Re: Billups slowly improving

["Jaime" <jaims@philonline.com.ph>]

I am sorry if I sounded as if I am cursing Billups or anyone.  I didn't.  I
won't.  Coz this is my fave team and I will support them on whatever they
would do as long as it's done for the good of the team and the fans.

Cecil, please understand that I am only just saying what I see for now about
this rookie of the Celts.  Everybody has his rights to say what he/she feels
about something or anybody.  I was only saying all the things Billups still
need to improve to be a better point guard.  I just think this is good coz
anybody would want to have someone say what he needs to improve on, yknow?
I mentioned he wasn't in the caliber of Marbury, Iverson and other points, I
only meant that he isn't that flashy and exiting as them.  He's a
contributor to the team and what's important is that he is effective
sometimes.  Everybody should admit that he's still inconsistent coz he's
young and raw and didn't play PG.  I know that!  All I am saying is that CB
has to see all his weaknesses and work on it so in the future he can be a
better PG.  I am not even saying that his playing SUCKS or he should be
traded, coz I hate to see his talent and potential go to other teams.  So,
in short, CB is really improving but still lacks a lot of things a PG should
have in him.  I'll just pray that he keeps playing hard and that in time he
would be THE CELTICS' NO.1 PG.
-----Original Message-----
From: Cecil Wright <nocw1@nsh.library.ns.ca>
To: John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>
Cc: celtics@igtc.COM <celtics@igtc.COM>
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 1997 3:27 AM
Subject: RE: Billups slowly improving


>
>
>On Mon, 29 Dec 1997, John Lyell wrote:
>
>> I agree his play has improved, but he still does not show me the
instincts
>> of a real point.  On too many occasions where the lane is open he pulls
it
>> up instead of penetrating to the hoop or dishing it off to teammates.
Maybe
>> this will come in time, but didn't we say that with Barros & Brown ?
>>
>That is why we need to exercise patience.  Considering that he is
>adjusting to a position he didn't play at Colorado, I'm happy with the
>progress he's made up to this point.  There are negatives to be found in
>the play of each one of the Celtics which simply proves they're human,
>not machines.  I guess it bothers me a lot when the critics make their
>assessments at early stages of a career, because often times, the player
>is only a shell of himself at that stage.  I hope we don't make the same
>mistake with ANY of our young players.  Jaime makes a point that he's not
>exciting.  Good grief, if winning basketball games isn't exciting enough,
>something's wrong.
>
>I hear you when you say Billups is improving but...  Apparently his
>improvement is not acceptable entirely.  It seems as if you want
>"mistake-free" basketball and you're not going to get that from anyone.
>
>For instance, against the Lakers, during one series, he penetrated the
>lane, went up in the air, tried to dish to Walker who would've had an
>easy jam, but it was slapped away by the defender.  If he takes the shot
>and misses, he would be criticized.  But he is trying to help his team
>win and was thwarted by an alert defender.
>
>He also came down on a 3 on 2 break and when he got to the line he shot.
>Some will say that this was poor judgement but, in fact, when a guard
>gets to the line he SHOULD shoot, especially when the defenders lag off
>to cover the wingmen.  This prevents the chance to draw a charge and
>still gives a 3 on 2 rebounding opportunity.
>
>Nobody wants to see Boston win more than me.  I've been a fan since my
>first visit to the Garden in 1962.  This kid has intangibles right now,
>and in time, will show vast improvement in his areas of deficiency.
>
>1.  He's very young.
>
>2.  He's adapting to a new position.
>
>3.  He's playing defence in a system unlike anything he's ever seen.
>
>4.  His fellow teammates are relatively immature and raw also.
>
>Comparisons to other guards don't prove anything at this point unless you
>compare him to fellow rookies like Antonio Daniels, Knight and Vaughn.  He
>seems to have a healthy respect for Pitino and vice versa evidenced by
>the minutes he keeps receiving of late.  But the fact is he earns his
>PT.  He has done a credible job already on Iverson, Van Excel and
>Stoudamire, but never do I read anything about it.  It's a continuous
>situation of doubt regarding his tools as a player.  Once upon a time, a
>gifted defensive point guard was considered a jewel.  Here some of us are
>offering only pessimisms about a rookie who has played 27 games.
>Honestly, what rookies don't struggle for a while?
>
>Give Pitino a chance to work with this kid before we trade him away for a
>bag of marbles and a cheese-steak sandwich.
>
>Cecil
>