Clippers News:
Clippers' Chauncey Billups is out for the season
02/07/12
Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups suffered a torn left Achilles tendon Monday night and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced Tuesday.
"I feel sick for him," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said Tuesday when reached on his cell phone by ESPNLosAngeles.com's Ramona Shelburne. "He's such a pro. After the game last night it was bittersweet. Everyone was just quiet in the locker room, quiet on the plane. People know how much Chauncey means to us -- his character, his leadership. Not only his ability to play at a high level, but his character and the intangibles he brings. That's why we brought him here. I just feel sick for him."
Billups suffered the injury with 5:59 left in the fourth quarter of the Clippers' 107-102 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday. An MRI on the tendon Tuesday in Cleveland revealed the severity of the injury.
Billups will return to Los Angeles on Thursday for further evaluation. The Clippers say a date for surgery hasn't been determined.
Midway through the fourth quarter against Orlando, Billups fell to the ground untouched after he tried to change direction following a missed 3-point attempt. Unable to put any pressure on the foot, he was helped off the court by his teammates.
Which is a shame. Baron was finally having fun again, and when Baron is having fun, the fans are having fun too. More than once this season, court side microphones have caught primal yells of excitement from Baron - not when he was scoring himself, but when he was setting up Griffin for a monster jam. Or go back and watch some top 10 list of Griffin dunks - how many of them were on lobs from Baron Davis? In many ways he's been exactly the point guard the Clippers needed this season - a preternaturally good passer who was happier delivering a perfect lob than he was taking shots himself. There are plenty of Clipper fans out there who are convinced that they won't miss Baron Davis, who believe that anyone can throw the ball up near the rim and watch Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan go stuff it. They're wrong. This trade is probably for the best, but the Clippers will miss Baron, and the fans will too.
An MRI exam Tuesday revealed that Clippers guard Chauncey Billups has a torn left Achilles’ tendon. Billups, who was injured in Monday’s overtime victory over the Magic in Orlando, Fla., will be out at least eight months, ending his season.
|
Buy Los Angeles Clippers Tickets: 
