Billups/Iverson: Why The Trade Had To Happen

Has anyone noticed how Stuckey, over the past week, has very skillfully evaded all attempts to bait him into taking some bows for himself and his recent admittedly all-star caliber performances?  Even as interviewers have tried to goad him into taking some individual bows, he has successfully declined and continued to praise the team effort versus individual accomplishments. 

My theory is that he has benefited from being an up close and personal witness to what happens when hubris infects the minds of mere mortals.  Case in point:  Chauncey Billups.

I remember reading some years back, and re-reading several times to make sure I was reading it right, Chauncey actually proclaiming that some teams were happy just to be on the same court as the Pistons. 

To further the delusion, they began to explain their successes and failures in terms of “clicking a switch” when needed, and ignoring the increasing frequency when the “switch” didn’t click for them.

My contention is that Joe Dumars saw the handwriting on the wall and knew that the Pistons as constituted were not going to win another championship in Detroit. 

This is not to lay the blame solely at Chauncey’s feet, because it has certainly been a team effort to fall from the heights of great promise, with their five game “sweep” of the allegedly invincible Lakers in 2004, to a team which became perennial “almost there, again” contenders. 

I am saying that one thing Dumars could not anticipate is what the effect would be on his previously underachieving talent, once they finally experienced the recognition—and respect--of their peers, something which drove them to push themselves to their limits. 

The problem is, regardless of what they might claim, for at least four of them, the championship was not what was really driving them, but the respect they sought from their fellow players. 

Once they felt they had that, no matter how much they may have consciously wanted another championship, they were trapped by the fantasy of their own success.  That’s why they became so inconsistent, rising to the occasion to battle league leaders and then falling flat against non-contenders. 

Dumars saw this, and finally realized that as long as they were together, they would never break out of the syndrome.  And that is why the debate over whether or not The Trade was good for Detroit is purely academic:  It had to be done if Detroit ever has hopes of reaching the finals. 

This is not to say that Iverson will get them to the finals:  there are too many questions, from how a new coach can learn on the job to how well the bench develops and matures, that have nothing to do with Iverson. 

I am saying, however, that if Billups had remained, Detroit would never have gotten past Boston, and possibly Cleveland, and certainly would not succeed against the Lakers, who will be the Western Conference Champions.

One final note, now that Chauncey no doubt feels he has to prove himself again, he will play exceptionally well against the Pistons versus an Iverson who has nothing to prove but will play well, and Denver will probably beat the Pistons Friday.