Chauncey Billups, on why the Pistons have been coming out of the gate so slow:
“So many times, we take for granted a little bit that we have been together for so long, and we know each other so well, that we find each other taking too many shortcuts, and these teams are young, and they’re looking to make a name for themselves. What better team to do that than against the Pistons, who have been so good for long.”
What better team do to that against? Let’s see… I’m thinking the Heat, the reigning NBA champs. Or maybe the Mavericks, the champs of the West. How about the Spurs? They won in 2005 and have three titles in eight years. There’s also the Cavs, led by the league’s favorite son. Or Phoenix, who’s up-tempo style epitomizes the new NBA…
I’m sure Chauncey didn’t mean anything by it, but seriously, the target hasn’t been on Detroit’s back more so than the rest of the league for a good couple of years now — especially this season. Those young teams come out with so much energy because they’re young teams, not because they’re playing the Pistons.
Sounds like Chauncey is thinking about his future with a younger team for next year.
Where is LanierFan?
Whatever he has to say about this, I agree with 100%.
Billups head is so large that other smaller heads are orbiting around it. He thinks he is the best player on the best team in the NBA. EVEN WHEN we were champs, HE WASN’T. He won MVP of the Finals. That never made him the best player. He had the best series.
Billups will leave the Pistons this off-season to take the biggest payday. His recent quotes indicate an interest in being shown how important he is to the franchise.
Great player. Bad leader. Leaders don’t praise themselves all the time.
I won’t beat up Chauncey for this one, because his words can be read another way: What better team for a young team to jump on than a contender that’s had its fangs pulled?
Offseason talk and early results say Detroit’s a team you can make your rep against. The Spurs still have Duncan, the Mavs are still loaded, Miami still has Wade and the refs. But Detroit lost Ben, so clubs are going to be bold until the Pistons make them pay. Realistically, what better team indeed?
How quickly we forget … by the end of the season last year (and even well into the playoffs), the Pistons were favorites to make their 3rd straight Finals appearance, and win their 2nd title in 3 years. They were the team with four All-Stars, who would have had five, except it wasn’t allowed.
Yes, the team lost it’s groove at the worst possible time, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised that the younger up-and-coming teams see Detroit, with it’s streak of five consecutive conference finals appearances, as one of 2-3 teams that you really get up for.
As to Chauncey getting a big head, I don’t see the basis for that in these remarks. First, he is talking here about the Pistons as a team, not himself. Second, they have, in fact, been “so good for so long.” Third, Chauncey has always been cocky: if anything, he sounds here like he’s admitting the error of his ways.