Chris Paul wants Chauncey Billups to take his time recovering

When Chris Paul found out that Chauncey Billups is out indefinitely with an inflamed tendon in his left foot, Paul was frustrated.

“Man, I was hurt to find that out because nobody loves to play the game of basketball probably as much as me and Chaunce,” Paul said.

Paul considers Billups a brother-type figure.

When Billups suffered a torn Achilles tendon last February, an injury that kept him sidelined for nearly 10 months, Paul still sought Billups’ advice from the bench.

“We talk the whole game even when he’s over there in a suit,” Paul said. “But when you have me and him out there on the court at the same time, then it’s almost over for the other team.

“You never know what we’re going to do. We play so well off of each other because we just think the game. We watch the game so much. He knows what I’m going to do before I do it and the same way. Not too many backcourts in the NBA are like me and Chaunce.”

Billups made his season debut Nov. 28 against Minnesota. His foot became aggravated during a game Monday against Utah. Billups had an MRI on Tuesday morning that revealed the injury.

Even though Paul wants Billups out on the court alongside him, Paul wants the veteran point guard to use extreme caution in his recovery.

“Even the game that they probably say he can come back, I’ll probably tell him to wait another week or two because I don’t need him in December or January.” Paul said. “I need him in April.”

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