Atlanta
Philip Maymin
Basketball News Services
Many an internet company went bust after trying to sell products below cost but "make it up on volume." Does the same fate affect the talent of Antoine "Volume Scorer" Walker, now on his third team in the past twelve months? Or will Walk's bubble never burst?
Few people launch or miss as many three pointers as Antoine Walker. He was even invited to the Three Point Shootout a couple of years ago but only managed to score about seven points in the qualifying rounds, hence kicking him out of the running. Commentators at the time tried to be nice about the poor showing, saying Walker is a "scorer" not a "shooter." Walker himself says he is a "volume scorer." Neither of those is something people strive for; they are clearly excuses for poor shooting.
Walker's talents have led people to compare his potential to among the greats of basketball. He is versatile and passionate yet he is not a hot commodity, except for his expiring contract. Danny Ainge wasted no time in trading him for the best package available last offseason, and Dallas left him unprotected for Charlotte before trading him to Atlanta. The Hawks may ship him out at the trading deadline if they are able to get something of value in return.
Yet it is a contract year for Walker and he will be given plenty of minutes to score lots of volume this year. He may well be this year's Erick Dampier. Is it out of the question for Walker to average 25 points per game? Not at all. Even if he continues to miss the vast bulk of his three-pointers, he can always rely on that old internet standby.
He'll make it up on volume.
TEAM NOTES
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The Atlanta Hawks are looking for talented, enthusiastic individuals with a love of performing to become a part of the 2004-05 Atlanta Hawks Dance Team. Preliminary auditions for the squad are slated for Sunday, September 12 on the Hawks Practice Court at Philips Arena. Registration begins at 10:00 a.m... A pre-audition workshop will be offered on Wednesday, September 8, also on the Hawks Practice Court. This “prep clinic” serves as an overview of the Atlanta Hawks Dance Team program, while offering instruction and preparation for the audition. Cost is $25 per person to attend and all participants must be registered in advance.
CBC Sports Online writes: centre Dikembe Mutombo has no problem with Houston. Mutombo, 38, confirmed Monday that he consented to be traded by the Chicago Bulls to the Houston Rockets for Eric Piatkowski, Adrian Griffin and Mike Wilks. Drafted fourth overall out of Georgetown by Denver in 1991, the four-time NBA defensive player of the year is a lifetime 51.8 per cent shooter averaging 11.7 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 1.3 assists and 35.1 minutes in 929 NBA games (912 starts) with the Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets and Knicks.Said Mutombo of the Rockets: "I've never had a problem, never had a question that I wanted to play in Houston this season. It was first on my list and why not? "Look at the potential with Yao Ming and (Tracy) McGrady and Jim Jackson. That is a very impressive start and I think it is a team that is ready to take off."