Chauncey Billups of Los Angeles Clippers out for at least two weeks – NBA Update
One week, three games, 7.3 points in 20 minutes a night, and Chauncey Billups of the Los Angeles Clippers is back to the place where he has been since last February – the bench.
The veteran point guard had ruptured his Achilles' tendon early this year, which forced him to miss the business end of the season and the Clippers consequently made an exit in the second round of the playoffs. He was re-signed
by the Clips this off season, but has now peroneal tendinitis in his left foot; an injury which his coach Vinny Del Negro believes can rule him out for at least two weeks.
Del Negro however took the latest issue in his stride and said that he expected complications, considering that Billups was making a comeback after such a long time;
"He's done a heck of a job with his work ethic and coming back the way it is," Del Negro said. "We have to work though some of these little things that he's going to have because it's just part of it."
Billups also seemed unperturbed, and was content that the problem was diagnosed at an earlier stage;
"It was something I really wanted to get checked out because I felt like I worked too hard to get back to play hurt," Billups said as reported by The Orange County Register. "...I knew coming back, I would deal with a lot of other
things in my body that were trying to catch back up to the speed of playing in real games. I think that this is part of the process."
The Clippers are at present 12-6 in the Western Conference and barring one rough stretch, they have been pretty consistent. They are one of the most balanced teams this season, especially when it comes to playing small ball type
of basketball. When Billups was re-signed this summer, he was supposed to be an important part of that philosophy. But, the Clippers ensured that he was not the only part. With the veteran out, Del Negro can introduce either of Willie Green, Jamal Crawford,
Matt Barnes and Eric Bledsoe at the starting two guard.
Tags: