Antoine “I can’t believe people don’t think I’m good” Walker went off Tuesday, shooting 10-for-17, scoring 25 points, with 16 rebounds and four dimes. That’s an impressive start.

What is more impressive is when Shaquille O’Neal and Dwayne Wade were struggling ?” especially in the third ?” it was ‘Toine who carried the team until the Big Aristotle and Flash found their grooves and put Memphis away.

This is why Pat Riley brought him in. There are going to be times, when Miami’s dynamic duo will struggle and that is when Toine can take over for short spurts to help the team.

Of course, there will be times when those two are rolling and that’s when Toine will need to be alright with taking a back seat ?” we’ll see.

‘Toine has always been a guy that many want to cast off as a man who can only score and only scores because he hoists up so many shots. This is wrong. ‘Toine also rebounds and can push the ball up the court better than most big men in the league.

The reputation he got as a man who stands at the three point line launching prayers is mostly due to the offense ran by the Celtics from 2000-2003 when Jim O’Brien told his players that a 33 percent 3-point shooter is just as valuable as a 50 percent field goal shooter.

The strategy, while unorthodox, almost worked as the Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost the Nets.

‘Toine was doing as he was told, and shot percentages of 36.7, 34.4, 32.3 behind the arc in those years. He also grabbed over 8.5 rebounds per game, dished out over five dimes and added one and a half steals.

Since the split, he has cut down his three point attempts in half, unless he gets hot, like Tuesday, when he shot 4-for-7.

‘Toine is the most disrespected good player in the NBA. He’s a winner, just look at Boston’s record before and after he was traded back there last year. He’s a scorer, career over 19 points per game. He can rebound, 8.7 career, and he can pass, over four assists per game.

It’s time to stop sleeping on the best pick-up of the off-season.

Other thoughts about the Heat-Grizzlies game

Shaq looks too big. I know it sounds ridiculous to call Shaq too big, but really, the weight lifting during the offseason has him huge. This is concerning because he has some suspect knees and that extra weight will not help the pounding they take for the next seven months. Saying it’s likely the Diesel will miss games this year because of knee problems is like saying Dick Cheney probably knew about Scooter Libby‘s alleged CIA leak, or that the Yankees will have baseball’s highest payroll next year.

I had to throw the baseball analogy in there for those of you who don’t follow Washington politics and the Washington politics for people who don’t follow baseball.

Memphis isn’t going to the playoffs. That’s all that needs to be said. Pau Gasol, despite the beard, still looks way to waif like to be a force. He’s been in the league long enough to add some weight.

Thoughts on the Caveliers-Hornets game.

LeBron James was being guarded one-on-one by Bostjan Nachbar most of the game. Come on, really? They didn’t even give him help after James abused him for 24 first-half points. James, after hitting two threes in a row, called for the ball on the top of the arc, took one dribble and drained a three. It was obvious that Nachbar wasn’t going to get it done. But they let him try it again the next possession, same result. When a player gets as hot as James was, you have to double him, or risk seeing him pretend to light his hand on fire on Sportscenter.

Larry Hughes needs a new number, or at least stop wearing a headband. Hughes in 32 and James in 23 with the same headband, it’s hard to tell them apart.

The Caveliers are going to battle Indiana for the third best team in the East this year. Donyell Marshall looks like a great fit and James’ passing style sets the tone for the whole team to be unselfish. Then again, they were playing the Hornets.

More Random thoughts

Caught the end of the Lakers-Nuggets game. Kobe Bryant hit the game winner. Get used to it. If the Lakers make the playoffs, probably the seventh or eighth seed, Kobe will have outdone himself. Anyone who would like to get on the “I used to hate Kobe when everyone jocked him, but now like him because everyone has turned their backs on a great basketball player” bandwagon, I saved you a seat.

Sam Cassell is not done. He can’t drop 30 a night, but if he stays healthy, the Clippers have one big time clutch shooter on a squad that used to crumble during fourth quarters.

