Antoine's Advice: Stop talking about rebuilding...get in the playoffs.

[revtodd64]

From NBA.com   http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/walker-advises-celtics-based-personal-experience

quote]“I think, especially for Coach (Stevens), he has to not talk about rebuilding,” says Walker. “He has to talk about being a playoff team, about really just trying to win right now.”

Walker says that the players must also believe that they are capable of stepping into the postseason. He continues by saying, “I think it’s something that in the locker room they should be talking about, ‘Hey, we’re going to make the playoffs.’ And if you do that, I think anything can happen.”

That being said, expectations must be tapered. Walker wants the Celtics to be thinking about the playoffs, not about a championship.

“The advice I’d give these guys is, let’s set some realistic goals for ourselves,” says Walker. “Let’s try to be the seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference and start changing the culture around here.”/quote]

I'm ready to enjoy this team and see if they can make the playoffs, rather than moaning about when we will get another championship.  I feel fortunate to have seen championships from three great decades - the Hondo and Cowens years, Bird years and Big Three.  It was tough watching the years in between, but also exciting to watch the teams come together.  We will get there again.  I think Celtics stand pat other than minor trades and get the 7 seed this year, winning at least 2 playoff games.

[D.o.s.]

I'm more interested in his take on the world of personal finance and money management.

[Future Celtics Owner]

I'm more interested in his take on the world of personal finance and money management.

Antione is so rich with advice.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I'm more interested in his take on the world of personal finance and money management.

"Never delay gratification.  You see something you want? Buy it.  Your teammates are open? Shoot the 3 anyway. "

[pearljammer10]

Was he wiggling the entire time he was speaking this quote?

[D.o.s.]

Joking aside I've always like 'Toine and I was bummed to hear that he bottomed out when the real estate market went belly up

[nickagneta]

Makes sense coming from Antoine as I hear he was always an "all in" type of guy.

[33_Larry Legend_33]

Antoine has made some personal mistakes.  Antoine was a flawed player.  But the one thing I admired about him is that he had HEART.  He had a passion for the game, and for the Boston Celtics.  I suppose it's easy to take jabs at him, but I wish I we could transplant what he had inside of him into some other players.  He's right - the goal SHOULD be to make the playoffs.  He's talking about a CULTURE, and if the losing continues, it becomes toxic over time.

[Csfan1984]

Advice from Toine is go for playoffs.  That settles it I am now dead set on the best thing to do this year is tank.

[bballdog384]

I actually kind of agree with him.

You need to separate Danny Ainge's job from Brad Steven's. Danny can mold the roster how he wants with rebuilding as the focus. The locker room can still be confident and positive, which is the only way this team will end up being great in the long run. Let's go for the best of both worlds!

[DarkAzcura]

I don't know if I should be scared that I agree with Antoine this much.

[freshinthehouse]

Antoine has made some personal mistakes.  Antoine was a flawed player.  But the one thing I admired about him is that he had HEART.  He had a passion for the game, and for the Boston Celtics.  I suppose it's easy to take jabs at him, but I wish I we could transplant what he had inside of him into some other players.  He's right - the goal SHOULD be to make the playoffs.  He's talking about a CULTURE, and if the losing continues, it becomes toxic over time.

I don't agree with this.  Look at his numbers.  Anyone with a passion for the game wouldn't play like he did. By the end of his run in Boston he was playing 40+ minutes a game and averaging 7 rebounds a game.  That's ridiculous.  Throw in the fact that he shot about 60% from the line and that screams to me that he's a player that doesn't care about improving his game.  As long as he got to shoot to his heart's content he was happy.

[D.o.s.]

If free throw percentage was correlated to wanting to make free throws every player in the league would put Ray Allen's career numbers from the line to shame.

[Fafnir]

If free throw percentage was correlated to wanting to make free throws every player in the league would put Ray Allen's career numbers from the line to shame.

Yeah you can be extremely passionate about the game but still make bad in game decisions or be bad at a skill.

Ryan Hollins tries very very hard and by every report I've heard is a very nice guy, he's still Ryan Hollins though.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I forget, but isn't this "advice" pretty much what Brad Stevens did last year? So, it's not much of an advice in the end if it's already being done.