Spring Break
Billups helps Nuggets build
Mark Pedersen
Issue date: 6/2/09 Section: Sports
Everyone got so caught up in the prospect of the Lebron taking his Cavs to the NBA Finals that the Western Conference Finals went unnoticed. Guess who played the Lakers? It wasn't the Blazers. It was the Denver Nuggets. I want to repeat that. The Denver Nuggets were playing in the final four. They snuck past the likes of Dirk Nowitzki and CP3 en route to their matchup with Kobe Bryant, the Black Mamba.
And who was at the helm of this seemingly miracle run? Not Allen Iverson. I'm sure this is news to many of you. It was in fact Chauncey Billups, who on Nov. 3, 2008, was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson and Antonio McDyess. Many onlookers thought this transaction would favor the Pistons. After all, Iverson is "The Answer." Not so much. The Pistons wound up floundering toward the end of the season and falling prey to Lebron in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The NBA MVP averaged 32 points/game while sitting most of the fourth quarters.
Where was "The Answer?" Sitting in a suit, sidelined by a bum back. On the plus side, McDyess was playing great minutes in what might be his 40th season in the league.
All the while, Billups, who was born in Denver and played at University of Colorado-Boulder, was killing it back home. Fittingly, Billups was given the name "Smooth" during his high school career growing up in Colorado. Chauncey opened up the NBA Playoffs by dropping 36 points in Game 1 and 31 points in Game 2.
Chauncey is the leader of a Nuggets circus that includes such players as Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Carmelo "Stop Snitching" Anthony, Nene Hilario and JR Smith. This motley crew makes Ozzy Osbourne look like a sane man.
Billups provides the stability to this team that Iverson only made worst. Let's compare the two in their respective stints in the Mile High City. Billups managed to squeeze out four more wins than Iverson ever did with 54 wins this season. One for Billups.
In two years with Denver, Iverson averaged 25.6 point per game. Chauncey comes in at a measly 17.7 points per game this season. Allen gets one.
Chauncey has a playoff record of 10 wins and 6 losses. Iverson accumulated 1 win over 9 games. That's two for "Smooth." Let's take a look outside the numbers.
Obviously, Iverson is a better scorer and Chauncey is a better leader, so let's see how that affects team performance. Chauncey brought the Nuggets to their first Western Conference Final since 1985. "The Answer" lost both first round playoffs.
Give the Nuggets' General Manager Mark Warkentien some credit. He found "The Answer" and realized he wasn't what they needed. Going back on a decision like that can be dangerous - dangerous and brilliant. Warkentien took home Executive of the Year and Billups showed the Nuggets that he really is "Smooth."
Mark Pedersen, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
And who was at the helm of this seemingly miracle run? Not Allen Iverson. I'm sure this is news to many of you. It was in fact Chauncey Billups, who on Nov. 3, 2008, was traded to the Denver Nuggets for Allen Iverson and Antonio McDyess. Many onlookers thought this transaction would favor the Pistons. After all, Iverson is "The Answer." Not so much. The Pistons wound up floundering toward the end of the season and falling prey to Lebron in Round 1 of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The NBA MVP averaged 32 points/game while sitting most of the fourth quarters.
Where was "The Answer?" Sitting in a suit, sidelined by a bum back. On the plus side, McDyess was playing great minutes in what might be his 40th season in the league.
All the while, Billups, who was born in Denver and played at University of Colorado-Boulder, was killing it back home. Fittingly, Billups was given the name "Smooth" during his high school career growing up in Colorado. Chauncey opened up the NBA Playoffs by dropping 36 points in Game 1 and 31 points in Game 2.
Chauncey is the leader of a Nuggets circus that includes such players as Chris "Birdman" Anderson, Carmelo "Stop Snitching" Anthony, Nene Hilario and JR Smith. This motley crew makes Ozzy Osbourne look like a sane man.
Billups provides the stability to this team that Iverson only made worst. Let's compare the two in their respective stints in the Mile High City. Billups managed to squeeze out four more wins than Iverson ever did with 54 wins this season. One for Billups.
In two years with Denver, Iverson averaged 25.6 point per game. Chauncey comes in at a measly 17.7 points per game this season. Allen gets one.
Chauncey has a playoff record of 10 wins and 6 losses. Iverson accumulated 1 win over 9 games. That's two for "Smooth." Let's take a look outside the numbers.
Obviously, Iverson is a better scorer and Chauncey is a better leader, so let's see how that affects team performance. Chauncey brought the Nuggets to their first Western Conference Final since 1985. "The Answer" lost both first round playoffs.
Give the Nuggets' General Manager Mark Warkentien some credit. He found "The Answer" and realized he wasn't what they needed. Going back on a decision like that can be dangerous - dangerous and brilliant. Warkentien took home Executive of the Year and Billups showed the Nuggets that he really is "Smooth."
Mark Pedersen, sports writer
sports@dailybarometer.com
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