Denver Post Article

[bob@mymenus.com (bob miller)]

Billups struggles, sparkles

 By Jeff Goodman
 Special to The Denver Post

Nov. 1 - BOSTON, Mass. - It looked as though it would be a game he would
never forget. Instead, Chauncey Billups' NBA debut with the Boston Celtics
Friday night was one he'll always remember.

The former University of Colorado and George Washington High School
standout and third overall pick of the 1997 NBA draft was nervous at the
outset of the game and played like it, but turned things around after the
break. Billups scored 11 second-half points, including seven in a
three-minute stretch in the third quarter.

"I guess it was rookie jitters, but I got over that after the first
quarter,'' Billups said. "I missed my assignment because I was too busy
watching Michael (Jordan) and his new shoes.''

Billups finished with 15 points to help lead Boston to a stunning 92-85 win
over the defending champion Chicago Bulls.

"I think we opened some eyes out there tonight and showed we are going to
be a lot better than last year,'' he said.

Billups has received criticism throughout the preseason for his inability
to pick up Pitino's system and low shooting percentage, but was a crowd
favorite by game's end.

 "I'm not as close as people think to learning this system yet,'' Billups
said. "I have never been that nervous before a game - not in college and
not even when I played against the Dream Team.''

Billups entered the game with 5:53 left in the first quarter and was not
fortunate enough to make it through the rehen he followed Bruce Bowen miss with a putback in the lane.

 "I just got out there and started playing without thinking and just played
with instincts,'' he said.

Billups has already said he is looking forward to rebuilding the Celtics
program, much like he did at Colorado.

And rumors that Boston has made Billups available for trade to hometown
Denver and others don't