Riley not happy with Antoine's comments

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/b...ep25,0,6411346.
column?coll=sfla -sports-heat

Riley, in fact, sounded none too pleased to learn Walker recently told
ESPN.com, "I've never come off the bench in my career, so I'm not even
looking at that as a possible option."

"There's not going to be any issue about who starts, who plays at the end of
the game," Riley said. "The less they talk about it, the better it will be."

Should Walker emerge as starting power forward, Udonis Haslem likely would
thrive off the bench, a role from which he emerged two years ago as a
rookie.

Should Walker start at small forward, Posey already has proved a capable
reserve.

But the Williams situation is different. Too many games have been played in
recent years with the former Gators guard looking over his shoulder. By not
bringing back incumbent starter Damon Jones, the Heat seemingly defused that
issue. Now, with Payton in place, a player who has not played as a reserve
in more than a decade, how can a healthy debate not ensue?

"To me," Riley said, "Jason Williams is probably the guy we're going to
start."

Ainge knew what he was doing when he sent Chuckie No-D to Miami.
Unfortunely the timing here is too quick. I was hoping AW would wait a
couple of years before completely self-imploding, when we were ready to
compete with Miami. Look for him to be sent packing soon...

Kevin Murphy

<kevinmurphy999@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1127766702.230438.300550@g44g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
> Ainge knew what he was doing when he sent Chuckie No-D to Miami.
> Unfortunely the timing here is too quick. I was hoping AW would wait a
> couple of years before completely self-imploding, when we were ready to
> compete with Miami. Look for him to be sent packing soon...

This is one time you gotta love guarenteed contracts. It's not going to be
so easy for Riley to pawn Walker off on anyone else.

What's the over/under on number of games before Shaq punches Walker in the
head?

The Miami Heat will be the most exciting team to watch next season. I'm
not so sure about the basketball, but the drama could exceed even that
of the Lakers from two years ago.

kevinmurphy...@hotmail.com wrote:
> Ainge knew what he was doing when he sent Chuckie No-D to Miami.
> Unfortunely the timing here is too quick. I was hoping AW would wait a
> couple of years before completely self-imploding, when we were ready to
> compete with Miami. Look for him to be sent packing soon...

Boy, you guys really have a hardon for Walker. His showing confidence
that he can start is a good thing.

I'd much rather have his mindset then one who came in saying "Well,
coach says I'm going to be backup, let's prepare for that."

And when the hell will the C's be able to compete with Miami? Once Shaq
retires and Ainge is fired? Here's to hoping, eh?

"Chris" <chris.tifer@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1128004228.220986.304670@g49g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>
> Boy, you guys really have a hardon for Walker. His showing confidence
> that he can start is a good thing.

It's not showing confidence he can start. It's him expressing his belief
that he is entitled to start, that nothing else in his mind is an option,
and that, as it has always been, it's about him and not the team.

> I'd much rather have his mindset then one who came in saying "Well,
> coach says I'm going to be backup, let's prepare for that."

100 coaches out of 100 would prefer a player with the mindset of "Whatever
coach wants me to do is what I am going to do." That is Riley didn't like
what he heard.

> And when the hell will the C's be able to compete with Miami? Once Shaq
> retires and Ainge is fired? Here's to hoping, eh?

As long as Walker, who has a long, documented history of keeping BOTH teams
in the game, is on the court, every team will playing Miami will have a
chance. Every moment that Antoine handles the ball, that is that much less
time the more dangerous Wade and Shaq have the ball. Every shot that Walker
takes is one less shot that Wade and Shaq takes. Parity, thy name is
Antoine.

In article <dhh38001l52@news2.newsguy.com>,
"Robert Chin" <bchin_us@yahoo.com> wrote:

> Parity, thy name is Antoine.

If I used .sigs, that'd be my new one...

/-----------------------/
The One True Robb
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