What I’m watching tonight.

Well, there are only two games, so I will be watching the Pacers at the Heat and the Suns at the Lakers. Pheonix is going to take major steps back this year, how far will they fall before Amare Stoudemire gets back? Tonight will be a good look.

Tuesday’s fantasy stud

Chris Duhon had a triple double for the Bulls, but he wasn’t as good as Darius Miles. Miles had 32 points, 11 boards and five assists in the loss to the Timebrwolves. The reason Miles is above Duhon was that he also had five steals and three blocks.

Tuesday’s fantasy dud

Erick Dampier contributed one point to the Mavs in their loss to the Jazz. He only played 15 minutes and had four rebounds.

Nov. 2

Often times during sports talk people say dumb stuff. I mean really dumb. I’m talking about things that make you turn your head and look at them like, “Is this guy outside his mind?”

Monday was no different and this crazy moment came during “Around the Horn” on ESPN. During the show, Bill Plaschke said that the Spurs had two of the top eight players in the NBA with Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili.

Que?

Manu, top eight? So in order for that to be true he’d have to be better than at least one of the following: Shaq, KG, Tim Duncan, King James, T-Mac, Kobe, Wade or Dirk.

Well, he’s not even close to those guys.

What about AI, Paul Pierce, Kidd, Vince Carter, Larry Hughes, Rip Hamilton, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Jermaine O’Neal, Ron Artest, Michael Redd, Gilbert Arenas, Yao Ming, Carmello Anthony, Ray Allen, Baron Davis, Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire and Mike Bibby to name a few?

Manu is good, in fact he is a great second option, but you couldn’t build a team around him. Well, I guess you could, but that team wouldn’t be any good. He is a player in the same category of Joe Johnson. He could put up 20 points a night on a really bad team.

Duncan, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, Robert Horry, Carmello and K-Mart all had better games than Manu on Monday night. He finished with more turnovers (three) than field goals made (two).

Now a few thoughts on the Nuggets-Spurs game.

It appears that Duncan is growing out the afro, but lost his pick. Note to Tim: Put in a call to Josh Childress immediately. Wouldn’t it be great if Duncan grew out his hair and got it braided? I think I’ll start a petition right away.

Where is Glenn Robinson? Three years ago this guy was dumping in over 20 a night, and it wasn’t due to great athletic ability. He can shoot ?” shooters don’t fade as quickly as athletic players. Robinson could help at least half the teams in the league off the bench. As long as Nikoloz Tskitishvili is in the league, there’s no reason for Big Dog to be out.

During commercials we found out that “Office Space” special edition is coming out on DVD. What a great movie, really underappreciated and has become better with age. This is a movie that you can quote from and everyone knows the line, but can’t remember where it was from.

When Peter Gibbons says, “It’s not that I’m lazy, it’s that I just don’t care,” it kills me every time.

I know they beat the Kings, but I think the Spurs second unit could rout the Hornets. David West, P.J. Brown, J.R. Smith, Chris Paul, and Bostjan Nachbar for the Hornets, or Robert Horry Micheal Finley, Nick Van Exel, Brent Barry and Nazr Mohammed. I put the line at Spurs ‘B’ by 15.

Why I am watching tonight.

Hornets at the Cavaliers

First chance to see what James can do with a supporting cast that now includes Hughes, Donyell Marshall and Damon Jones.

Miami at Memphis

Antoine Walker gets his first chance to prove all the doubters wrong. Also Jason Williams comes back to play against his old team. Ohh yeah, Shaq and Wade.

Monday’s fantasy stud

T.J. Ford 16 points, nine rebounds and 14 assists. It’s nice to see this guy come back from injury to put up a great game.

Monday’s fantasy dud

Brad Miller four points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers. The whole Kings team should be embarrassed with their performance against the Hornets, but Miller put up the worst numbers.