Chauncey Billups

>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

I hope this is not a Roderick Rhodes situation. I hope I spelled that right
lest I be labeled a non-basketball fan. Anyway in case somebody doesn't know
the story. Rhodes was recruited by Pitino and eventually matriculated at
Kentucky. The relationship between coach and player soured and Pitino forced
Rhodes hand into leaving the school. He moved on to play at USC never really
fullfilling his potential. But now in the pros he seems to be doing alright
after being taken in the first round by Houston. So where does that leave
Billups? Is he in the same kind of doghouse? It has been reported on CNN/SI
that the team as a whole is not happy with the treatment that Billups is
getting and that after the recent Miami game Tim Hardaway took B-ups aside
and told him not to get dowm on himself . He also told him he believed he
could play at the pro level. It seems to me that Pitino plays favorites and
dogs. In his eyes it seems McCarty can do little wrong at least that is how
it seems by his playing time even when putting up bad shot after bad shot.
Yet other players don't even get an opportunity. Weeding out the bad players
is one thing but this is a different level. Free agency is a big part of the
game. How can a player be convinced to come to a place where it might be
perceived that he might get a bad rap before even getting a chance to play.
The situation must be laid to rest soon either he is traded or the Celts
stop making calls and feeding speculation before it starts hurting B-ups and
it shows the rest of the league the Celts are wheeling and dealing aimlessly

ART SILVA