NBA / Oct 18, 2007 / 12:51 pm

H.O.F. Watch – Chauncey Billups

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Every day for the next few weeks we’re gonna take one active NBA star with at least arguable Hall of Fame credentials and break down his chances of getting into the Springfield, Mass., hoops mecca. We’re looking at not just past accomplishments, but also how a player’s career realistically projects for the future. For a full explanation of the process, click here. Today’s candidate: Chauncey Billups.

CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
(11th year, Pistons/Wolves/Magic/Nuggets/Raptors/Celtics)
14.5 points, 5.3 assists, 1.0 steals per game

Why: While Cleveland, Miami and now Boston will pose a challenge over the next few seasons, Detroit is still the defining Eastern Conference team of this decade, and Chauncey has been their best all-around player throughout that run. In ’04 he won Finals MVP (21 ppg, 5.2 apg) when the Pistons knocked off the Lakers for a ring, and has garnered some regular season MVP talk since then — most notably in ’05-06, when he averaged 18 points and almost 9 assists on a 64-win Pistons team. He’s got two All-Star berths in an era where the Eastern Conference has been stacked with quality guards, has a good chance at getting an Olympic gold medal with the 2008 U.S. team, and consistently lives up to his “Mr. Big Shot” nickname.

Why not: Before coming to Detroit, Chauncey bounced all over the League as little more than average-to-solid trade bait. He toiled in Boston, Toronto, Denver, Orlando and Minnesota, playing out some forgettable seasons. His career numbers aren’t that great, either, especially his assist numbers for a point guard. Being a floor general on a championship squad is worth something in determining one’s legacy, but this isn’t like Bob Cousy or K.C. Jones on the Celtics or even Tony Parker in San Antonio. Chauncey has one championship, one Finals loss, and a handful of Eastern Conference Finals disappointments.

Our call: OUT

The H.O.F. Watch archive
10/17 – Stephon Marbury
10/16 – Jason Kidd
10/15 – Shawn Marion
10/12 – Ray Allen
10/11 – Chris Bosh
10/10 – Chris Webber
10/9 – Paul Pierce
10/5 – Jermaine O’Neal
10/4 – Gary Payton
10/3 – Tracy McGrady

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Posted in NBA |

  • http://luckylester.com Lucky Lester

    Mr. Big Shot? Hmmm… I don’t think that an early career of never really getting the right opportunity, and have a more gradual rise to stardom, finals MVP, hitting big shot after big shot, should deter you from begin called a HOF player. That being said, I’m not sure Chauncey is. Unlike a lot of point guards, this guy plays defense, he beasts opposing point guards trying to guard him, pretty much breaking them down over a series.

    The fact that he’s garnered some MVP talk should tell you the type of player he is, because even on a team with more than a couple go-to guys, Chauncey has been recognized as the leader of the bunch. I really don’t think “numbers” should kick you out or waive you in, once again, this isn’t baseball. Also, I don’t think the fans voting or not voting you into an all star game should put you in or out, because more often than not, the guys who end up starting are only there because of the name.

    I don’t know – you’ve got to love the way Chauncey hits clutch shots, plays solid defense, constantly leads his team to the Final Four of NBA Hoops – and does it all with a toughness you have to love from a point guard.

    I’m hoping he has a couple more “best years of his career” but as of now I’m giving him a slight out. It’s close though, and I think, with a few more big shots in the finals, maybe even an upset win over the west, Chauncey could get in.

  • jay

    gotta go out! he is a winner..unlike starbury but everyone can not make the hall. nice career but the body of work has to encompass the whole package.he just does not give you that. nice player sure…HOF worthy….a tad short IMO!

  • E-ROC

    Chauncey is a winner without the numbers, I guess. I don’t know. I’m no expert. He started to show his age last season, but still got paid which is well deserved, IMO. I just don’t think he has the numbers. Now, if he wins another ring to go along with another finals MVP, then I’d say he’s in. But he might be the most important player on the team. That honor might go to the volatile Rasheed Wallace. Then again, Chauncey takes the big shots at the end of games, while Rasheed wilts under the pressure of trying to win. So I could be wrong. But he’s out.

  • http://www.kianoosh.org djKianoosh

    agreed. he is out cause think about this, if he goes in, he goes in as a Piston, but he only played for them so far for less than half his career, right? Would love to have him on my team and is still one of the top overall PGs today on both ends of the court, but he just does not have the entire body of work yet. but maybe if he takes his team to another finals or two, cause then that would be similar to the JKidd argument. except Kidd has better court vision and assists stats. yeah, no, he be out..

  • Captain America

    I’m in! Chauncey is a true rags-to-riches gamer. An added plus, unlike Marbles, he speaks English.

