Heat: Walker Says He'll Defer to Shaq & Wade <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Miami -- Antoine Walker said he's not coming here trying to get 20 shots a game. He's not coming here insisting to start. And he's willing to defer to Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade, because, as he said, players in this league dream about the chance to play with them. "I've never come into a season and said, `Our goal is to win a championship,' so this is a big difference in my career," Walker said. "Now I have the opportunity to fight for championships and win championships. This is an opportunity I don't want to let go by." Officially introduced as a Heat player on Thursday, Walker did his best to dissolve uncertainty about how and where he fits in with his new team. Will he play small or power forward? Will he start or come off the bench? What impact will he have on team chemistry? Thursday, Heat President Pat Riley called Walker's addition "a boon for this franchise," and referred to him as "the real link in the chain for us," in regards to offseason acquisitions. Riley said the 6-foot-9, 245-pound Walker can stretch the defense and has unique skills for his size like only two players he has coached, Magic Johnson and Lamar Odom. Walker has averaged 19.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his career, though just 64.2 percent free-throw shooting and less than 56 percent the past four seasons. Traded four times in the past two years -- from Boston to Dallas to Atlanta, back to Boston and then to Miami -- after seven seasons with the Celtics, there also have been questions about Walker's attitude. He has a reputation for being a player who's uninterested in defense, shoots too many 3-pointers and is selfish. His upper-body shimmy dance on the court, known as The Wiggle, doesn't help his image. Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said he doesn't expect problems. "It's not right nor fair to come into a situation and prejudge guys on what their attitudes are going to be or what kind of guys. ... I mean, look, we've had histories of guys," Van Gundy said. "Supposedly Lamar Odom was one type of guy, and supposedly Rafer Alston was one type of guy, and supposedly Damon Jones was. And I think all of those guys have been fabulous to deal with."</div> Source Can the Heat get this in writing 'Toine? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I've never come into a season and said, `Our goal is to win a championship,' </div> This part cracked me up, shouldn't this be your goal every season?
Youngsters don't care about championships. Their goal is to become a superstar, and 'Toine is either finally growing out of that or he is just saying that to get a cance to play on the heat.
Good to see Walker has matured and only cares about winning it all now. He better defer to Shaq and Wade if he didn't their would be some porblems lol.
I can see some of 'toines former team mates taking that as a very subtle jab. Wow. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><font face="Verdana,Arial, Helvetica"><font size="2"> "Supposedly Lamar Odom was one type of guy, and supposedly Rafer Alston was one type of guy, and supposedly Damon Jones was. And I think all of those guys have been fabulous to deal with."</font></font></div> I found htat quote particularly interesting. could 'Toine really shape up?
Well thats good to see Antoine Walker finally maturing, And not being a selfish player, and trying to play with the heat and win it all.
yes, good to see antoine really cares about winning the whole thing and willing to sacrifice playing minutes for it
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I've never come into a season and said, `Our goal is to win a championship,'</div> Odd quote considering he went to a team in Dallas who the year before went to the conference finals and took the Spurs to a game 6 and really would of played a game 7 If It wasn't for Steve Kerr and Sjax's amazing long range shooting in the 4th. Thing is what was mentioned in that article comes up all the time with Tonie and how he can and will adjust. He didn't in Dallas, he has the talent and is an amazing ball handler for someone his size and position but there are alot of question marks around him. Tonie has always wanted to throw up alot of shots and thats why the Mavs traded him for Jason Terry. Who at the time of that trade, his value was quite low.
If anybody takes anything positive out of this article then it must be the first time that they've heard or read anything that came out of Antoine Walker's mouth. He always says the right things and knows what's expected of him when he isn't actually playing a basketball game. But when he steps onto the floor, his other personality shows itself, and that is something I have been a witness to hundreds of times. This guy has zero control of himself when he's on the floor, and I'm not so sure playing in Miami is going to change that.
Well i set up the current rosters on NBA Live 06. I was the bulls and I played the new and improved heat and they were easy to beat( i beat them by an average of 15). I know that its just a game but if walker hogs the ball like he did in the game Miami will simply bench him and and start posey and continue winning. I personally dont think walker is a facor on the squad because if they bench him they have still got a finals caliber team. I think walker has matured over the past 3 years and just wants to win no matter what. Good Luck Miami!
Actions a re louder than words. Technically, Walker hasn't matured, he just says that he has. We have tosee this for ourselves.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dakeem1:</div><div class="quote_post">Actions a re louder than words. Technically, Walker hasn't matured, he just says that he has. We have tosee this for ourselves.</div> Well stated like four people in a row in this thread said it is nice to see Walker maturing, but he has yet to do anything. Kwame Brown said he was happy when Jordan and Collins left, because he felt intimidated by them, and could not wait to play under Eddie Jordan. I bet a lot of people said it?s nice to hear Kwame is looking forward to this upcoming season, hopefully this will be his break out year. Well we all know how that story turned out. Two quotes come to mind like already stated ?Actions speak louder than words? and ? I prefer to show my leadership and character through my actions, and not my statements.?
Walker will defer......until he sees the lane open or someone giving him a little space at the 3. I understand his statement about winning a championship because the teams psychology is to play games and see where they go, not actually "let's beat the Spurs, Suns, or whoever to get the trophy" in November.
