the Mavericks, that he get his game back together. This is a 'we' thing. We will work through this together.

"But we will not drop games in the process. That's the same as with any of our other guys."

Walker's role on the team will not change, as long as he gets back to the sort of production that made him the team's best player in the first two months.

One problem for Walker, though, is that the Mavericks have a deep team, something Walker didn't have in seven seasons with Boston. When he arrived in Dallas in October, Walker knew he would have to make adjustments in his game. He willingly stopped firing as many 3-pointers as he did in Boston. He began handling the ball more as the point forward. And he deferred in recent weeks to Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

When he played only 18 minutes Monday, he erupted, saying that "It's tough to do anything in 18 minutes. This is the first time I've dealt with this. I can't give you what you want in 18 minutes. I have to be able to play."

Higgins added that Walker's contract situation has nothing to do with the problem. Walker has an early-termination option after this season, but likely will not exercise that option, since his salary for next season is over $14 million.

As the issue has unfolded, it may seem like a terrible time for a distraction to confront the Mavericks. If the playoff started today only two teams would have a worse road record than the Mavericks – and with eight of the next 10 in hostile gyms – they need cool, calm heads uncluttered by internal problems.

But that hasn't worked the rest of the season. So maybe a little controversy is what they need. Perhaps a match has been lit under Walker and his teammates.

The Mavericks had a day off Tuesday and will return to practice today. Without question, the coaching staff and Walker will have a conversation about how he can pull out of his tailspin.

[MavsFanFinley]

Big 3 lead, others follow for Mavs
Walker picks unfortunate time to complain about his role

You know what the funny thing is about the wheeling-dealing Mavericks? No matter all the machinations Mark Cuban and Don Nelson execute in the off-season, as they did just before this campaign, or in midseason, as they did a couple of winters ago, their team's success remains predicated squarely on The Big Three.

Rightfully so, too.

Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and Michael Finley – the MVP of this Mavericks season, by the way – are too good together to delegate a whole lot to anyone else. The last thing you want to do is limit their minutes and touches and shots.

The trio reminded the brass of just that the last couple of months when they led the team on quite a tear. The brass since then has reminded Antoine Walker, the one-time Celtics co-captain and All-Star, of that, too.

They should not have had to do that. Walker should've known that he wasn't coming here to be the leader with All-Star numbers that he was in Boston. He was imported to play a role, just as Nick Van Exel was before him. If anyone told Walker anything else, Walker is due an apology.

Van Exel played his role to a tee, even coming off the bench. He never expressed any disillusionment with his place, even saying at one time that if trading him would make the Mavericks better, that was what the front office should do.

But Walker the other night questioned his dwindling playing time. What was most troubling was he did so in the wake of a victory that stopped a losing streak at three games.

The last thing the Mavericks need right now is a Leon in the locker room, you know, the self-centered character from the beer commercial. The last thing they need is a guy more interested in his numbers than the team's. Antawn Jamison hasn't protested.

After all, there are just 19 games left in the regular season. And they're jockeying for the last home-court advantage spot in the playoffs with the team they struggle to beat the most – the Lakers.

The good news is that Walker, a multidimensional guard in a forward's body, has been a model teammate all season long. He hasn't been anything near "the grasp on our franchise," whatever that is, that Danny Ainge, the league's worst GM now that Michael Jordan is gone, described him as after shipping him out of Boston. He's been everything but the immature player and personality he was early in his career.

The Mavericks can only hope that his emotions that spilled over Monday night can be mopped up before causing any damage and that they won't bubble over again. But this is the risk a team runs when it continues to bring in All-Star players to perform routine roles. They may balk, out loud even, and turn into a distraction from the plan at hand.

The frustration Walker expressed is understandable. He's never been an 18-minutes-a-game player. He's never been less than a focal point. He's never really been asked to be a point forward, either, and probably shouldn't be again. Why even have Travis Best here as a back-up point guard?

But there's no reason Walker should be anything more on this team, especially given how he's playing right now, which isn't well. On top of that is the rapid development of Josh Howard, who is athletic, can defend and doesn't need the ball in his hands to be effective. Howard's been so good you can imagine the Mavericks dealing Walker after the season.

Howard needs to be on the court now but not at the expense of Nowitzki, Nash or Finley. And Nellie shouldn't jeopardize games just to appease Walker.