  • Bron42

    like i said in the other post, he’d be out but just by a hair. I mean most people didn’t even realize how many other teams he was on before signing with the pistons. I mean he held his own on the timberwolves alil before troy hudson came in and got the back up pg spot. So while hes been solid, I don’t think he gets in based on 4 good years. I mean unlike some people (other pgs who i wont mention in the east AND west) he helped knock off a dynasty (I think the lakers dynasty was more abusive than the spurs but thats just me) and has a ring under his belt and almost had another one if it wasnt for the heart break kid BIG SHOT ROB once again. If he wins another ring then hes gonna get consideration. If not, i think he’ll get overlooked.

  • Ian

    but not the 2004 laker
    the 2001 lakers maybe
    remember they got there by a lucky shot

    anyways this in my opinion isnt an argument is not even close
    if i think tmac and kg arent in YET

    billups is OUT

  • Myrie in NY

    Tayshaun Prince or Shawn Marion?

    Pau Gasol or Jermaine O’Neal?

    Zach Randolph or Chris Bosh?

    Gilbert Arenas or Baron Davis?

    Shaun Livingston or Raymond Felton?

    Antwain Jamison or Rashard Lewis?

    Luol Deng or Caron Butler?

    Corey Magette or Richard Jefferson?

    Joe Jonhson or Paul Pierce?

    Andre Kierelinko or Ron Artest?

    Carlos Boozer or Elton Brand?

    Stephon Marbury or Mike Bibby?

    Tracy McGrady or Carmelo Anthony?

    Michael Redd or Rip Hamilton or Ben Gordon?

    Yao Ming or Dwight Howard?

    Michael Finely or Eddie Jones?

    Allen Iverson or Vince Carter?

    Gerald Wallce or Andre Igudaola?

    Kurt Thomas or Joe Smith?

    Josh Smith or Kenyon Martin?

    Steve Blake or Kirk Hinrich?

  • Myrie in NY

    Tayshaun Prince or Shawn Marion?

    Pau Gasol or Jermaine O’Neal?

    Zach Randolph or Chris Bosh?

    Gilbert Arenas or Baron Davis?

    Shaun Livingston or Raymond Felton?

    Antwain Jamison or Rashard Lewis?

    Luol Deng or Caron Butler?

    Corey Magette or Richard Jefferson?

    Joe Jonhson or Paul Pierce?

    Andre Kierelinko or Ron Artest?

    Carlos Boozer or Elton Brand?

    Stephon Marbury or Mike Bibby?

    Tracy McGrady or Carmelo Anthony?

    Michael Redd or Rip Hamilton or Ben Gordon?

    Yao Ming or Dwight Howard?

    Michael Finely or Eddie Jones?

    Allen Iverson or Vince Carter?

    Gerald Wallce or Andre Igudaola?

    Kurt Thomas or Joe Smith?

    Josh Smith or Kenyon Martin?

    Steve Blake or Kirk Hinrich?

    Bruce Bowen or Shane Battier?

  • Big Striz

    big shot’s early body of work is easy to knock. wrong place, wrong time, lack of maturity, there’s alot of reasons it may not have clicked. but you CANNOT knock his work in detroit.

    there’s alot of times where he was the BEST player on the floor in HUGE playoff series. and we’re talking about him sharing the floor w/locks or near HOF locks in TD, Shaq, Kobe, DWade, JKidd, paul pierce. guy led the pistons to the championship and nearly got it done again against the spurs for a second. as noted the pistons are the team of the decade in the eastern conference. shouldnt at least one of them get in the hall? is there any better candidate on the squad than chauncey?

    now im not saying he def should get it. but BIG SHOT is not getting enough dap from the loyal dime readers today.

  • Victor

    Mr. Billups is grand scheme of things is great player one whom will be remembered by Detroit Pistons and NBA fans for years to come, but he is no Jason Kidd or Payton.People fail to recognize what seperates great players from Hall of Fame type players.Chauncey has had a great run but to compare him his impact and dominance or even statistics to those of Kidd, Payton, Richmond, even a Tim Hardaway is silly. These players were on the top of their games early on in their careers. Chauncy is great player but no HOF.

  • Russ

    I’ve gotta go out on this one. Gotta draw the line somewhere. I think a lot of people are putting TOO much emphasis on rings. They should be part of the discussion, but over this series more times than not….I see people write ‘oh he has 3 rings he’s in.’

    B.J. Armstrong has 3 rings as a starting point guard for the Bulls, but that doesn’t auotmatically get him in the hall! He also averaged stats very similar to chauncey during those 3 years. Probably shot for shot…hit more ‘big shots’ as well. I don’t know where chauncey got that nickname…he’s only hit like 3 or 4 game winners than I can recall. Certaitnly has missed MANY more than he has made.

    Bottom line…solid career….but didn’t do it at a high enough level for a substantial period of time. Can’t put everyone in.

    Atleast we are finally starting to talk about guys who have atleast played 10 years in the league, not these silly discussions of guys in their 4th or 5th years.

