What do the Nuggets gain by acquiring Chauncey Billups?
• A floor leader and player-coach. You’d think it would be the other players teaching Chauncey the plays and helping him out as he learns a system based on up-tempo basketball. But we’ve seen in the last two games that Chauncey is not just a leader but a coach on the floor. He dictates where guys should be, makes the pass that leads to an assist and communicates defensive assignments better than George Karl. • To run a wide open offensive system that’s predicated on spacing, you need to have capable outside shooters. Billups gives the Nuggets a three-point shooting threat who can spread the floor and create opportunities for penetration simply by being on the court. • The Nuggets of the last three or four years have been a frustrating fourth-quarter team. We’ve seen them lose countless games in the last three minutes. In Chauncey they have a proven clutch shooter (“Mr. Big Shot”) and one of the most reliable free-throw shooters in the NBA. • They will match up much better against the e
