Billups came a long way

Rivers and Posey knew him when

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - The Chauncey Billups that Celtics coach Doc Rivers and forward James Posey knew eight seasons ago is a much different player than the All-Star Piston they're competing against in the Eastern Conference finals.

Rivers was coaching the Magic when Billups was traded to Orlando by Denver in February 2000.

But Billups was injured and never played for the Magic. They didn't attempt to re-sign him, using the salary cap space to help them sign Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill.

"I didn't know anything about him," said Rivers. "We got him for the cap for the next [free agent crop]. But I learned about him once he got there. He was an impressive guy. Very team-oriented. He possessed tremendous leadership skills.

"We've been friends ever since. I really appreciated that he wasn't going to play and he came every day to practice and he acted like he was going to play. I think that's impressive."

That year was also Posey's rookie season in Denver, and he and Billups were teammates before the trade.

Billups, then in his third NBA season, averaged 8.6 points and 3.0 assists as Nick Van Exel's backup in Denver, but he played in only 13 games before having season-ending shoulder surgery on Dec. 27, 1999.

"He was a silent killer," said Posey. "He's a quiet, reserved type guy on and off the court. He makes plays. He makes shots. He would come into his own taking over games.

"I didn't really get to play with him because I was young and he was hurt, but you could still just see it. Since he left Denver, he became a special player. He had opportunities and took advantage."

At that time, Billups was considered a journeyman combo-guard who already had been dealt by Boston and Toronto. The Nuggets used him as a throw-in in a trade that sent Ron Mercer and Johnny Taylor to Orlando for Chris Gatling, Tariq Abdul-Wahad, a first-round pick, and cash.

"I knew what he was capable of doing," said Posey. "I remembered seeing him in college. I knew he was from there [Denver] and had an opportunity to play there.

"And then he was traded? I was like, 'Wow.' I knew he was a special player who could take care of games then, but injuries held him back."

Billups signed with the Timberwolves in the summer of 2000 and began turning his career into a stellar one, playing for Flip Saunders - now his coach in Detroit - and with Kevin Garnett. Billups went on to become a three-time All-Star and a member of the US national team, and he won an NBA title with the Pistons in 2004, being named Finals MVP.

"I'm glad and I'm happy for him," said Rivers. "If anyone deserves [success], he does."

Color scheme

Any thoughts that the magic could be in the uniform were dismissed last night. In Game 3, the Celtics ditched the green and black, opted for the green-and-white attire, and got their first playoff road victory.

They wore green and white again for Game 4, but the Pistons beat the Celtics, 94-75.

The Celtics are 1-3 in the green and white on the road in the playoffs. They'd worn the combo twice on the road already: in a 97-94 loss to the Hawks in Game 4 and a 108-84 loss to Cleveland in Game 3.

The change was so subtle Rivers had no idea when asked about the swap before last night's game.

"I didn't know we went to them. You mean tonight?" Rivers asked. "Did we do them last game?

"I didn't notice the change. I don't care, I never ask. I don't care what they wear. They can wear white, blue, I couldn't care less."

Movies after midnight

Work for the Celtics' coaching staff doesn't end once the buzzer sounds. After Game 3 here Saturday night, the staff got back to their hotel after 1 a.m. and some of them watched game film, a routine that has become customary on the road in the postseason.

"A couple of our coaches like going to sleep right after the game," Rivers said. "I don't know how you can possibly do that. But some of them do, and then they get up at 5 o'clock or 6. Some of us are the other way.

"I won't go to bed until I'm done with the film. And that could be 4, 5, or 3. But it's nothing that everyone else isn't doing. Again, it's a great problem to have."

A fan of Westerns

While Rivers isn't happy about late starts in this round, he is pleased that on off-nights he can watch the Western Conference finals between the Spurs and Lakers. "If we win, we're going to play one of those teams," he said. "So it's pretty good with the every-other-day [schedule] because when we're off, they're playing, and everyone can watch." . . . The late starts don't make falling asleep any easier for the Celtics, and being on the road makes it even more of a challenge. Ray Allen said even a win does not always bring a better night's sleep. "There's something about going from a building that is full of 20,000 people, especially away games, and then coming back to your hotel, you're just so wired," he said.

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com. Monique Walker of the Globe staff contributed to this report.