Wise to Keep Bill Walker?

[Brendan]

He's a young player, Doc's record of playing young guys when he doesn't have to? Exactly.

So - if Pierce, Scal, Tony Allen, Ray Allen, and Eddie House are unavailable to fill the SG/SF minutes, you might see Walker get some burn there.

I do think we'd be stronger playing Walker at SF and Pierce or Ray Allen at SG when Pierce and Ray are getting their rest, over playing Pierce and Ray at the SF and bringing in Eddie (or Tony Allen) as SG.

[xmuscularghandix]

i think that the big 3 enjoyed watching the Bill Walker show, and they will work for blowouts for that to continue. just weeks ago we were talking about how Gabe should come out from just garbage time and now i think that even with the return of TA he will still be in there the 2nd quarter.

[xmuscularghandix]

anybody have video of his highlights last night?

[Chris]

I think you need to hold on to Walker, unless you get a guy in return, who will be a legit 6th man or better.  He is by no means untouchable, but he also likely has much more value to the C's than he does in trades anyways.

As for his play....well, there was one thing I really took from last night.  He took advantage of his opportunity.  I know that doesn't sound like much, but after watching so many young guys over the years (including Giddens and POB) who have glided through their garbagetime minutes, playing very uneven, looking unmotivated to do much else than make a highlight film, it was just a pleasure to watch a young player clearly take that opportunity as a showcase. 

Not only did he have a couple highlight plays on offense, but he played completely within himself in the offense.  He moved the ball when he was supposed to, and asserted himself when he was supposed to.  But more importantly, he played defense the entire 4th quarter, like it was game 7 of the finals.  He was completely focussed, he kept his man in front of him, while still putting pressure on him, and he made plays.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not saying Walker should all of a sudden getting 20 minutes a game.  I am just saying he was given a chance to showcase himself to his coaches, and he fully took advantage of it.  That may not pay off right away, but it will pay off eventually...and I think it also tells us a lot about his character.  That is the type of performance you expect to see out of a player who has the drive to be special.

[Goldstar88]

All tony has is slashing ability and he has been playing sub-par defense most of the year. Tony Allen is playing "Shooting" guard yet his shooting is awful. Terrible form, inconsistent, etc. I think in another year Rondo will have a better J. What exactly has he added to his game in 4 years? A more advanced slashing ability? He may have improved his Defense but his decision making is still horrible. Bill Waller is a more intelligent player, is just as Athletic and younger then TA, and he already shoots the ball better. Tony Allen does not bring much to the table for the Celtics.

[Chris]

He's a young player, Doc's record of playing young guys when he doesn't have to? Exactly.

So - if Pierce, Scal, Tony Allen, Ray Allen, and Eddie House are unavailable to fill the SG/SF minutes, you might see Walker get some burn there.

I do think we'd be stronger playing Walker at SF and Pierce or Ray Allen at SG when Pierce and Ray are getting their rest, over playing Pierce and Ray at the SF and bringing in Eddie (or Tony Allen) as SG.

Not many young players for Doc have performed as well as Walker did last night.  Most of them have really looked very unprepared, leading people to make excuses like "he needs to see more extended minutes to feel comfortable".  I don't think there is any need for arguments like that for Walker...which is why I think, as long as he keeps it up, will be seeing regular minutes sooner, rather than later.

[xmuscularghandix]

guys i have a confession to make.... i bought a Bill Walker custom celtics jersey right after we signed him. i've been wearing it during games since he got called up. at first i was embarrassed to have bought a jersey of a rookie that only plays garbage time. but not i've come out of the closet. 

[Bankshot]

I don't know if it is wise to keep Walker, but I'd love to see him play more to find out.

[ManUp]

If I didn't know any better I'd think Bill has been playing and practicing with this team the entire year. He looked like he knew exactly what he was doing and where to be. As for him standing in the corner it's become pretty obvious that Doc likes to do that with new players. What impressed me the most with him is when he got more active with the cuts. He found ways to make himself available for the pass. I think his high school and college experience with Mayo & Beasley has taught him how to play off the ball very well.

[xmuscularghandix]

If I didn't know any better I'd think Bill has been playing and practicing with this team the entire year. He looked like he knew exactly what he was doing and where to be. As for him standing in the corner it's become pretty obvious that Doc likes to do that with new players. What impressed me the most with him is when he got more active with the cuts. He found ways to make himself available for the pass. I think his high school and college experience with Mayo & Beasley has taught him how to play off the ball very well.

TP very good point, with him having off-ball experience.

