Re: the state of the rivalry

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

Your style is very cute, but your content is extremely questionable.  If 
you think Tracy McGrady has not had any difficulty making the adjustment 
to the pro game, you have not been following his season very closely.  I 
won't even bother to discuss the antics of Jermaine O'Neal.  

Make no mistake about it, Billups will have many bad games as he learns 
in the toughest possible situation.  He's a rookie point guard in a city 
where most fans have no tolerance for anything less than Oscar Robertson 
through his first 14 games.  He's playing for a coach who has installed a 
relentless defensive scheme and he's playing alongside other 
inexperienced players.  But nobody said it would be easy.  He was drafted 
#3, so he should be leading the league in scoring and assists like Nate 
Archibald by now. 

If some of you are not willing to be patient with mistakes and those who 
make them, get rid of them all because none of them are perfect.  Give 
this team some time to grow together instead of wanting to make a deal 
because you have made your talent evaluation already.  You all would've 
traded Gary Payton too and how's his game today?

My question is why does Billups continually get the raspberry by himself?

Last night, the C's shot 40-86, or .465 from the floor.
Last night, the Laker shot 43-72, or .597 from the floor. 

Last night, Celtic starters shot 26-57, or .456 from the floor.
Last night, Laker starters shot 45-58, or .776 from the floor.

Billups shot 1-3 and had 4 turnovers in 21 minutes.  Not a good game, but 
hardly the abysmal catalyst for disaster.  McCarty shot 1-6 and had 2 
turnovers in 31 minutes and there's not a mention. (I'm not dissing 
Walter, just using him as an example)  I don't think Billups can be 
blamed for a woeful team shooting exhibition.

Cecil