Chauncey Billups

[Michael Joseph Byrnes <mbyrnes@leland.Stanford.EDU>]

When I saw the Bulls game, I thought that, at this point inhis career, at
least, Billups looked lost as a point guard.  He seemed incapable of even
making an entry pass.  However, he also showed an ability to penetrate and
dish, and he played pretty well in transition.

I haven't seen the Celtics since, so I don't have much basis to judge
Billups.  I also am not about to claim that I know better than Pitino
whether Billups should be kept on the team or traded.

However, I think that they should probably keep him.  Pitino has made a
lot of moves, but, because he is rebuilding with a young team, I think he
must also exercise some patience.  You can't always expect a player
Billups' age to step right in and dominate.

If Pitino has seen something in Billups that has convinced him that he
will never develop, then by all means trade him now.  However, it would be
a mistake to trade Billups simply because he hasn't lived up to
expectations *yet*.

Michael Byrnes
mbyrnes@stanford.edu