Originally posted by RecSpecs110
You can't assume that Billups would be a bigger loss than Rip, because Rip hasn't been out yet. Billups may be a better all around player according to what you say, but that doesn't necessarily translate to a better situation or more wins when Rip goes out than when Billups goes out. For example, when Krstic went out for the Nets, everyone thought they were going to go south. But Mikki Moore came in and played even better than Krstic, which has led so far to more wins. The Pistons may have played worse when Billups got injured than when he was healthy, but that doesn't automatically mean Rip didn't play great without him. And saying Billups hits bigger shots is a vague statement. Clutch or buzzer beating shots aren't necessarily bigger than regular ones that are taken in the 4th quarter or even earlier. A big shot can even be considered one that is taken in the first half, but more importantly, stops the opponent's run and starts a big run of its own. I see Rip making these shots all the time, and a few of them compiled together may be just as important as one big clutch shot that Billups makes.
There is a reason why we call Chauncey Mr. Big Shot in Detroit. From according to what I say, and from what I've watched(which I gurantee is more Piston games than yourself) yes, Billups better all around play does allow a better oppuritinity for Detroit to win than Rip's game. When Billups was out Detriot was sucking ass and even though Rip played well, he never played well enough to carry Detriot to any wins which is what you claimed "Rip has been carry the Pistons all season." He couldn't even carry them for a month.
How many Pistons games have you seen this year? Because if you see Rip making all these so called "big shots" than you must change the channel everytime Billups hits a big shot, and that would mean you change the channel alot. Because you're right, a big shot isn't necassirly a buzzer beater, it can be one that stops an opponents run, or starts a run for your team, which Billups has been doing for the past 5 or 6 years in Detroit, everytime we need a big shot Billups hits one, every time we need to start a run, Billups picks up the offense, everytime we need to end a big run, Billups has the ability and does draw fouls, hits a jumper, or takes it to the hole, we need a big 3, we go to Billups as option 1, like I said, his nickname isn't Mr. Big Shot for nothing, and you throw that in there with with his abillity to setup teammates, make GW shots and you have an All Star. Just because Rip is averaging 4 more pts than Billups doesn't mean he deserves it more, if thats the case, than Ray Allen deserves to be an AllStar more than Steve Nash.
Now, I'm not the biggest Nets fan in the world, and I haven't been paying attention to them alot, but last time I seen them play w/o Kristic (just last week against Detroit), they got there ass stomped, and when they had Kristic in the past they were fighting for a top seed in the East, and actually could complete with Detroit. Now that doesn't mean I'm right about the Nets being better with Kristic in the lineup, because you've probally seen alot more Nets game than me, and would know more about that team than me, but do you see how much of a misconception can be made from just watching a few games.