Re: Billups etc.

[peter delevett <pdelevett@amcity.com>]

Thomas Murphy wrote:

>Ellie Cutler made a series of nice observations a little while
>ago, one of them concerning the value of "patience with youth" with regard
>to Chauncey Billups, who is so far having a spectacular April. In case you
>missed it, here's some of what he's done:

Unless Chauncey Billups has been doing all these wonderful things as a POINT
GUARD, which as far as I know he hasn't, I don't see where any of this is
relevant. We already have a good player at the 2, and I wouldn't trade Mercer
for Billups and his shooting percentage. Its also not like Billups is helping
Denver to a stellar winning percentage.

>If anyone is guilty of creating ridiculously high
>expectations it is Pitino himself. 

True to a point, but he said at the very beginning of this season that he
didn't expect to make the playoffs until year 3. 

I'm as surprised as anyone that we've got a worse record than teams like
Philly, Toronto and Golden State, but look at what each of those teams added
in the offseason: veterans. George Lynch, Harvey Grant, Tyrone Hill, Oakley,
Willis, Terry Cummings, John Starks, Chris Mills. That some of those guys
rightfully should be on their way to the glue factory doesn't take away from
the fact that they have been a very psoitive influence on their young
teammates and have been the key crunch time performers. They know how to win;
a bunch of 22 year olds don't, at least not yet. SEVEN of our top 9 guys have
played 3 years or fewer in the league and are 23 years old or younger. That is
really astonishing when you stop and think about it.