What Toine showed...

["Berry, Mark S" <berrym@BATTELLE.ORG>]

Didn't get a chance to post yesterday, but had to chime in on 30-19-10.

Toine's game in and of itself is significant for one reason: It shows that
he is, without question, a talent on a different level than anyone else on
this team, including Paul Pierce. Paul will never have a game like Toine had
Wednesday. PP is a better, more polished shooter than Antoine, but that is
his only real advantage. You might say he is a better defender. Maybe he is.
But Toine is the superior rebounder, passer and, most importantly, a real
competitor and leader. Even Walker critics must admit that this team rallies
around him.

But as we enter this offseason when it seems certain that one or the other
will be traded to improve this team's frontcourt and veteran presence, we
should keep Wednesday's performance by Toine in mind. Yes, he makes a lot of
money and yes, he can be exasperatingly inconsistent, but he is the one
player on this team with the chance to become a Garnett-Webber-Carter type
impact presence on the basketball court. He is OUR only chance. Trade him
and we sacrifice that.

Does it seem like we've waited too long for Toine to become that player?
Yes, but it really is only his fourth season. And he has made strides this
season. The next step is to show it in the offseason. Toine needs to commit
to this team in June and July the way he committed to it Wednesday. He needs
to spend time in Boston, hit the weights and work on his body. He can be a
dominant force at either forward spot, but he has to prepare as hard as he
played Wednesday.

Me, I'm for giving him that chance. If we're going to make a change (and we
MUST make a change), make it with Pierce. Bring in a frontcourt talent (PF
or C) and serviceable 2-guard for Pierce, team them with Walker and give the
whole lot of them one last shot (Pitino included). If we can't get it done
next season, start over.

Mark