Just when it appeared the Los Angeles Clippers were emerging from decades of ineptitude, the team suffered a crushing injury that has many wondering: Is the "Clipper Curse" still alive and well?
The Clippers learned the devastating news Tuesday. Starting shooting guard Chauncey Billups, who provided the team with clutch shooting, loads of big game experience and a calm influence on the floor, suffered a torn left Achilles' tendon and will miss the remainder of the season.
While Billups has vowed to return to his NBA career, his age, 36, and the severity of the injury put his playing days in serious jeopardy.
The Clippers have to be cursing their bad fortune. The team, which has enjoyed a renaissance this season, was finally looking like a legitimate playoff contender who could do damage in this shortened season.
The acquisition of Chris Paul infused the team with hope, and combined with the spectacular play of high-flyer Blake Griffin, the Clippers sit atop the Pacific Division. The team holds a 2.5-game edge over their city mates, the Lakers, who have dominated Los Angeles basketball for as long as many can remember. It appeared the Clippers were finally ready to unseat the Lakers from the Los Angeles throne, until Billups took a bad step during Monday's win over Orlando.
The loss of Billups certainly will be felt in production, as the veteran guard was averaging 15 points per game, good for third behind Paul and Griffin. Billups also leads the team in three-pointers made and free throw percentage, increasing his value when games hit crunch time. His cool demeanor under pressure is not found in many players across the league.
On the roster, the Clippers will count on two undersized guards to pick up the slack created by Billups' absence. Mo Williams has served mainly as a backup point guard, but Williams has excelled as the Clippers scorer off the bench. The 6-foot-1 guard is shooting a career-best 48.9 percent from the field and has been playing a role similar to that of Jason Terry with the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks.
The Clippers will likely choose to keep Williams as their sixth man, meaning Randy Foye figures to become the team's starting shooting guard. Foye's career numbers as a starter rival those of Billups this season. The 6-foot-4 guard has posted 14.8 points and 4.4 assists per game in 172 career starts over six NBA seasons.
The team may also look outside the organization to boost the backcourt. The Clippers convinced Kenyon Martin to sign last week after Martin spent a stint in China. It just so happens that Martin's former Denver Nuggets teammate, J.R. Smith, also is returning from China and looking for an NBA team. Could Martin persuade Smith, the electric scoring guard, to join him in Los Angeles? It certainly is a possibility.
At this point, it appears that remnants of the old "Clippers Curse" still linger. But the team still has a chance to turn things around....if Paul and Griffin stay healthy and someone emerges to replace Billups. Easier said than done.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
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