Billups, Anderson, Geiger

[Alex Wang <awang@mit.edu>]

Regardless of what people were doing earlier, this comparison of
first year stats is silly. As many have observed, Gary Payton didn't
have great stats his first few years. That doesn't mean that any 
point guard who puts up similar numbers will be as good as Payton is.

It is true that Anderson was a backup his first year where Billups 
is a starter and one of the top offensive weapons of the Celtics. 
But, the fact that they both had mediocre first years is not really 
an indicator of how they will develop. Anderson has shown that he 
can play at an All-Star level. Billups may, in the future, become a
superstar. Or he may become a bust. So we'll have to wait and see.

The Globe mentioned that in (Anderson agent) David Falk's teleconference, 
he said that his client Matt Geiger would have Boston at the top of his 
list at the end of the season. I wonder whether this was part of the deal
when Pitino bailed Anderson out of Toronto. 

The Celtics seem headed for the lottery unless Anderson learns the system 
very, very fast and plays like his best years. My guess is that in the 
mid-to-lower lottery where the Celtics draft, there are still going to be 
some very good small forward prospects. 

I guess Pitino has his three All-Stars now (Walker, Anderson, Barros)!
Seriously though, the only way he was going to get an All-Star caliber
player was to acquire an out-of-favor one (like Anderson) and restore him,
or develop one (Billups). The development process can be long and difficult
and nowadays results in headaches come contract time. If Anderson can get 
back to All-Star form, and I believe that Pitino would be the one who could 
do it, then we'll be happy about his "large" contract. 
Especially when Billups (Falk) demands his $100M deal in another year and
a half.

Alex

> That same reply carried no weight earlier this year when folks were panning
> Billups' stats when compared to Brevin Knight, Antonio Daniels as well as
> other  more experienced guards.  Billups played less minutes than them all.
> 
> Is anyone willing to say that his stats may have been better if he had
> received more minutes, other than myself?
> All I'm saying is this.  Chauncey Billups, having no previous experience as
> a point guard, did not embarrass himself or the team.  In fact he quite
> possibly did as well as could be realistically expected.  And there is no
> reason to believe that he won't improve in the future, the same as every
> other rookie.  I still hope CB does well when he plays against us.  BUT I
> HOPE WE WIN!!
> 
> Cecil