Chauncey Billups: Following the Leader

article

155

-1

2009-05-12T08:37:00-04:00

Playerpress

470 3041      Most NBA fans, even the casual ones, have heard by now, that Chauncey Billups is a Denver Nugget. Before he got to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city>, he had played for five other teams, including a short stay with the Nuggets. Seems like a lot of teams for a guy whose nickname is Mr. Big Shot. A product of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Colorado</st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>, he has proven himself to be a top tier point guard. His basketball IQ is as good as it gets, he’s like a coach on the floor. Chauncey Billups is exactly the kind of player any coach would want on his team. So why has he been with so many teams?       He was drafted third overall by the Celtics in the 1997 draft and subsequently traded halfway through his first season, to the Toronto Raptors. After finishing the season in <st1:city w:st="on">Toronto</st1:city>, he played two seasons in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city>. <st1:state w:st="on">Minnesota</st1:state> was his next stop, and after two years there, he signed with <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Detroit</st1:place></st1:city>. This is where he really made a name for himself. He stayed six full seasons in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Motor</st1:placename><st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>, leading them to the NBA Finals three consecutive years and winning a title before being traded back to his hometown Nuggets in November of 2008. <o:p> </o:p>      Known for his tough defense and clutch shooting, Billups has added leader to his resume during his current stint in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city>. Not to say he wasn’t a leader in his previous stops, but the Nuggets needed a veteran precensce to settle them down. Coached by George Karl, the Nuggets were anything but disciplined, which is exactly what Chauncey brought. Now, one win away from the Western Conference Finals, most experts agree, he is the difference between a possible Finals berth and not making the playoffs at all. <o:p> </o:p>      I am not saying he is not recognized as a fantastic basketball player, but I don’t think he gets the accolades he deserves. He has single-handedly transformed this Nugget team into a juggernaut. Not only do they have as much firepower as anyone in the league, they have the toughness it takes to bring home a title. Before Billups arrived, Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin, among others, were immature. I won’t say they were thugs, but that is the image they portrayed. Chauncey Billups has changed that thug mentality into gritty toughness, the good kind. <o:p> </o:p>      Game five in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city> will not be close. Dallas, and their out-spoken owner Mark Cuban, will leave the Mile High city with their tails between their legs. Not because they aren’t good, well, that too, but because <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city> is just a different team. They have improved all season long, getting better game by game. Remember, Billups has only played with them for less than a full season. It takes time to learn the system and gel with your teammates. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city> will be even better next year, that’s scary. <o:p> </o:p>      Chauncey Billups is, hands down, the most underrated player in the league. You can throw out names like Brandon Roy, Darron Williams in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Utah</st1:place></st1:state>, even Dwight Howard, who doesn’t get enough credit, but Chauncey Billups has intangibles that the others don’t, or at least haven’t learned yet. Not to mention, Billups has put <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denver</st1:place></st1:city> on his back and carried them to the promised land. <o:p> </o:p>      Although fully capable of putting up a triple double more often than not, he acts more as a coach and facilitator of the offense. He is selfless in the sense that his numbers don’t matter. He has never averaged 20 points a game, although, when push comes to shove, scoring 20 isn’t a problem for him. Every athlete will say they want to win above all else, then there are those who let their play do the talking. As they say, actions speak louder than words. <o:p> </o:p>      Not only does he set a good example on the court, he has won numerous awards for sportsmanship, but he is also very active in the community. The NBA pushes its athletes hard to spend time in the community, but I get the sense Billups does it because it is the right thing to do, not just because his boss tells him to. As a high profile figure, being active in his community means a lot, not only to the specific individuals he works with, but for the community as a whole. It sets a good example. That encompasses everything that is Chauncey Billups, he sets a good example. <o:p> </o:p>      Chauncey Billups is a class act through and through. The NBA needs more players like him. By all accounts that I’m aware of, he is a gentleman on and off the court. With a league filled with wannabe thugs and gangsters, it is time for a change. It starts with veterans showing the youngsters the right way to carry themselves. There is always someone watching. I’ll be the first to admit, I can’t stand the Denver Nuggets and their over-the-top, self-absorbed personalities, but Chauncey has changed the environment on that team. I’d like to personally thank Mr. Billups for being such a positive role model for today’s kids. The good Lord knows there can never be enough good role models for today’s youth. 0.0.0.0

