Mr. Billups goes to Vegas...
Writing for HoopsHype, Chris Tomasson is reporting that Chauncey Billups flew to Las Vegas today to be with troubled Nuggets shooting guard J.R. Smith for the remainder of the summer.
I suppose it's fitting that in the same week Allen Iverson's NBA career finds itself very much in limbo, the player he will forever be linked to - Billups - is proving once again why he might be the single greatest leader in professional basketball today. Knowing the leader that Billups is, I can't say I'm surprised. What I am surprised by is the little coverage this story has received. How many times in NBA history has the de facto leader of a franchise taken several weeks out of his offseason to be with a fellow player coming off a tough summer?
Even A.I. publicly called out Smith for needing to get his off court life in order to improve his on court life, but he certainly wasn't proactive in helping Smith off the court. In fact, and without hating on A.I. too much, during The Answer's tenure in Denver he was rumored to be an enabler of Smith's off court antics, not the "disabler" as Billups is clearly trying to be.
As pointed out in Nate's exit interview of J.R. Smith from the other day, Smith has the potential to be a 20 (points), five (assists) and four (rebounds) player this season. Especially since he'll presumably be the 2009-10 starter as reported by Tomasson here at Denver Stiffs during the 2009 playoffs. But if it weren't for Billups' arrival in Las Vegas today, perhaps Smith's ascension into becoming the All-Star caliber player we know he can be wouldn't have a chance to materialize this season.
(Photo courtesy of Mark J. Terrill, AP)
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He's got my vote
If Chanuc’ runs for Governor. I think that we have to look at the fact that JR moved to, of all places, Vegas as another sign that the guys not exactly hunkering down on the maturity issue. I can’t spew conjecture regarding what he’s doing there but let’s face it, it’s kinda like using K’s instead of C’s… there’s a chance that he’s not a blood, but c’mon, it’s stupid and doesn’t bode well for his image in the least bit.
If Chauncey can’t get thru to JR though, I think sadly, nobody will. Definitely crossing my fingers.
JR if you ever read this blog… GROW UP! Stop being an idiot and use your talent, powers, and boatloads of cash for something good in life! Not thuggin out on the daily, buying bottle service and hookers in Vegas, and god knows what else. Make a difference man! Don’t perpetuate stupid stereotypes and worse, get yourself caught up in some dumb, petty, juvenile, short sighted, simple minded bullshit that is gang life. It’s mind-bottling if you do! …and yes, that’s a Will Ferrell reference.
PS to my rant to JR...
JR, sadly for you, if you can’t turn it around and become a consistent player who excels and lasts in this league long term, I hate to tell you but you’ll just become another statistic or obscure trivia question answer, not a fond memory. You can go the route of another JR (JR Rider comes to mind as to how this act is playing out) or you can wake up and take some advice from somone like Chauncey. Nobody remembers (fondly) or cares one iota about JR Rider outside his immediate family – maybe. At best the guy’s a blurb on a life gone wrong that we all read, think about for 3.6 seconds and then move along with our lives never giving it a second thought. WE DO CARE though about people who we can root for as a person/player, show to our kids as examples of greatness, and know they gave it their all, doing it the right way. The rebel shit gets played out after a while bro. Get in where ya fit in, or get forgotten.
ASS U ME
At best your rant is a blurb on an assumption gone wrong
Yet much of what JR Smith is doing is similar to Isiaah Rider
So, how is that a blurb on an assumption gone wrong?
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
The Facts
The facts don’t support your assumption.
The guy is there to improve on his game and not to self destruct as you eluded to
Oh right
My assumption. (I’m not even a Nuggets fan. But that’s besides the point.) JR Smith has made some chronically bad decisions over his 5 years in the NBA. Comparing him to Isiaah Rider is not that much of a stretch.
That being said, who said anything about comparing what JR Smith is doing in Vegas compared to what Rider did in Vegas?
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Let me clarify
I’m just thinking that JR is really at the make or break point. And if I alluded to him absolutely being there for gambling and hookers, that’s my mistake. I assume that there is indeed some sort of hoops related reason to be there, but to “move” there? IDK if that’s the best idea, and it basically puts him around a lot of bad influences.
I love the guy and I want him to do well and get beyond the trivial hang-ups he seems to keep having. And I’m glad Chauncey is there by his side, and as I posted on the hoops-hype site, I highly doubt Chauncey is just showing up on his own. JR HAD to have agreed to him coming, which definitely bodes well to him turning a corner.
