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Billups is a true pro... some good tidbits you want to hear
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fishmike
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2/23/2011  3:00 PM
http://blogs.denverpost.com/nuggets/2011/02/23/new-york-knicks-pg-chauncey-billups-opens-up-about-trade/3135/#

New York Knicks PG Chauncey Billups opens up about tradeBy Benjamin Hochman View Comments

Everyone will remember Monday’s trade as the “Carmelo trade,” but here in Denver – especially in Park Hill – fans will also remember it as the trade that sent the hometown hero away from his hometown.

Chauncey Billups called me today from New York City, explaining his swirling emotions after being traded with Anthony from the Nuggets to the Knicks.

“It’s weird, you know what I’m saying,” said Billups, who hoped to retire as a Nugget and then work in the Nuggets front office. “It’s kind of how this game goes, and I think people understand that part of the game – it’s a business. It’s just weird, it’s crazy.”

Billups moved his family home in 2008, upon being traded from Detroit to Denver. But on Monday, he had to tell his family he was heading to New York.

“That right there was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Billups said. “That’s tough, man. That right there was the toughest thing for me – the family aspect of it. Basketball is basketball, I’ve been doing that all my life, that won’t change, wherever I’m at. But it’s the family aspect that people don’t understand. I got to go home and face my three daughters, I have to face my wife, and tell them that daddy’s leaving. And daddy doesn’t have a choice, daddy doesn’t have an option. And that I have to go in 24 hours.”

Nuggets executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri made a heartfelt public apology Tuesday to Billups and his family. They admitted they tried desperately to keep Billups out of the trade that Anthony forced Denver to make. But in the end, Kroenke said, “we came to the realization that in order for us to maximize our return, we had to make the trade bigger (and include Billups).

Asked if he knew about the Nuggets’ apology, Billups said: “I heard about it. That’s cool. That’s a nice gesture. My family appreciates that. At the same time, I’m in New York City – and my family and kids are in Denver. …

“(The apology) is a great gesture. But at some point during this process, they made a decision. But I don’t take it personally.”

Asked if he still hopes he will end up working for the Nuggets, Billups said, “We’ll see how it all works out. We’ll just kind of see. I’ll say this – everyone knows that I love Denver. It’s always going to be my home. Everything I do in the community, I’m still going to do. My foundation, the AAU program, nothing at all is going to change. I’m always going to be Denver. I love the fans, the treated me great, they showed me a lot of love – and I appreciate that.”

Billups, of course, is a hero in these parts – he was arguably the greatest high-school player in Colorado history, and then he chose to stay in-state and play college ball at CU, before going pro.

He won an NBA title with Detroit in 2004 – asked if he thinks the Melo-Stoudemire-Billups Knicks can make a run for the title, he said, “I hope so – I’m looking forward to the challenge, man – you know I love that

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
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fishmike
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2/23/2011  3:02 PM
anyone who doesnt think these trades and rumors affect guys are nuts.. these guys are human. Looks like he's fully into doing what it takes to make a run. It would be HUGE for the Knicks if MrBigShot has some gas in the tank for the next two years.
"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
nyk4ever
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2/23/2011  3:04 PM
if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.
"OMG - did we just go on a two-trade-wining-streak?" -SupremeCommander
fishmike
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2/23/2011  3:07 PM
nyk4ever wrote:if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.

it makes us a more natural matchup for the Heat.
Billups vs. Wade
Melo vs. Lebron
Amare vs. Bosh

All ultra intriguing matchups.

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
NYKBocker
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2/23/2011  3:08 PM
One thing that I noticed about this trade is that Donnie kinda took care of our backup PG need. He also traded for Anthony Carter. Kroenke and Uriji both mentioned him in the press conference as somebody they did not want to trade. Same with Karl.
Rookie
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2/23/2011  3:09 PM
fishmike wrote:
nyk4ever wrote:if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.

it makes us a more natural matchup for the Heat.
Billups vs. Wade
Melo vs. Lebron
Amare vs. Bosh

All ultra intriguing matchups.

when you look at it that way....think you can make the leap that we have a big 3 right now...just not sure what our supporting cast looks like

AnubisADL
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2/23/2011  3:13 PM
fishmike wrote:
nyk4ever wrote:if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.

it makes us a more natural matchup for the Heat.
Billups vs. Wade
Melo vs. Lebron
Amare vs. Bosh

All ultra intriguing matchups.

