Richards led the NHL in playoff scoring and regardless of what you think of game winning goals, the guy came up with plenty of key goals. Billups provided the points and consistency that the Pistons needed, getting a lot of points from the line when the team couldn't get the offense going. I agree probably would be best if they could pick a couple guys, but I don't see the issue with this selection. He didn't have a bad game the whole series.
Come on. Billups had the "Mitten" guarding him the whole series. Ben guarded the most dominant offensive player of the last decade ONE ON ONE the whole series. NO ONE guards Shaq one on one!! The close out game he came up with an insane 22 boards and 18 points. This shouldn't even be a debate.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by The MD Kid:
Ben or Rasheed shoulda won it. Or even Tayshun - how about his defense vs Kobe all series long? This team is about defense. Billups had a good series, but to say he was the most valuable player just because he was high scorer is just plain ignorant.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You are 1 million %%%%% right!!
Ben was the difference!
Ben or Rasheed shoulda won it. Or even Tayshun - how about his defense vs Kobe all series long? This team is about defense. Billups had a good series, but to say he was the most valuable player just because he was high scorer is just plain ignorant.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You are 1 million %%%%% right!!
Ben was the difference!
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Chauncey Billups was right.
Before Detroit started playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the sturdy point guard was cocky about the Pistons' chances.
"We're ready to shock the world," Billups told The Associated Press on June 5.
Just 10 days later, Billups was chosen as the finals MVP after averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists in the series to lead Detroit over the Lakers for its third championship and first since 1990.
"Yeah baby!" Billups screamed after raising the MVP trophy over his head.
Billups had 14 points and six assists as part of the Pistons' balanced attack in a 100-87 win over Los Angeles in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Billups, who hasn't been an All-Star during his seven-year career, is the lowest-profile player to be MVP of the finals since Boston's Cedric Maxwell in 1981.
The only other winner since then that wasn't an NBA superstar was Joe Dumars, who led Detroit over the Lakers in the 1989 finals.
Dumars, now the Pistons president of basketball operations, also is the man who gave Billups a place to call home two years ago.
Billups has turned out to be everything Detroit needed, and more. That proved true during the regular season and especially against the Lakers in the finals.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pounder found himself open countless times on pick-and-roll plays, and one-on-one moves against Gary Payton and Derek Fisher over the first four games.
In Game 5, Lakers coach Phil Jackson made Kobe Bryant the primary defender against Billups. That move slowed down Billups' scoring, but he proved he can be a pass-first point guard.
He had his least impressive game statistically in the title-clinching win, but he was at his best when the Lakers gave Detroit their best shot in the opening quarter.
In the first 12 minutes, Billups had five assists as Detroit led 25-24. He made the only shot he took, and connected on all four of his free throws in a six-point quarter.
He finished with 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting, making all eight of his free throws and adding six assists and three rebounds in 33 minutes.
All season, the Lakers seemed to bring out the best in Billups.
In two regular-season meetings, he had a combined 53 points -- 33 more than any of his teammates -- on 53.1 percent shooting.
Before Detroit started playing the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, the sturdy point guard was cocky about the Pistons' chances.
"We're ready to shock the world," Billups told The Associated Press on June 5.
Just 10 days later, Billups was chosen as the finals MVP after averaging 21 points and 5.2 assists in the series to lead Detroit over the Lakers for its third championship and first since 1990.
"Yeah baby!" Billups screamed after raising the MVP trophy over his head.
Billups had 14 points and six assists as part of the Pistons' balanced attack in a 100-87 win over Los Angeles in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Billups, who hasn't been an All-Star during his seven-year career, is the lowest-profile player to be MVP of the finals since Boston's Cedric Maxwell in 1981.
The only other winner since then that wasn't an NBA superstar was Joe Dumars, who led Detroit over the Lakers in the 1989 finals.
Dumars, now the Pistons president of basketball operations, also is the man who gave Billups a place to call home two years ago.
Billups has turned out to be everything Detroit needed, and more. That proved true during the regular season and especially against the Lakers in the finals.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pounder found himself open countless times on pick-and-roll plays, and one-on-one moves against Gary Payton and Derek Fisher over the first four games.
In Game 5, Lakers coach Phil Jackson made Kobe Bryant the primary defender against Billups. That move slowed down Billups' scoring, but he proved he can be a pass-first point guard.
He had his least impressive game statistically in the title-clinching win, but he was at his best when the Lakers gave Detroit their best shot in the opening quarter.
In the first 12 minutes, Billups had five assists as Detroit led 25-24. He made the only shot he took, and connected on all four of his free throws in a six-point quarter.
He finished with 14 points on 3-of-5 shooting, making all eight of his free throws and adding six assists and three rebounds in 33 minutes.
All season, the Lakers seemed to bring out the best in Billups.
In two regular-season meetings, he had a combined 53 points -- 33 more than any of his teammates -- on 53.1 percent shooting.
