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Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 2:50 am
by Barry Lird
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3627546Hadn't seen this anywhere else. Doc has a lot of nice things to say about Walker. Sounds encouraging.
Some quotes:
"Clearly, he would have gone earlier if he projected healthy," Rivers said. "I think he would have been mid-first [round] definitely to low-first. But everyone was scared about his knee."
"He clearly can earn a position if a team is willing to take the chance."
The question is what position can he play since, considering his height, he's a classic "tweener."
"He's that in size but in body he's a three," Rivers said. "I think he would struggle even more guarding twos. He's athletic enough to, but his body tells you he's a 3 because he's so strong.
"He attacks the basket, too, and will live on the foul line. He's got to work on his ball handling a little bit, but if he comes off the cuts, he's going to live on the foul line."
Rivers says he believes that Walker could excel in a transition game and could be even more productive as a post-up guard.
"Billy's great in transition," Rivers said. "But I think Billy's going to be a great post guard. I don't know if he knows that yet, but I think he will be."
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 4:34 am
by stretch
It's a great piece. Kind of interesting how ESPN made it a big deal second on the NBA ticker this morning.
Doc's really trying to send a message here.
If you go back and look at past articles written on Bill Walker, you'll see three common themes.
Not only is he incredibly athletic and explosive, he is a very very smart player.
That mix of talent, passion and emotion, raw ability and smarts (bball iq, watching tape, picking things up quicker than others) are what separate great players and superstars like KG and Pierce. Bill Walker could be a borderline all-star one day.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 5:25 am
by SonicYouth34
I love this kid and I'm so happy we acquired him (I wanted him with our 30th pick so bad). I have a feeling he's gonna have a Big Baby like rookie year, but not lose his spot to Powe in the playoffs.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 11:01 am
by hiphop1
He is going to be a star I tell ya
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 11:43 am
by bruno sundov
^^^
And not G$ part 2 right?
I would like to see this kid make the team. It sounds as though he will.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 6:16 pm
by Dunkin On Ya
Good to see Bill Walker getting some love. He was a guy that I actually targeted in my blog when I was letting collectors know who to collect this year that may be under the radar!!
http://digscardsandautos.blogspot.com/2 ... eason.html
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 6:45 pm
by DorfonCeltics
Knowing our draft position going in, Bill Walker was the one player I hoped droped to us with the last pick in the first round. Even with the knee injury I thought he'd be gone by the time we got around to picking. I wasn't that excited about Giddens with that pick but when we landed Walker, I went nuts. This guy is going to be a legit NBA starter. He has all the tools, desire and smarts to be a Caron Butler type player. I can't wait to see him dawn the green.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 8:28 pm
by Red2
first doc says he's a 3 then at the end he says his future is as a guard who can post up. Huh? Regardless, the early returns on this kid are good although it sounds like his shooting is medicre at best. among all of the other things that Posey brought was clutch outside shooting with the 3 as well as at the free throw line. Danny has done many things right but letting Posey go was not one of them. we're going to look back on this and say "if only we had kept posey."
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 8:50 pm
by Gant
I think Doc is saying Walker's a 3 now but after honing some skills (such as outside shooting) his future is at 2.
Posey's power forward minutes are easily replaceable. That small ball line up was largely a weak one (with the noteworthy exception of the Finals.) It's his small forward minutes that made him really valuable. There are a lot of candidates to fill that modest amount of time (the revitalized Tony Allen, Walker, Miles, etc.). One or two of them will come through.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 9:04 pm
by LongTimeFan
One of the things you have to love about Walker is the way he aced Giddens. If you think where Walker started, going to Europe without a contract, to where he is now, contract and the young guy to watch in pre-season, it is actually quite remarkable.
Meanwhile Giddens on the advice of his agent skips the summer rookie camp and misses the Celtic summer league equivalent. Now pre-season comes along and he's lost and tentative, because he doesn't know the Celtics plays.
Walker's deal is a 3 year deal. isn't it?
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Tue Oct 7, 2008 11:02 pm
by cloverleaf
The kid's just almost 21 and has been out for significant time with injuries--I think the shooting will come.
Re: Good AP story about Bill Walker
Posted: Wed Oct 8, 2008 2:24 pm
by bruno sundov
Time will tell. I like DOC saying he has to work on his handle. I like hearing that beacuse you know he is being told that all the time.