RE: the state of the rivalry

[John Lyell <Jlyell@concentric.net>]

Cecil is correct it is not only Billups.  Don't expect McCarty to become a 
scoring machine or be anything other than a role player.  That is all he 
was in college, and very few players really drastically improve their game. 
 Barros, Brown, & Minor have been their usual sporadic selves.  Knight is 
versatile offensively, but the defensive liability we lnew he would be. 
 Walker has potential to be a star but currently puts up numbers due to the 
quantity of shots he is taking, much similar to Iverson last year.  He has 
a lot of moves but is often out of control.



On Thursday, November 27, 1997 6:59 PM, Cecil Wright 
[SMTP:nocw1@nsh.library.ns.ca] wrote:
> 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