<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">AUBURN HILLS -- An illustration of leadership: Chauncey Billups noticed something was odd and maybe a little off with Carlos Delfino early during training camp. His body language and overall demeanor was bad, droopy, like he was either mad about something or just not having any fun. Billups gave it a couple weeks. Then, not seeing any improvement, he decided to intervene. He and a couple other veterans took Delfino out to dinner one night last week. Billups got right to the point. He asked Delfino, simply, "Are you with us or not?" Billups told Delfino the team was counting on him this season and if he didn't want to be here, speak up now. After Delfino assured him he did want to be here, Billups told him to start acting like it. Whatever it is that's been bothering you, Billups said, let it go. It's not important. We've all gone through stuff in our careers. All that matters now is we need you with us. We need you to be a part of what we're trying to accomplish this season. We have to be able to trust you are with us. President Joe Dumars and coach Flip Saunders could have said those same words to Delfino without having nearly the same effect. Once Billups reached out to Delfino, the change was almost immediate. Delfino began smiling more at practice. He made himself more available to his teammates, even allowing himself to get mixed up in some of Rasheed Wallace's high jinks. Delfino and Lindsey Hunter started their own postpractice shooting regimen. Delfino, for now, is back in the fold.</div> Source[/ul]
hahahaha, Imagine how he would've felt when they took him out to dinner "Now. . . Carlos. . . We need to have a talk. . ."
