Re: Billups

[Warwick Janetzki <giants@icplus.net.au>]

Warwick Janetzki wrote:
> 
> JimMeyer@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > >In my honest opinon Billups will be extremely good, it's just a matter of
> > >giving the kid some time to adapt.  You have to remember that the 1 is the
> > >toughest position in the league especially if you're still jsut a kid, like
> > >Chauncey.  Not only does he have to orchestrate the team but he has to do
> > >this using the "Kentucky" system, which is not something he was accustomed
> > >to playing in Colorado.  So, he has to learn a new system, which is
> > >difficult to get use to, be the coach on the floor (being the PG), take the
> > >pressure of being the 3rd overall, get use to a higher level of competition
> > >than he faced in college and get use to being in the most popular pro
> > >sports league in the world.  Give him time, it took him a little bit of
> > >time to really shine in college (if memory serves me correct) and it'll
> > >take him a little time to get use to all of the above, but I believe if we
> > >wait this out and stop putting everyone in the trading hotseat (which WE
> > >SHOULD, I mean come on, we haven't even played 1 regular season
> > >game!!!!!!!), we will have potentially one of the best point guards that
> > >our fabled franchise has ever laid claim to.
> >
> > Exactly!
> >
> > >But, that's just my opinon
> >
> > And I share it completely...
> >
> > >Mike
> >
> > It's just going to be difficult for everybody.  Most of us have never hit a
> > stretch like this before with the Celtics.  The depth to which our beloved
> > Celtics sank to last year was just unbearable for us all.  WE WANT ANOTHER
> > TITLE AND WE WANT IT NOW.  The championship belongs to us...it is rightfully
> > ours every year.  We all feel this way...and the level of frustration we have
> > at not only loosing like we have recently but enduring the derision of the
> > rest of the league and self appointed experts is almost to much to bear.
> >  JUST A LITTLE LONGER.  Be patient.  It will take time.  In awhile (maybe
> > beginning as soon as the second half of this season), we will once again
> > begin to earn the grudging respect of those who know better.  Then we will
> > return to being despised for our excellence.  I think Billups will be a key
> > part of that.  If we are patient...we may very well be ONE PLAYER from the
> > top.  Antoine will be not only an all-star, but soon a regular consideration
> > for the all-NBA team.  Eventually...Mercer, Billups and maybe McCarty will
> > join him occassionally on the all-star team...with perhaps one of them a
> > regular there.  That leaves one.  I CAN'T WAIT...but I guess I have to.
> >
> > Jimbo
> 
I agree totally with both of your posts entirely. If it wasn't for the
history of the C's then we'd be viewing the current situation as the
same as the T-Wolves were before last season. BUT, this is the BOSTON
CELTICS... I'm proud to have these guys representing our faith.
Chauncey's problem is that it is the first time in his life that he has
had to live away from Colo. I know that a lot of players are like that,
but, in Chauncey's situation he was a heralded "COLORADO" baller all his
life. A lot of players choose to go to college in a different state just
to know what its like living away from home before they become pros.
 
Once he has settled down, then I'm positive that he will be able to
develop and run the offense the way that Rick has dreamt about.
 
On the other players, Walter McCarty may be the perfect role player for
Rick. He can play up to 4 positions successfully and will be a great
player for Rick to cause matchup problems with. He can put him in at
centre for a brief time and run the Shaq's and Ewing's out of breath, he
wont get killed defenively because he has good hops and seems like he
could be a good stealer. Can also play power forward / small forward and
off guard because he has great shooting ability and speed to match it
with the smaller players, so in that sense he is very Toni Kukoc like
with a hel* of a lot more defense!
 
Dontae Jones is one guy that I dont really know about. At 6'8" and
supposively very athletic, he seems that he could be a perfect fit for
Rick's style, of athleticism and speed.
 
 Travis Knight could end up playing power forward if Rick decides to go
 to a big lineup. He started at power forward for the Lakers when Shaq
 went down as Elden Campbell took the centre position.
 
Antoine, well what can be said that hasn't been said before. Terrific,
this guy has  more ability and potential than possibly anyone else in
the league. He seems like a very determined player and is a worthy
captain. Will be a top 3 player in 2 or 3 seasons, ready to dominate the
world.
 
Ron Mercer, I think is going to be a terrific pick up. As everyone was
saying before at draft time, Rick definitely sucked the other teams in
when he said that he wouldn't be a top player at this level as to get
him!! Awesome! Speed, great athleticism, fits the style perfectly, wont
have much of a transisiton play wise due to him being a Pitino kid.
 
Dee Brown, salary cap disaster, awesome talent, bad attitude. Says it
all really doesn't it? Its been a long time since we've seen this guys
potential. Ever since he won that dunk contest its mostly been a steep
hill and he was at the top and his target was the ground, oh well he has
definitely hit the rock bottom, now I can see a small mountain in the
not to distant future, its definitely either a trade or playing well and
winning the occasional fan back. I think that for a lot of us, its a
tiny bit too late, but lets just give him another go, hes had about 12
of them already, hey number 13 may be unlucky for some, but it could be
lucky for him!!
 
Pervis Ellison, if he keeps fit, then hes a great player for us, if he
doesn't then hes worthless to us. He needs to have a good injury free
season for him to get that noose taken off of him. I hope his game is as
good as his hair this season!!
 
Tony Massenburg / Andrew DeClercq, thanks for training with us and
helping us out a lot, but I cant really thank them for playing with us,
they'll be out the door before Halloween, I think its come a little
early this year. Personally, my thoughts on Tony would be to deal him to
the Charlotte Hornets because their only backup small forward is JR
Reid, I'd take a 2nd rounder for him. Andrew DeClercq as I've mentioned
before, I'd trade him to the Golden State Warriors with Greg Minor and
Dee Brown for Mark Price and Felton Spencer. I dont really know that
they'd take the trade although they do desperately want to rid
themselves of both players. Mark is the kind of guy that could have a
positive influence on Chauncey, as hes been around the league and has
seen both the highs and lows of life in the NBA. He'd also teach a thing
 or two to everyone, and he hasn't got a bad attitude problem like a lot
 of the players around the league. Felton Spencer on the other hand
would
 give Rick the option of making Travis a full time power forward as
 everyone knows Travis's problems are low-post D and playing him at
power
 forward would eliminate his weakness.
 
 Dana Barros, well I hope this season he sticks it right up all of us
who
 have doubted him in the past. Remember the last year that the 3 point
 line was out was the year that he dominated in Philly. I'm not quite
prepared to say that he'll have that good a season as we've got enough
backup points and shooting guards to cut his amount of playing time by a
good 5 to 10 minutes.
 
 Bruce Bowen, superb athlete, great pickup. If Rick cuts him, then hes
going to find another job in the NBA right away and it will come back to
haunt the C's and thats for sure.
 
 Greg Minor- hope the door doesn't hit your sorry arse too hard. Once ML
 signed him to the big contract life was supposed to be all rosy for
 Greg. Not to be however, both his personal life and basketball career
 have gone down the toilet since. A talented player, a headcase a poor
 man's Derrick Coleman in a guards body if you will.
 
 John Thomas- Europe, needn't talk about him until next season.
 
 comments?
 
 Warwick