Chauncey Billups is a proven WINNER in the NBA. He's done a lot more in this sport than Mike D'antoni could ever dream of accomplishing. He can run an offense, hit big shots, he's gritty-gutty (a warrior), and is dedicated to defense. His best days are behind him, but like J-Kidd... He has worth still!
With this said, and with no disrespect to CB... We should buy him out and let him go. Sure, normally MD's freestyle SSOL offense means good things for PGs. Nash, Duhon, Felton all saw their career numbers tick upwards when they played in MD's scheme. Duhon-Felton burned out quickly though.
This offense is not for Billups. Simple as that. But let's not besmirch the good name of Chauncey Billups... please. He deserves better. Perchance his poor play is more of an indictment on the coaching acumen of Mike D'antoni? After all, Billups has the ring. We shouldn't trash on Billups (saying he's done/washed-up). He proved against MIA he still has "it." What had MD proven since he's arrived?
I think this veiled comment from Billups last night was his defense against such personal attacks that have begun to simmer:
"
To give up 64 points in the first half and (50) in the second half. . . . I don't care how good your offense is," said
Chauncey Billups, who had 14 points and 10 assists, but missed 10 of 16 shots, including a late jumper. "
We'd have to score 120 points, and that puts a lot of pressure on our offense. Our defense is going to make or break us, I believe."
There you have it. Billups prefers to win ugly than lose beautifully. He prefers to battle, grind and win by beating your opponent, rather than finesse, race and spread out your enemy. He feels offense is HALF the battle. That you aid your offense by playing defense.
This is CB's retort to all of those who have judged CB after 20 games. He's telling us that it's insane to play every game shooting for 120 points, as if the NBA is some sort of gymnastic competition where you're judged soley by your offensive performance on a scale of 0-10 (and the best score wins).
Basketball is a game played against two teams, 5 players against 5 players. This isn't something that's played in the ideal, where it's you versus the course... There's actually something to the notion that YOU ARE ALLOWED to stop, prevent, defend the other team from doing what it's trying to do.