Celtics ready to pick Billups

[DJessen33@aol.com]

Billups' stock goes ups, ups, ups
By Dave Krieger
Scripps Howard News Service

When Chauncey Billups first declared for the NBA draft, it looked as though
it
would be a reach for his bedraggled hometown team, the Denver Nuggets, to
take him with a pick as high as theirs. A month later, it looks as though the
Nuggets won't pick high enough to get him.

Chauncey Billups, right, may the
top point guard taken.

Billups has emerged as the consensus
top point guard available in the June 25
draft, and speculation now has him going
as high as the third pick, perhaps even
the second, although Philadelphia coach
Larry Brown's hints in that direction
might just be intended to force Boston
coach Rick Pitino to give up something
to switch picks and make sure he gets
the Colorado playmaker.
Ironically, one of the few places Billups
is not ranked decisively ahead of his
competition at the point is Denver,
where operations chief Allan Bristow has
him rated even with Antonio Daniels of
Bowling Green. This might be what
Bristow actually thinks and it might be
putting the best face on the likelihood
that Billups won't be available when the
Nuggets pick at No. 5.
Here's a scouting report on the top four point guards in the draft from Rob
Babcock, director of player personnel for the Minnesota Timberwolves:

Antonio Daniels: "The most advanced offensively of the point guards, as
far as his court sense. He's a guy who understands moving the ball and will
make the pass that sets up the pass and move it ahead on the break. I like
his overall feel for the game. Defensively, he's probably the weakest of the
group. There may be some questions about his quickness defensively, and
definitely questions on his desire to play defense, which he showed very
little."

Chauncey Billups: "The most upside of all the point guards because he's
got size, he's got quickness, he's got strength, he's got explosiveness and
he's got a team attitude. His shooting, though it has improved, still has a
ways to go. He still has a lot to learn about running a team and developing
his court sense from the point guard position. But he wants to. Without
question, the best defensive potential of any of those guys. I think he's got
the whole package to be a legitimate NBA point guard.

The rumor last week out of Philly was Brown was less than enthralled with
rail-thin center Tony Battie of Texas Tech at No. 2 and was intrigued with
the idea of pairing Billups and Allen Iverson in his backcourt, with Jerry
Stackhouse moving either to small forward or out of town. Scouts say
Brown is casting about for a way to remake his roster in a hurry, and most
of the team is on the table.
Pitino, according to Boston sources, is very high on Billups because of his
physical ability to play pressure defense. If Pitino keeps Nos. 3 and 6, the
betting in Boston right now is Billups at 3 and Villanova's Tim Thomas at 6.
But Pitino, too, is looking for deals that would speed up the Celtics'
makeover.
Drafting Billups would allow Pitino not to sign free agent point guard David
Wesley, who wants more than the mandated rookie contract at No. 3,
whoever gets it.
If Pitino gives up the pick, lying in wait is Vancouver at No. 4, which also
needs a quarterback.