NY Knicks - Retirement home for players and GMs
SlimChin
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2/23/2011  3:17 PM
Melo trade overshadowed Knicks getting Billups as well. It's slowly sinking in that Billups is a Knick and I am pumped! yes he's 34 yrs old but this guy is a winner and he's going to make an impact.
fishmike
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2/23/2011  3:18 PM
Rookie wrote:
fishmike wrote:
nyk4ever wrote:if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.

it makes us a more natural matchup for the Heat.
Billups vs. Wade
Melo vs. Lebron
Amare vs. Bosh

All ultra intriguing matchups.

when you look at it that way....think you can make the leap that we have a big 3 right now...just not sure what our supporting cast looks like

their big 3 is better, and younger. That being said the Knick crew can certainly hang, we win the Amare/Bosh matchups and Billups and Melo are certainly capable of causing their own problems.

Who knows... it could come down to Mike Miller vs Landry Fields. This is where the deeper bigger teams win.

Man, another big body would be huge.. we are asking a lot of Turiaf who cant stay healthy.

"winning is more fun... then fun is fun" -Thibs
GustavBahler
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2/23/2011  3:35 PM
Billups will make sure that there are enough shot attempts to go around. Knowing that NY has a PG who will keep everyone involved will be a draw for more talent if he can stay healthy.
crzymdups
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2/23/2011  3:38 PM
fishmike wrote:
Rookie wrote:
fishmike wrote:
nyk4ever wrote:if billups has anything left in those legs - and it sounds like he's definitely mentally ready and up for the challenge - then the knicks are going to make a good run at things this year.

it makes us a more natural matchup for the Heat.
Billups vs. Wade
Melo vs. Lebron
Amare vs. Bosh

All ultra intriguing matchups.

when you look at it that way....think you can make the leap that we have a big 3 right now...just not sure what our supporting cast looks like

their big 3 is better, and younger. That being said the Knick crew can certainly hang, we win the Amare/Bosh matchups and Billups and Melo are certainly capable of causing their own problems.

Who knows... it could come down to Mike Miller vs Landry Fields. This is where the deeper bigger teams win.

Man, another big body would be huge.. we are asking a lot of Turiaf who cant stay healthy.

Melo + Amar'e is at worst a wash compared to Bosh + Bron.

Wade is where the Heat have the BIG advantage. But the Knicks have a solid bench, with a potential Wade stopper in Brewer and they have stronger play at the PG.

Knicks could be a decent matchup against Miami. Especially when you consider Melo is 15-2 all time against Lebron.

The matchups that will kill the Knicks in the East are Boston (too much depth/size)) and maybe Orlando (dwight). Bulls and Miami are actually pretty good matchups for Knicks.

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nixluva
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2/23/2011  3:46 PM
I think we've got decent depth everywhere except C. Fields, TD, Williams, Walker, Brewer and Maybe AZ are some darned good role players. We tend to undersell what they can contribute, but when they get minutes they can be effective. Not takeover a game effective, but on the court with Melo they'll be able to hit open shots, rebound and defend. Fields, Williams and Walker are more athletic than people realize too. They don't go crazy with it, but if they need it, they've got the ability to get up the floor and to go airborne too. Having 2 Superstars and an All Star PG will make it easier for our role players to just fill in.

I do believe we have a mini big 3. Heck Billups is 34, not 43. He doesn't even play a very aggressive style of ball. He's a low impact guy that doesn't really waste energy. He plays from the neck up.

Billups is a true pro... some good tidbits you want to hear

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