2009-05-12T08:37:00-04:00

chauncey-billups-following-the-leader

Yes 66.249.68.248, 72.30.142.117, 72.30.79.93, 174.46.170.181, 66.249.67.230, 67.195.113.245, 41.220.75.16, 128.151.226.60, 65.55.207.24, 72.14.164.186, 66.249.68.245, 66.249.67.133, 174.129.119.182, 78.33.237.147, 99.245.239.56, 66.249.67.248, 71.237.115.70, 85.23.35.18, 89.253.70.223, 67.195.112.251, 66.249.68.227, 66.249.67.143, 67.195.115.163, 66.249.67.233, 66.249.67.174, 65.55.207.53, 85.17.211.164, 66.249.68.242, 89.189.137.21, 67.202.15.176, 38.100.41.67, 67.195.112.109, 198.183.227.140, 67.218.116.131, 85.25.124.132, 66.249.67.242, 67.195.114.233, 67.195.37.172, 65.55.207.49, 65.55.106.182, 123.125.66.42, 202.180.34.186, 209.202.168.82, 67.195.112.159, 71.238.254.92, 67.195.111.172, 83.167.62.168, 95.108.157.251, 66.249.68.152, 142.166.3.122, 87.250.252.241, 212.227.136.205, 65.55.106.187, 67.195.37.184, 38.100.41.105, 12.175.178.250, 85.25.124.4, 95.27.152.153, 85.25.124.167, 93.174.95.160, 66.249.67.229, 65.55.107.236, 207.241.228.152, 65.55.106.183, 65.55.207.51, 74.53.3.132, 208.115.111.246, 66.249.68.143, 66.249.68.135, 66.249.67.245, 92.241.182.23, 66.249.65.66, 66.249.65.109, 66.249.65.87, 67.195.114.243, 202.131.30.148, 66.249.68.137, 38.105.83.13, 65.55.109.120, 75.126.140.19, 74.181.108.241, 66.249.67.236, 67.195.114.42, 208.115.111.245, 66.235.124.8, 66.235.124.55, 67.195.113.248, 38.101.148.126, 66.17.216.9, 38.100.8.50, 216.135.54.194, 76.104.175.181, 67.162.41.130, 61.247.222.46, 98.219.29.9, 66.249.68.204, 24.14.116.122, 67.195.112.85, 65.55.106.228, 67.195.37.188, 67.195.111.238, 212.1.248.17, 75.172.249.92, 67.195.112.114, 91.181.246.122, 66.249.68.149, 65.55.216.55, 67.195.112.125, 66.249.68.155, 96.255.109.23, 66.249.67.206, 129.234.193.111, 38.105.83.6, 66.249.68.184, 142.166.170.102, 66.249.68.187, 208.115.111.247, 66.249.68.79, 67.195.112.248, 76.112.48.107, 65.55.207.99, 202.131.30.150, 66.249.68.175, 66.249.68.236, 67.195.115.214, 75.101.179.97, 72.252.9.55, 67.195.111.29, 170.188.5.76, 66.249.68.81, 66.223.183.55, 66.249.68.233, 66.249.68.37, 67.195.113.247, 67.148.138.138, 94.75.229.132, 207.46.204.188, 66.235.124.56, 66.249.65.36, 66.249.65.52, 119.95.178.124, 207.46.13.43, 38.107.191.88

Chauncey Billups: Following the Leader

No NBA, Nuggets, Denver, Chauncey Billups

Chauncey Billups: Following the Leader

428

writer