Indeed, part of the reason the Mavericks went on a run from mid-January until last week was because Finley got back the touches and shots that were taken from him by Walker as the coaching staff tried early on to fit Walker into the offense. During the run, Finley most often led the team in scoring as well as in big shots made in the fourth quarter.

It was a testament to Finley's selflessness, as well as the fact that he and Walker are homeboys from Chicago, that he didn't complain during the early season Walker experiment. I wish, though, that Finley was more demonstrative, because he's so good at what he does, especially at crunch time. His teammates wouldn't resent him being a little more demanding, for this is his team.

It was around Finley that Nowitzki and Nash were added and not the other way around. He's this franchise's stake in the ground, although it is together that the trio makes the Mavericks what they are and determine what they will be.

They steer. Everyone else can row. Antoine Walker included.

[grndmstr_c]

Tartuffe, if Dirk had the kind of lack of class and stupidity that Walker diplayed after the Phoenix game I would have traded him for Rasheed Wallace. I can appreciate that this is difficult for Walker, but he hasn't even given a sliver of an indication that he understands that this is HIS fault for playing like crap.

[tartufe]

Walker obviously wasn't complaining at practice or to his teammates because this article states that Nelson hasn't even talked to Walker.
So where do people get that he is whining and complaining too much?
I guess I was right when I said some of you are twisting a few words to support an opinion you already had that just isn't based in fact.

[Chiwas]

"It's the first time I've dealt with this in my career. I've never played 18 minutes in my life. It's hard for me to adjust to it. It's kind of late in the season, so I'm just going to have to deal with it. My goal has to be to try to keep focused and help this team win. It's tough, man. I'm trying to grind through it."

He changed his attitude compared to the first statement.

Edit: This one.

"I'm not going to make an issue of it,'' said Walker, 2-for-9 from the field. "I'm going to continue to work hard. But I can't give you anything in 18 minutes. That's not my makeup. I'm not that type of ballplayer.''

It's a good sign that he wanted to change it, cause it seemed as if he was complaining the first time.

[MavsFanFinley]

Walker obviously wasn't complaining at practice or to his teammates because this article states that Nelson hasn't even talked to Walker.
So where do people get that he is whining and complaining too much?
I guess I was right when I said some of you are twisting a few words to support an opinion you already had that just isn't based in fact.

I don't care if Walker has been a saint in practices and in the locker room, he sounded off in the wrong forum. I hate players that play out problems in the press.

Nelson has done what a coach should in this situation. He's yanked a player that is hurting the team and put someone in who is getting the job done. He's done this with Finley, Dirk, and Nash. Why would Walker think he'd be treated differently? If Walker was so frustrated or felt his role was being reduced then HE needed to take it up with the coaches. Not play it out in the press.

[tartufe]

Can you show me the articles where Antoine has ever complained before about anything since he has been in Dallas?
He hasn't complained once about his shot attempts being cut in a 3rd. He hasn't complained about his playing time being slashed. He hasn't complained about his role being reduced. He has never made a single complaint about anything in the last 4 months since he has been here till yesterday (and he didn't go to the media. The media came to him)

So many of you have been waiting for him to slip up so you can jump on him and blame him for everything wrong with the Mavericks this year and I find that uncalled for.
Where would we be if Walker wasn't around for the first 2 months of the season when the big 3 were all hurt? We wouldn't be 3 games out of first place in our division.

Originally posted by: MavsFanFinley

I don't care if Walker has been a saint in practices and in the locker room, he sounded off in the wrong forum. I hate players that play out problems in the press.

Nelson has done what a coach should in this situation. He's yanked a player that is hurting the team and put someone in who is getting the job done. He's done this with Finley, Dirk, and Nash. Why would Walker think he'd be treated differently? If Walker was so frustrated or felt his role was being reduced then HE needed to take it up with the coaches. Not play it out in the press.

[kg_veteran]

Tartufe, did you listen to the interview?

[tartufe]

Yes I did. They gave him an open forum and an emotional guy gave an emotional response. (he didn't go to the media. They came to him)


I am not going to comment on this anymore because I think I have given my opinion on this subject enough but its obvious that some of you had it out for him the second the trade went down.
The media is turning and twisting things (as evident above in the article titled, The Big 3 lead...)
to make this much more then it is. I don't feel like beingt apart of a bash fest. I thought my state's reporters were above the Boston and New York media's of the world. Seems I was wrong.