  • Celts Fan

    Ya Russ, but at least those “silly discussions” were about guys who you could have them about. Chauncey is clearly out unless he wins an MVP and/or another ring. Nice player, will be immortal in Detroit, but not Springfield…

  • Derek

    If Ray Allen gets in and Billups is left out, they might as well burn down the hof and put up a Dairy Queen.

  • Celts Fan

    and can we give Larry Brown some credit for harnessing his talent? We’ve ripped him to shreds lately over a lot (and rightfully so) but I give him a ton of credit for helping to turn Chauncey from a poor man’s Marbury to a championship point.

  • Celts Fan

    Derek, Ray’s done it for over a decade. Chauncey’s been in the League for almost as long (1 less year) but has only been a star for half as long. Come on man, that’s not even close…

  • Johnny

    Russ,

    Chauncey hits more big shots than you gave him credit for. If nba.com does the Nestle Crunch-Time stat again this year, then look for Smooth. He was dominant in that area.

    Johnny

  • Johnny

    First off, gotta say….I think Chauncey is OUT.

    But anyways it just struck me how his 1.0 steals per game is misleading. He is a really good defender. I hope NBA starts keeping closer tabs on more stats. Especially the +/- and the (+/-) – (team’s +/- when he is out of the game)

    Even with Jason Kidd, who is a lock for HOF this happens. His best stat is that his team’s FG% is 50% when he is in the game and 40% when he is out of the game.

  • Gmoney

    ok, so 2 point guards have been mentioned that are 90-100% not getting into the HOF. Steve Nash is a back-to-back MVP winner and hasn’t even been mentioned. Wilt, Duncan, Jordan, Magic, Malone, Jabbar, Russell. back to back. the question is; “is Steve Nash a HOFer”. Starbury chucked up shots on a lot of bad teams to get his. And despite what he says; it’s been about “Starbury”. He could have played with KG; possibly the greatest forward in the post Jordan Era. But stephon passed because he needs to be the “star”.

    Nash is a team first kind of guy. I believe Nash is the biggest in question here as far as PGs go. I’m not saying Nash is a shoe-in, but he needs to be mentioned before the likes of “Starbury”.

  • Ian

    nash is in before billups and starbury

  • doc

    BJ didnt start on none of the Bulls title teams it was Paxson the 1rst 3 and Harper the next go round, but Chauncey the shit but everybody cant get in and right now his resume aint HOF ready.

  • fiyaman

    I think Chauncy is OUT.. He is good but I think he is overrated.

    The credit should go to Larry Brown. Billups was just an ok player until Brown came and turned him around. He might not give him the credit but I think that ring they got had more to do with Larry more than Sheed or Billups.

  • Gee

    Billups won’t make it. His toil of being on so many teams before that one with no impact alone keeps him out. Sorry Chauncy. You still making it happen in the D. I will say this though, if they somehow find a way to get one more ring and he is finals MVP again. He is in! Otherwise he is just a great player to have on your fantasy squad.

  • Gonzales Ozen

    CHAUNCEY BILLUPS
    (11th year, Pistons/Wolves/Magic/Nuggets/Raptors/Celtics)
    Usually a guy makes it with one or two teams, but 5 diff teams? Headlines!! “Journeyman Finally Makes Good With Great Coach / Surrounded By Great Cast”

  • 2 Easy

    I think Chauncey is out because as Bron said hes only had 4 really nice seasons and if we cant judge Dwade or Bosh only based on their 5 seasons than y should we just him based on just those. If he can have another 2 or 3 good seasons than he may just sneak in, I hope he does he seems like a nice guy

  • AY

    Did i see a “Dwayne Wade is a sure fire HOF” from someone? He isn’t yet, just like Tony Parker.

  • Quantum

    I agree if he wins another title or so, he would be in. He has been really good for the past 4 years. Right now he is out. Call back after the contract is up.

  • Trevor

    I’m a Detroit baskebtall fan and I don’t think Chauncey gets in. He needs to go on this pace for a couple more years and then either maintain some more or become a good role player/specialist for a stellar team.

    Kidd goes in before Nash, Nash goes in before Chauncey Billups, and Chauncey gets in before Ray Allen (as much as I love his game).

    We’ll see if Dwayne Wade stays in the league for 5 more years due to injury. Hell, one more year would be great. Also, life whout Shaq should show us the truth: he’s not a good defender, he’s not a good shooter, and he relies on someone to create space in the paint for him to slash/charge in and get the bucket and the foul.

  • billy

    what is wrong with DIME?

    if HOF is that easy, there should 1340 not 134

    a HOF player should has a strong resume put on the table to debate.

    ring, big stats,all star , all NBA team, MVP….

    those option should at least 3,4

    CB is a lucky star happen to get a final-mvp

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