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Ex-Pistons guard Chauncey Billups' rehab going well, won't back down from Lakers

So Clippers combo guard Chauncey Billups, who is diligently rehabbing his left Achilles tendon, isn't about to back down from the Lakers.

“They are trying to stack the deck over there, but I tell you what - I'm very pleased with my team and what we've been able to do and I will just say this - don't nobody scare me, man,” said the former Piston with a chuckle.

But he attacked his rehab vigorously and said he is doing almost all basketball-related activity with going five-on-five the remaining step. The Clippers signed him to a one-year deal this summer.

“I think it's going to be close, but I'm shooting to be ready for the regular season, to be honest with you,” Billups said. “But obviously you don't just jump out there in the regular season with no practices, I would never do that.

“But honestly, I'm not in a rush at all. If I'm ready, I'm ready, but I'm just grinding and whenever my body tells me it's time to get back out there, that's when you will see me.”

Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

Just work out with C.Billups for the 1st time since his injury. Was moving real well and shot the ball lights out. Pass the eye test for me

Jared Dudley

Clippers guard Chauncey Billups is looking like a rebounder

"When my body feels right, that's when I'll be back," he said. "That being said, I'm far ahead of schedule.

"It's not even like I had a summer. I've been on the whole time, doing rehabbing and other work every day. I'm looking forward to getting back to playing and being with the guys and resuming my normal life as a player."

"He was cutting and shooting jump shots and getting some elevation off his shot. And crossing over and taking step-back shots, which is one of his favorite moves," Del Negro said. "He still doesn't have that pop back but he's not supposed to right now. I was just pleased to see his movement overall, which was good."

"When you're trying to compare and get better — and we want to try and win the Western Conference and have a chance to play for the whole thing — you compare yourself to the Western Conference champ, and that's not the Lakers," he said.

"They had a great summer and I'm sure their expectations will be great as well. But we don't compare ourselves to them. We try to go after the big fellas."

Helene Elliott, LA Times