Re: RE: Josh, where's the talent?

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

Hi Josh,

I certainly don't want to start a war of words here regarding your last 
few postings but I do find a few of your comments to be a bit confusing.  
Down below in your post, you say "We like Chauncey as much as you do..."  
Now that is simply not true.  You may be able to stomach him when he 
plays well, but if he plays like a rookie who is adjusting to a new 
position, well, let's just say I'll bet he's not on your Xmas list.  In 
fact, one of your subsequent posts, I believe mentioned his "shitty play" 
or a phrase to that effect.

I can't recall anyone calling the tradesters children, but many have 
commented on the lack of patience and the reasons why.

I would feel better if those of you who advocate a trade would simply say 
I want a trade because I want this team to win more than it is!  That in 
itself will prove that RP is moving this team in the right direction 
because we are so hungry to be back in the NBA upper echelon, we will 
trade almost anyone to get there immediately.

Chauncey's talents can be called into question at any time, but so can 
many others as I have pointed out before.  Hell, half the time Walker 
brings the ball up.  Because Billups doesn't sprint upcourt as soon as he 
gets the ball doesn't mean he can't do it.  It could mean he is 
unaccustomed to playing in this manner, AT THIS TIME.  

Does anyone out there remember when we let Paul Westphal go.  Though we 
won a couple of title's without him, he beat our brains in once or 
twice.  

A good point guard is not merely one who is a sprinter.  He must be able 
to hit the big shot, to get his teammates the ball in scoring positions, 
to consistently draw fouls and get to the line and play tough defence.  
I've been waiting for someone to knock his defence, but there are no 
takers.  If his largest problem has been offensively, it should not be a 
surprise unless standards have been set too high.  He has shown flashes 
of brilliance in some games, while in others, he has reminded us that he 
is a rookie trying his best.

As I've said before, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE.  It will pay off down the 
stretch.  I hope you take this post in the spirit with which it's 
intended.  I'll be sending in the synopsis of tonight's game vs 
Charlotte, and if Billups doesn't play well, I'll be frank.  But I still 
think it's way too early in his career to draw the conclusion that he'll 
never be a good point guard.  Did you think David Wesley would blossom as 
he did?

Cecil  

On Tue, 3 Feb 1998 JOzersky@aol.com wrote:

> By virtue of being named in this thread, I want to end once and for all this
> charge of we trade enthusiasts being go-go impatient short sighted children.
>  We like Chauncey as much as you do, but some of us feel that point guards
> are born, not made, and that Chauncey's talents are not suited for play as
> the general of an uptempo offense.  That may change, we may be wrong, and
> Chauncey may turn out to be another Gary Payton.  Great!  Certainly, not
> trading him makes financial sense, given what a Stoudamire or somebody else
> would demand on the open market.  But if Pitino does trade him, it's not
> because "he wants to win the championship now."  Pitino knows what he needs
> better than you do, and between him and Chris Wallace, not to mention Papile,
> Auerbach, etc.  they have a pretty good record at judging talent.  So settle
> back, ok?  
> 
> Josh
>