RE: Sonics

[John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

Cecil you are correct. The Kemp for Baker swap could be just what they 
needed.  Baker outscored Kemp 25-9 I believe the other night in about 28 
minutes .  This guy does not get the credit he deserves.  You are right I 
still have not seen CB show signs he can play the point at the level we 
need.  Many say it took Payton a fews years, this is not totally correct. 
 Payton was an excellent playmaker in college, and has always been a 
playmaker.  He was not moved from another position and made play something 
he was not.  This usually does not work at the pro level.

You are correct this was a team loss, but I believe that that point makes 
everything happen or not.  The good point guards are able to penetrate for 
easy layups or dish off to teammates for easy baskets and make everyone 
better. If you watch a Stockten or Kidd, as soon as they get the ball the 
push it up the floor and can read the lanes of find the open man.  Billups 
seems real hesitant to do this or just doesn't show the instinct.  You are 
not going to win a lot of games with a predominantly perimeter game, you 
have to have a consistent perimeter & interior game like we did in the 80's 
and other successful teams have.  Putting up 20-25 points a game usually 
doesn't help if you shoot 40% or less which is too often the occasion with 
the Celtics.

Do they need time ?  Yes but again how much ?  Some say more than a season 
but RP has seen Billups more than anyone with the college experience, 
tryouts, camp &  season hopefully he knows what he is doing.  IMO I don't 
see a long term stay with the Celtics, maybe I am wrong.

That's all we need is another 2 guard that can't shoot and has no trade 
value  in a long term contract.








-----Original Message-----
From:	Cecil Wright [SMTP:nocw1@nsh.library.ns.ca]
Sent:	Saturday, January 10, 1998 3:43 PM
To:	John Lyell
Cc:	'Celtics'
Subject:	Re: Sonics

In fairness John, Seattle pretty much has the whole package, I'd say.  We
can't match up with Detlef.  We don't have a shot-blocker like McIlvaine,
at least one that gets significant minutes anyway.  For all his promise,
Mercer has yet to prove that he is a shooter with the consistency of
Hersey Hawkins, and of course, Billups is far from the level of Payton.

They have a superior bench with the likes of Dale Ellis and Sam Perkins.
We do not match up well against that caliber of players yet.

Also, Detlef had 8 assists, Greg Anthony had 7 and Payton had 5. What we
witnessed last night was intelligent decisions made by the
Sonics, not only by Payton.  You're persecuting Billups for circumstances
beyond his control.  If he played a flawless game last night, the C's
still would have lost and some fans would dismiss the effort because of
the result, ala Toine after the Wizards game.

It's perfectly clear that you don't believe in CB's ability, and whenever
his game can be called into question, you will leap to the occasion, but
if you can't share the blame in an abysmal performance like this one,
yours is little more than a personal attack on the guy.

Pitino said that the TEAM received a lesson, not any individual, and I
include THE COACH as part of that team.  Seattle is a team to be
emulated.  I do share your dream of Baker, and I believe that he will
become a Celtic whenever he has the opportunity, at least I hope.

Cecil

On Fri, 9 Jan 1998, John Lyell wrote:

>
>
> We got to see what a top notch team looked like tonight with a real point 
> guard.  We were totally outclassed.  Even Pitino said it in the postgame. 
>  I still would love to se Vin Baker in Celtic green !
>
> You need consistent outside scoring, point guard penetration, and ball
> movement to spread the defense open up the easy shdots.  We still really
> don't a good job at any of these.
>
>