In devastating news the MRI results confirmed what many thought at the time of injury, that Chancey Billups has a torn Achilles tendon and will be out for the rest of the season. This is a crushing blow to the Clippers who have been improving game by game and week by week. They were considered to be not only a sure bet to make the playoffs, but to go deep in the playoffs. Billups has played a major role in the Clippers resurgence.
Billups, who was acquired in kind of a below the headline waiver deal before the start of season, has been rock solid. He has not only provided clutch shooting, but has been a stalwart defender and has enable to the Clippers to go small with a three guard lineup with ability to guard the opposition's small forward.
While statistically his almost 15 points per game average and 4 assists don’t jump out at you, it has been his intangibles that don’t show up in the stats that have enabled the Clippers to have the second best record in the West. The Clippers were the only team that had two point guards as starters who could dish out assists as well as score. They would just run pick and rolls all over the court forcing defenses to react, thus creating space and opening lanes for the easy lay ups and dunks.
As Chris Paul recently pointed out, Billups has been a big brother to him and other young Clippers. Billups has provided leadership to a young team that had been tarving for it. The young Clippers have looked to him to steady the ship during the tough games, and Billups has knocked down big shots at crucial times.
The Clippers are very fortunate that they are one of the rare teams that are deep in the backcourt. Besides Paul they have Mo Williams who has been a super sub and Randy Foye who has had his moments both starting and coming off the bench. Both will have to set up their play. In fact Foye will probably be the starter, because it’s a difficult to have two small guards starting and since Williams has been dynamic coming off the bench. Coach Vinny Del Negro will probably keep him in that role. Eric Bledsoe, who is young and talented but has not seen the court except in garbage time, will also have a chance to contribute.
No matter what the Clippers will miss Chancey Billups. This is bad news for an organization that had been turning the corner in a positive direction.
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