Things just got a little more interesting in “Lob City.”
Chauncey Billups went down Monday with a torn Achilles tendon. It was announced today that Billups would be lost for the year, leaving a big hole to fill for the Clippers in their offense.
Billups, 35, was averaging 15 points and four assists from the two spot on the floor. Where the five-time NBA All-Star will be most missed is his ability to play the shooting guard position with a knack for making brilliant passes like a point guard (his natural position). His ability to not only score, but compliment point guard Chris Paul put the Clippers at an advantage every night with their high-flying teammates DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin cleaning up everything close to the basket.
The immediate impact will be a decrease in their fourth in the league scoring average (99.4) and assists (22.1) where they are eighth. The Clippers have the luxury of the passing load falling back to Paul completely because he is the best point guard in the league and has the ability to score. The loss of Billups allows teams to go back to playing the Clippers straight up on defense without the threat of the three or double the passing acumen.
Randy Foye is expected to replace Billups in the lineup averaging seven points and two assists per game.