[MavsFanFinley]

Can you show me the articles where Antoine has ever complained before about anything since he has been in Dallas? He hasn't complained once about his shot attempts being cut in a 3rd. He hasn't complained about his playing time being slashed. He hasn't complained about his role being reduced. He has never made a single complaint about anything in the last 4 months since he has been here till yesterday (and he didn't go to the media. The media came to him)

One time is enough for me. How long has he been in this league? Whether he called the press over or they came to him makes no difference to me. He knew this would get attention. Only I'm sure he didn't think he'd come out looking like a fool. Because everyone but Walker realizes that his slump begins and ends with Walker. Not his minutes being reduced, or shot attempts going down or whatever else excuse he's made.

What does he have to complain about in the first place? Everyone has had to make sacrafices at some point during this season. Be it shot attempts, minutes, starting then coming off the bench. When Finley and Dirk were struggling in the beginning, did they put the blame anywhere but themselves? Has Jamison called out the coach for making him a six man? No, he's happy to be on a team with a chance to win a ring and will do whatever it takes to help the team win.

So many of you have been waiting for him to slip up so you can jump on him and blame him for everything wrong with the Mavericks this year and I find that uncalled for. Where would we be if Walker wasn't around for the first 2 months of the season when the big 3 were all hurt? We wouldn't be 3 games out of first place in our division.

I'm sure some have been waiting for something like this, but it only shows that they were never Walker fans in the first place. Nothing wrong with that.

However, most posters here are about the team instead of an individual player. Sure, we have favorites, but if Finley or Dirk or Nash pulled something like this we'd be all over him too. I mean, who complains about something after a win !!??

Where would we have been without Walker? Who knows? Maybe Jamison or Howard starting and putting up better numbers. Or maybe Nelson would have realized that it's still about what has been successful from the start and that's the big 3 being the focus.

[PubaNWO]

Originally posted by: grndmstr_c
Oh, for god's sake, Puba. The team has made its runs in recent games with Walker being benched in favor of those second unit guys. And besides that, who do you think AJ has been forced to play alongside all year? He's managed to maintain a very respectable +/- despite getting less minutes alongside Dirk than Walker. In fact, in every single one of Walker's Top 10 lineups minute-wise he's played alongside Dirk. By contrast, in only five of AJ's Top 10 has he been on the floor with Dirk. In nine of Walker's Top 10 he's played alongside Nash. For AJ it's only 6. If you want to preach patience with Walker that's one thing, but to act like he hasn't been playing poorly and hurting the team with his inability to play intelligently just makes no sense.

You're absolutely right, Walker has been playing horrid the past couple weeks and he's been playing poorly for about 2 months overall, but the point I am trying to make is regarding plus/minus.

I am not saying Walker's playing awesome.

You know the calibur player Dirk and Nash are....so you know they can play and their going to play alot and the team is going to score more when they are on the court.

And you know Walker's abilities, or lack there of, so you know when he's on the floor, the majority of the time it's on the downside. It's partially his own fault for not playin well and it's partially Nellie's substituions or lack of a real rotation.

If the second unit can play as well as they did against the Suns, Walker's plus/minus might not be so horrible.

[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.

[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]

[DIRK BRASIL]

Mark,
Please, trade Walker.

[MightyToine]

Originally posted by: DIRK BRASIL
Mark,
Please, trade Walker.

Mark says : Don't tell me how to do my job.

[MightyToine]

Time not on his side, but Walker says he's happy

Agent says this isn't start of bigger problem; team lending support


01:28 AM CST on Wednesday, March 10, 2004


By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News



As the Mavericks started cleaning up the mess from Antoine Walker's gripe of decreased playing time, Walker and his agent both said the forward's irritation is not a deep-rooted problem that could fester the rest of the season.

And neither is concerned that Walker's role is changing, even though his minutes have declined significantly in recent games.

Walker said he wants to put the episode behind him. He admitted that, in the heat of the moment after the game, he was upset with the 18 minutes of playing time.

"It caught me by surprise," he said. "I haven't ever sat that long."

