Re: Josh, where's the talent?

[Cecil Wright <nocw1@nsh.library.ns.ca>]

What does it take?  If you are looking for a team to challenge for the 
NBA title this year, you gotta look somewhere other than here.  If you're 
looking for a team which will bust a gut and improve more over the next 
few seasons than most teams in basketball, stay tuned right here.  But 
please, can we kill all this trade talk.  If the Celts make a roster 
move, we can pick it apart, but until then, I can't believe we're not all 
collectively thrilled at the tremendous improvement this team has made 
since last year.

Austin Croshere is a fine talent and will probably benefit a great deal 
from being tutored by coach LJB.  He, unlike Billups or Mercer, has the 
luxury of not having to be forced into the spotlight.  He doesn't have 
the responsibility of either of them because he's in a situation which is 
ideal for most rookies.  He's able to learn from watching 
established veterans at practice and in game situations.  

Back to the proposed trade for a moment, for those who wish for it to 
occur, who would start at the point in place of Billups?  Who would 
defend the other teams point as well as Chauncey has?  I think some of us 
are too one dimensional, in our thinking, for our own good.  Claiming 
that Billups will never be an NBA quality pg is speculation and opinion, 
but who would have thought that he would be as good as he appears to be 
defensively?  That's right!  Defence counts too!  But it is clearly 
overlooked when discussing a point guard's requirements.  

Ron Mercer shot 3/13 from the field last night as a shooting guard.  Does 
anyone question his potential to be of NBA caliber?  I hope not.

Some postees seem to be hoping for the big enchalada to fall into our 
laps right now, this minute, or at least before the trade deadline.  Not
this year.  IT AIN'T GONNNA HAPPEN.  Let maturity take its course, please.  
We don't need any more fragile, oft-injured, slight centres.  We need a 
stud rebounder, which neither Camby or Wallace are.  The draft doesn't 
seem to be overwrought with what we need either, so why make such a deal 
and risk destroying the cohesion and healthy effort we've been delighted 
to witness on most nights? 

Good to see some fine play from Travis last night.

Cecil