Detroit Pistons star Chauncey Billups is disappointed, but his eyes are on a bigger prize.
The Denver native is disappointed he in all likelihood lost the NBA’s MVP award to Phoenix’s back-to-back winner Steve Nash. Several Arizona newspapers have reported Nash won the vote. But the individual award the former George Washington High School and Colorado star covets most is a second Finals MVP award.
“Of course, I’m biased. I think I should have got it,” Billups said about the league MVP. “But I want that big MVP trophy. I think that means a lot more. That means you won the championship.”
You can debate whether Billups, Nash, Dallas’ Dirk Nowitzki, the Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant or Cleveland’s LeBron James deserved the MVP award. I voted for them in that order. I picked Billups because he was strong offensively, made clutch shots, eased the coaching transition from Larry Brown to Flip Saunders, is one of the league’s top defenders and played for the top team during the regular season.
Of all the candidates, Billups had the fewest knocks.
“It’s an honor for me to even be in that group,” said Billups, who overcame numerous ups and downs early in his pro career. He has tried to pass on his knowledge and serve as a mentor for his cousin, former Southern California tailback LenDale White.
White was projected as a late first-round pick in last month’s NFL draft but fell to the 45th overall selection in the second round to Tennessee.
Why?
One reason was the Denver native injured his hamstring at the NFL scouting combine, then declined to run the 40-yard dash at USC’s pro scouting day. There were also reports that he gained weight after the combine. His stock might have also been affected by a Los Angeles Daily News story the day before the draft saying he had failed a drug test, which White denied.
Billups has some tough-love advice for White, whom he admits being disappointed in.
“LenDale’s situation, it played out how it should have, obviously. He made his bed,” Billups said. “He made some decisions that were questionable during the whole process. I know he hates it now. But sometimes people have to go through some unfortunate situations to wake up and smell the coffee. Hopefully he did because he’s so talented.
“He can be a 10-, 12-year pro in the NFL, a very effective pro. He has that type of potential. But it’s more than that. People have to understand that it’s more than being talented. It’s other things. It’s being a good person. It’s not just on the field.”
As for Billups’ Pistons, they open their second-round series against Cleveland today. Look for them to beat the Cavs in five games, then knock off the Miami/New Jersey winner in the Eastern Conference finals.
And expect the Pistons to get their second title in three years thanks to home-court advantage, a chip on their shoulder from losing to San Antonio in the Finals last year, a beaten-up Western Conference foe and the leadership of Billups.
“We’re hungrier than we’ve ever been,” Billups said. “We’re hungrier right now than winning our first championship. We know what it’s like to lose Game 7. I just think our team right now is at our apex this season.
“Our team is a very good defensive team. We have a heck of a coach in Flip. I think the way we’ve made our biggest jump is we’re able to score points now. We’re able to win in so many different ways. We can slow it down, grind it out to beat teams. We can run and gun and beat teams. We have that type of versatility. Personally, I don’t see anyone beating us four times in two weeks.”
Footnotes
The Nuggets, who have the 49th overall pick in the second round of this year’s draft, begin workouts Thursday at the Pepsi Center. Illinois guard Dee Brown and Iowa State guard Curtis Stinson are scheduled to take part in the first workout. … Rumor is the Nuggets will pursue a deal to send disgruntled forward Kenyon Martin to Portland for forward Zach Randolph. The Trail Blazers repeatedly turned down Denver’s overtures this past season. But considering Randolph doesn’t see eye to eye with Portland coach Nate McMillan and is close with Nuggets assistant GM Mark Warkentein, who drafted him, expect the trade talks for players each making $12 million next season to come up again. …
As of Friday, Martin had not filed a grievance with the players union in hopes of getting back the $296,901 he lost after being suspended for the final three games of the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team. …
While Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman has no problem with coach Mike Dunleavy getting in his face during a game, word is he’s tiring of hearing criticism from veteran guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley. …
Utah Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor recently said that while it wasn’t official, he expects Jerry Sloan to return for his 19th season as head coach.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com. Spears can be heard weekly on ESPN 560 AM on Thursdays at 4 p.m.