My rant was more in the vein of “please make this the last time” we have to deal with maturity issues JR, because I doubt there are many more life lines left for him.
I could be wrong...
But isn’t J.R. in Vegas for Tim Grgurich’s camp? Not for the gambling and hookers.
Also, to be honest, I think calling him an idiot isn’t going to help his self-esteem. Billups’ presence may not be so much “getting thru to J.R.” as simply providing some much-needed support for an uber-talented kid that’s just come out of jail and is trying to fulfill his potential.
"Keel?"
by Tempestuous Binary on Aug 9, 2009 6:16 PM MDT up reply actions
yaa im prty sure your right....
i heard he was doing the camp w grgurich, the same he did last year which really helped… and i think it shows chaunceys team commitment to personally be w JR during the time that he needs him the most… im just kinda pissed that other players have not gone up to do the same
That's an interesting point
I wonder what good it would be to have 10 voices arguing over JR’s behavior.
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Is Billups the only one who wants to win a title?
Sure seems like it. This is the move Karl should have made 3 years ago, yet instead he turned his fat ass cold shoulder away from JR and did the exact opposite of what he should have done. Billups is more of a man than Boy George ever could imagine he’d be. I really really have high hopes for JR, the kid is one of the most talented players in the leauge, he’s just got to get his head straight. For Billups to take this much time out of his own schedule to try and help one of his teamates says so much it’s beyond words. Once again though, I feel bad for Billups becuase it seems like him and our FO are the only ones who REALLY want to win a title. Melo never shows any real leadership or improvement on his game and JR has been making the wrong choices for a while. I just hope this pays off. And again, thank god for Billups.
As if he needed to provide more proof...
Geez, I’m speechless now. Billups has to be too good to be true. So, eh, er…
Thank Zeus for Billups!
(Because Jupiter is gay.)
"Keel?"
by Tempestuous Binary on Aug 9, 2009 6:10 PM MDT reply actions
Wow…that’s really amazing. Any chance they could get a reality TV show to follow those guys?
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
Yeah, just what JR needs...
a reality TV show… >_<
by Missing Lynx on Aug 9, 2009 10:07 PM MDT up reply actions
This just restates emphatically we already knew...
Chauncey is an amazing teammate, leader, and friend. I really think this will be a great three weeks for JR…I think he really listens to and respects Chauncey so much. I believe JR will come back better than ever. The fact that they are in Vegas away from a lot of the distractions that follow JR is great too. This just makes me think again how really fortunate we are to have Billups back.
"Man, this is baseball, you gotta stop thinking! Just have fun."
The Sandlot (1993) – Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar)
by AtkinsandTulofan on Aug 10, 2009 12:28 AM MDT reply actions 1 recs
Nuggets fan in Vegas
I live in Las Vegas. Grew up playing H.S. basketball in Denver. I am one year younger than Chauncey Billups, and hope to god I run into him here in town. I think my odds are good because I work just around the corner from the Thomas and Mack center. I have always wondered if he remembers me, since we grew up not too far from each other, and played ball against each other our whole childhoods.
Love the guy!
Spike Lee has it all wrong...
He should have been following Chauncey around to make a documentary about basket ball. This action shows that Billups doesn’t see this as just a game. This is his job, and he’s treating his career seriously. I mean the guy is using his off time to help a team mate. He’s leaving off spending time with his family to improve someone else’s life/passion/career. I think every team needs a guy like Chauncey. And the NBA should do something like a Rookie orientation before the season starts letting all the new comers know, this is what we expect of you (Holding up a poster of CB). This is just awesome.
I like this however
C Bill works out at the same camp in Vegas every year. Last summer he was there with Chris Anderson, Dhanty Jones workin out at the same camp before they were even teammates. Oh and JR was there last summer also I believe. I read somewhere a few months back that a lot of the players on the nuggets were going down there this summer with C Bill to stay in shape and keep the chemistry alive.
by gnarlybroncodude on Aug 10, 2009 1:47 PM MDT reply actions
Linked this in my J.R. exit interview ...
Here is a pretty good read about the Vegas camp that J.R. attends. Run by Nuggets assistant Tim Grgurich. Click here.
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
New article on Yahoo Sports by Wojnarowski on Smith:
Let’s hope something’s clicked for him, he is a supremely talented bball player and the Nugs need him to take that next step . . . whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Here is a link to that FanPost by Joel’s Opinion: click here.
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
by Nate Timmons on Aug 11, 2009 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions



















