The Washington Post (Michael Lee) reports: Before the NBA Finals began last week, Los Angeles Lakers reserve Luke Walton got a message on his answering machine that said, “This is Paul Pierce, you’re a bum, all your teammates are bums.” Walton also received messages this postseason from “Carmelo Anthony” before the Lakers played Denver in the first round and “Carlos Boozer” before they played Utah in the second. Why is Walton so popular? The calls are actually from his father, Bill, the Hall of Fame center and ESPN analyst who has been trying to motivate Luke with imitations that sound — using Bill Walton’s classic description — horrible. “It’s his voice. He doesn’t change his voice at all,” Luke Walton said with a laugh.
