Veteran point guard won't put a time line on his return from injury; is excited about the Clippers off-season acquisitions ......
Chauncey Billups has made a lot of Los Angeles Clippers fans happy, and the Clippers front office relieved by being ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn left Achilles tendon.
Billups, the veteran point guard and somewhat leader of the revitalized Clippers team, suffered the injury on February 6th. He underwent surgery on the 15th of February and was expected to be out eight months.
He is currently working hard in his recovery process, but does not want to put a timeline on his return.
"When my body feels right, that's when I'll be back. That being said, I'm far ahead of schedule,” said Billups about his rehab process and his return to the Clippers squad.
Billups has come a long way from the time when he was reluctant to join the Clippers franchise after they claimed him off amnesty waivers in December last year. The veteran guard started 20 games for the Clippers last season, before
the injury ended his season. Billups averaged 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 4 assists in those 20 games, and became the leader and motivator of the Clippers squad both on and off the court.
Being a veteran point guard with extensive playoff experience and a championship ring, Billups was able to motivate, groom and help develop Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clippers roster. Even after he went surgery
and was unable to play, Billups used to be on court side every game passing instructions and pushing the players on.
"He has very good insight, great experience and he's been successful at every level. Some of our younger players, by the way he approaches them and gets things across, it's very easy for them to accept and listen to,” said Clippers
Head Coach Vinny Del Negro.
Billups stayed in Los Angeles the whole summer to train with the coaching staff, and the results of the hard work are already starting to show. He is ahead of schedule in his rehab, and has started taking to the courts to practice
jump shots and other basketball related moves.
"I never one time thought I wouldn't come back or had doubts that I would come back because I knew was going to do everything I could,” said the veteran guard.
Billups said he was happy with the Clippers acquisition in the off-season, claiming that the addition of Lamar Odom, Jamal Crawford and Grant Hill will help the Clippers become a deeper and stronger team in the Western Conference
next season.
The Clippers are coming off one of the most successful season in franchise history, and look to keep the momentum going next season. They have their eyes on the Western Conference crown, and having Billups back healthy next season
will go a long way in helping them reach their objective.
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