Walker and coach Don Nelson are scheduled to meet today before practice. But Walker is excited about the remaining 19 games.

"My role will be the same," Walker said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to win games. I've never won like this. I'm happy as hell. The last thing I want is to be a distraction. I'm not concerned with my play. The goal is to be on top of your game at the playoffs. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be consistent. But I've never shot the ball for a high percentage. That's just not my game."

Donnie Nelson said the Mavericks are going to do whatever is needed to support Walker. However, he said the player's pent-up emotions will not leverage the coaching staff at the expense of losing games.

"He's one of the best players on this team," said Nelson, the Mavericks president of basketball operations/assistant coach. "And without him playing well, plain and simple, we're not going to be able to go as far as we want to.

"So it's in everyone's best interest, especially the Mavericks, that he get his game back together. This is a 'we' thing. We will work through this together.

"But we will not drop games in the process. That's the same as with any of our other guys."

Michael Higgins, Walker's Virginia-based agent, talked with both Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson after Walker aired his thoughts Monday.

"Antoine had to change his role a lot from what it was the last seven years in Boston," Higgins said. "Sometimes it's tough being the new kid on the block who has to do a lot of the adjusting. Antoine's an emotional player. He gets criticized for that sometimes, but it's what makes him go. There are times he gets frustrated with himself when his shots won't fall.

"His frustrations have been from the past week to 10 days. It's a combination of losing minutes and losing games on the road trip. Every team goes through this at some point and this happens to be the Mavericks' time. But Antoine's going to be fine."

Walker said he talked with Michael Finley on Tuesday and Finley "told me not to worry too much."

One problem for Walker, though, is that the Mavericks have a deep team, something Walker didn't have in seven seasons with Boston. When he arrived in Dallas in October, Walker knew he would have to make adjustments in his game. He willingly stopped firing as many 3-pointers as he did in Boston. He began handling the ball more as point forward. And he deferred in recent weeks to Finley, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash.

When he played only 18 minutes Monday, he erupted, saying that "It's tough to do anything in 18 minutes. This is the first time I've dealt with this. I can't give you what you want in 18 minutes. I have to be able to play."

Higgins said Walker's contract situation has nothing to do with the problem. Walker has an early-termination option after this season, but probably will not exercise that option. His salary for next season is more than $14 million.





>>> What's SHOCKING is Walker actually ADMITTING(finally) that he's not a good SHOOTER!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

[philb7777]

Amazing that Walker was quoted by DMN this morning stating that "I don't shoot with a high percentage, its just not my game." This dog hasn't played well in the last few years in the playoffs. Ainge may suck at being GM, but he was right in getting rid of Walker. He doesn't fit here, never has and never will. To complain after a win about your playing time is wrong - it shows you care more about yourself than the team. Gag him, bench him, then waive or trade him after the season is over.

[dirno2000]

This morning on his weekly radio show, Don Nelson sounded pretty irritated about this whole situation. I don't have the exact quotes, but here are a couple of interesting sentiments.

When asked about why Walker said what he said:
-A lot of times players go public with this type of thing, with the thought that it will put pressure on the coach. I'm 63 years old and that has no effect on me.

On Walkers right to complain:
-We've been very patient with him. Not that he should, but if anybody has a right to complain its Antawn Jamison. He's never said anything publicly or privately.

Does Walker understand that he has to start earning his minutes:
-If he doesn't, he will after we meet today. Since he aired this in public, we're going to have to answer questions about it everywhere we go for the next month.

[Chiwas]

When asked about why Walker said what he said:
-A lot of times players go public with this type of thing, with the thought that it will put pressure on the coach. I'm 63 years old and that has no effect on me.

If he cared to say it, it really had an effect on him, fortunately cause this way things will have to be addressed.

On Walkers right to complain:
-We've been very patient with him. Not that he should, but if anybody has a right to complain its Antawn Jamison. He's never said anything publicly or privately.

Thanfully Nelson appreciate that from Jamison. He has been a very disciplined player and deserves to remain with the Mavs for many years. Also deserves to play more, even to start games.

Does Walker understand that this was not the correct way to handle the situation:
-If he doesn't, he will after we meet today. Since he aired this in public, we're going to have to answer questions about it everywhere we go for the next month.

Destiny: the doghouse.