Pistons Vs. Billups -game thread
Posted by pistonsnationThe Pistons (21-12, 9-7 away) will be in Denver to take on the Nuggets (25-12) Tip off is 9:00 pm est from the Pepsi Center and will be televised locally on Fox Sports Detroit
Nuggets’ Snapshot
Home record: 14-4
Vs. East: 10-3
Standing 1st in Northwest, 3rd in West
Last game: 1/07 (Weds) W 97-108 Vs. Heat
Last 10: 8-2
Streak Won 5
Since trade: 24-9
Injuries: Carmelo Anthony (wrist)
Even if Iverson is unenthused to play against his former team, Chauncey Billups admits it’s something he’s looking forward to. Chauncey has twice as many former teams as Iverson so you’d think Billups would be the one with the business as usual attitude. The difference is in Detroit Billups went from zero to hero while Iverson’s time in Denver, while not really negative, was more about unfulfilled expectations.
Chauncey experienced and accomplished enough in in the Pistons red, white, & blue with a core group of players to form a brotherhood like bond that will extend beyond the playing days with guys like Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince. As a fan, Chauncey, even in his Denver home whites, is still more of a Piston than I view Iverson as. That’s not a knock on AI but rather a tribute to Chauncey who never got his correct due when departing for Denver (think jersey number).
Vince Ellis of the Free Press says both Rasheed and Rip might return tonight in Denver:
Both players took part in Thursday’s short practice, and Wallace was extremely active, running around and shooting three-pointers.
Hamilton was not quite as active, but he has indicated that he wants to face his friend Billups.
It’s encouraging to hear, well expect the Rasheed shooting three-pointers part. You know Rip would want to face Chaunce, hopefully it doesn’t get too awkward and bromantic. It’ll ultimately be a game-time decision. If Rasheed goes tonight he’s ready to do a little friendly trash talk with Billups.
“It’ll be like old times again before I came here to Detroit,” Wallace said of when he faced Billups as a member of the Trail Blazers. “It’s going to be fun, talking junk to him and having fun with him.” -DFP
Antonio McDyess, who was traded with Billups, thinks it’ll be weird facing CB and thinks Billups will definitely be up for the game:
“To say it’s going to be weird or emotional, man, that’s an understatement,” said Antonio McDyess, who was part of that trade back on Nov. 3 but re-signed with the Pistons after the Nuggets bought out his contract. “Just looking at him in that type of uniform still seems weird to me. But I know he’s going to be pumped and up for the game.
“I know him, man. He’s going to want some vengeance. I look for him to come out and be aggressive right from the start.”- Detroit News
The article goes on to say that Chauncey isn’t seeking “vengence” so much as he just wants to play well against he former teammates. Billups holds no ill will towards the Pistons. He’s glad they gave him the opportunity to achieve professionally what had eluded him to that point in his career and has even said he’s grateful that he was at least traded to his hometown team.
ALSO OF NOTE: The Pistons are 17-12 with Iverson … At 25-12, Denver is off to its best start since its first season in the NBA in 1976-77 … The Pistons have won 13 of the last 15 vs. Denver … a theological take on tonight’s game … The Pistons recalled Alex Acker and Walter Sharpe from the D-League … Nuggets exec says Allen Iverson was golden … Denver trades Chucky Atkins to OKC … Pistons moving up the cultural power rankings … Bulls don’t waive Lindsey Hunter …
This entry was posted on Friday, January 9th, 2009 at 1:12 pm and is filed under Game preview, Nuggets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