[xmuscularghandix]

if you put it on CSN he's about to make his highlights.

[spazmonkey]

If I didn't know any better I'd think Bill has been playing and practicing with this team the entire year. He looked like he knew exactly what he was doing and where to be. As for him standing in the corner it's become pretty obvious that Doc likes to do that with new players. What impressed me the most with him is when he got more active with the cuts. He found ways to make himself available for the pass. I think his high school and college experience with Mayo & Beasley has taught him how to play off the ball very well.

I absolutely agree.  They were minimal minutes in an already-decided game, so take it for what it's worth -- but I was just as pleased with his spacing on offense as I was with the few highlights.

[EJPLAYA]

I think that if we are implying the guy had a seemless transition and was doing exactly what he was supposed to we are overstating. I was in no way trying to say I didn't like what he brought to the table. I want to see more of him, especially if it means less of TA. Here's a couple nice things I liked:

He was agressive defensively
He went after the boards on offense and defense
Except for that almost charge he didn't make stupid out of control plays.
He didn't try and do more to impress the coaches than he had to.

What I didn't like:

He just sat over there on the side for most of the time. (at least not making mistakes or disrupting things)
His agressive defense was often overcommitting like TA does. (fortunately he has the athletic ability to make up for it)

Here's the key though. Even the mistakes were due to him making an attempt to help the team and play within himself. He may not be completely ready yet, but I don't know that he brings less to the table than TA. I don't know if you threw him out there in TA's minutes that he would perform much worse, but Gabe might be a safer option for a while longer.

[xmuscularghandix]

I think that if we are implying the guy had a seemless transition and was doing exactly what he was supposed to we are overstating. I was in no way trying to say I didn't like what he brought to the table. I want to see more of him, especially if it means less of TA. Here's a couple nice things I liked:

He was agressive defensively
He went after the boards on offense and defense
Except for that almost charge he didn't make stupid out of control plays.
He didn't try and do more to impress the coaches than he had to.

What I didn't like:

He just sat over there on the side for most of the time. (at least not making mistakes or disrupting things)
His agressive defense was often overcommitting like TA does. (fortunately he has the athletic ability to make up for it)

Here's the key though. Even the mistakes were due to him making an attempt to help the team and play within himself. He may not be completely ready yet, but I don't know that he brings less to the table than TA. I don't know if you threw him out there in TA's minutes that he would perform much worse, but Gabe might be a safer option for a while longer.

the fact that he was just "sitting over on the side" isn't something that he can control, he was part of the offense, and the other guys were looking to prove their own game as oppose to pass it to the king of youtube rookie that might take some of their minutes. but once he got his groove he was pretty aggressive.

that was his first really extended minutes in a game, and if we can beat down on the nets again maybe we can see more of him, or maybe doc puts him in to go against the same kid he went against last night becuase he handled him well (offensively and defensively)

[crownsy]

I think that if we are implying the guy had a seemless transition and was doing exactly what he was supposed to we are overstating. I was in no way trying to say I didn't like what he brought to the table. I want to see more of him, especially if it means less of TA. Here's a couple nice things I liked:

He was agressive defensively
He went after the boards on offense and defense
Except for that almost charge he didn't make stupid out of control plays.
He didn't try and do more to impress the coaches than he had to.

What I didn't like:

He just sat over there on the side for most of the time. (at least not making mistakes or disrupting things)
His agressive defense was often overcommitting like TA does. (fortunately he has the athletic ability to make up for it)

Here's the key though. Even the mistakes were due to him making an attempt to help the team and play within himself. He may not be completely ready yet, but I don't know that he brings less to the table than TA. I don't know if you threw him out there in TA's minutes that he would perform much worse, but Gabe might be a safer option for a while longer.

the fact that he was just "sitting over on the side" isn't something that he can control, he was part of the offense, and the other guys were looking to prove their own game as oppose to pass it to the king of youtube rookie that might take some of their minutes. but once he got his groove he was pretty aggressive.

that was his first really extended minutes in a game, and if we can beat down on the nets again maybe we can see more of him, or maybe doc puts him in to go against the same kid he went against last night becuase he handled him well (offensively and defensively)

also, the ball didn't stick when he got it, another good sign for a rookie in his first NBA minutes. He swung the ball the minute he touhed it, no hesitation. alot of fresh call ups in garbage time would have gone into "SCORING TIME!!!!" mode the minute the got thier hands on the ball up 30.

Bill instead waited until he got his looks in the flow of the offense (gabe pass for a easy dunk, alley, iso on a weak defender in the corner)