Chauncey Billups ready for the 'real season'

[mkwest]

LOS ANGELES -- Chauncey Billups put a towel over his head and buttoned up his warm-ups with a stern look on his face. When he heard his name announced in the starting lineup at Staples Center for the first time in a month, he kept his head down and walked through his teammates like a heavyweight fighter headed toward the ring.

"I always refer to the regular season as the preseason," Billups said. "That's just how I've been raised in the league. Everything is different in the playoffs and in playoff time. It's the best time of the year. Everything changes. The stakes are higher. The pressure is more intense. And our preparation should be more intense."

"It's been challenging all year," Del Negro said. "We've had enough injuries where we've been able to work through it. Willie deserves to play and Bledsoe deserves to play more at times. Grant Hill is not getting a great opportunity but every time we put him in he's very productive. I'm just trying to manage it and going with the guys I feel give us the best opportunity. Whether it's the matchup, foul trouble, injuries, you deal with it and then you make those decisions and go with it."

"He just gives us that calming presence," said Paul, who has called Billups his big brother and the best backcourt teammate he has ever had. "For me, when we get the rebound, I just run up the court and I know he's thinking like I'm thinking."

Arash Markazi, ESPN Los Angeles

[mttwlsn16]

hope our first game is saturday. dont wanna have to wait an extra day (sunday) for playoffs

[mj_shoefanatic]

he appears to be mentally and physically ready which is a good thing.