Billups may opt for more bucks

When Chauncey Billups visits Boston, fans at TD Banknorth Garden wonder what might have been if he developed with the Celtics. They are also reminded of the big difference an All-Star point guard can make.

But could Billups make a big difference for a team other than Detroit next season?

When this season ends, Billups has a player option worth $6.8 million for 2007-08. He could opt out. According to a close friend of Billups, the veteran point guard has interest in Milwaukee. And the interest might be mutual when the time is right.

With the Bucks projected to be $14 million under the salary cap next season and in need of a point guard, Billups could be a good fit. In Detroit's season-opening loss to Milwaukee Wednesday night, Billups saw the Bucks' young talent firsthand. The same friend said Billups liked what he saw.

Chicago signed Billups's former Detroit teammate Ben Wallace to a four-year deal worth $60 million during the offseason. And if you ask the Celtics, Billups was just as valuable to the Pistons as Wallace in recent years, if not more so.

"In my eyes, Chauncey is probably the best one-time All-Star in the history of the game," said Paul Pierce, who believes the Pistons' floor general should have received the honor at least three times. "The way he controls the game, the way his tempo is, the way he gets these guys going, he's the unquestioned leader of that team. He's capable of getting it done on both ends."

As the Finals MVP on the Pistons' 2004 championship team, Billups averaged 16.9 points and 5.7 assists per game that season. He bettered both figures last year with career bests in points (18.5) and assists (8.6). Without Wallace, the Pistons' identity depends even more upon the leadership provided by Billups.

Last night, Billups had 20 points and 11 assists in the Pistons' 101-88 win over the Celtics.

The Pistons want more from Rasheed Wallace than 23 minutes per game, which was what he played in the season opener. Like key players around the league, Wallace fell victim to the new NBA rules clamping down on complaints to officials. Last night, Wallace finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds in 36 minutes.

"It's not a rule, it's a law," said Wallace, who again called the new no-tolerance approach "another Sheed law" yesterday. "If you already got a beef with a ref, then you have to look out. And with me, that's about 90 percent of them. It's BS. You ain't really got to say nothing or do nothing."

Although Pierce and Wallace have different temperaments on the floor, the Celtics captain thinks the crackdown may be a little too strict. Pierce wasn't sure what Wallace did to earn two technicals against Milwaukee, calling his antics "low key." Pierce predicts referees will loosen up as the season progresses.

"The refs are a little quick with that whistle sometimes, but that's the new rules," said Pierce. "The refs have to make that judgment call. You usually see a lot of early emphasis and it usually dies down. They're setting the tone for the season. By midway, you're not going to be seeing as many technicals probably.

"I saw [Thursday] night with Carmelo [Anthony]. I thought they overreacted. It was crazy to see Carmelo kicked out, especially with the NBA really promoting Carmelo, Dwyane Wade, and LeBron [James]. It's a nationally televised game and Carmelo gets kicked out. I think the refs have to use better judgment with that. Then again, it's their call."

Last night, Wally Szczerbiak (8:40 left in the third) and Billups (4.2 seconds left in the second) picked up technicals under the new no-tolerance policy.

The Celtics dance team made its debut last night, delayed one game out of respect for Red Auerbach. Before tipoff, there was a lot of good-natured joking about the new in-game entertainment and who would or would not be paying attention to Doc Rivers during huddles. Pierce revealed that before being traded, Ricky Davis was the biggest proponent of a dance team in Boston. "I won't get a chance to check them out; I'll be in the huddle," said Pierce, as he offered a sideways glance, showing how he just might get a glimpse. "I know Ricky Davis really promoted it. I know he did, for sure. He used to ask why we didn't have them." . . . During the third quarter, Kendrick Perkins suffered a cut to the back of his head that required three stitches . . . Tributes to Auerbach postponed the debut of FSN's commemoration of Tommy Heinsohn's 50-year association with the Celtics as player, coach, and broadcaster. "Tommy, Forever Green" will now premiere Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.