WATCH: Chauncey Billups Top-5 Moments with Clippers

Nov 28, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chauncey Billups (1) is interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Kristina Pink after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Timberwolves 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

2) Billups Scores 21 in Clippers Debut

The Chauncey Billups experiment wasted no time, scoring 21 points in his Clippers debut in a blowout win over the Golden State Warriors (Billups, Paul, Griffin all scored 20+ points). It was an ugly 21 points (6-of-19 shooting, 3-of-10 three-shooting, 6-6 free-throw shooting), but without wasting time, the combo guard showed why there were many who thought highly of the Clippers decision to pair him alongside Chris Paul in the frontcourt.

With coaches approaching defenses much smarter than those of the past, Billups’ ability to create as a second option alongside Paul was–and would’ve been–crucial to the teams success. That particular dynamic is able to prod defenses in ways spot-up shooters are unable to do. We saw the importance of this last season when Doc Rivers opted for Jamal Crawford over J.J. Redick late in games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

This is the role, Billups was meant to play.