It’s only been a month and the Pelicans have been on quite the rollercoaster ride this 2023/24 NBA season. They’ve lost as many games as they’ve lost (9-9) and are currently standing 9th in the Western Conference standings. 

Team forward Larry Nance Jr. is convinced that his team can make it all the way to the playoffs this campaign because they can lean on All-Stars Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, who he considers are built to carry “the weight of the organization.”

While Ingram is averaging 24.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists so far this season for the Pelicans, the former Duke athlete is averaging 23.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

💰New Orleans Pelicans -5 💰

⚡️Zion Williamson + Brandon Ingram are figuring it out⚡️

First 8 games: 2 man lineup was -8.8 NET
Last 5 game: 2 man lineup is +27.8 NET in 58 minutes

I hit this at -3.5 last night. Still playable at -5 🤝 pic.twitter.com/q9OnHW85N0

— Land Your Bets (@Jlboogy) November 27, 2023

“They’re the heartbeat of this team. The heartbeat of this organization. They know it. These two can carry the weight of the organization. They’re that great,” Nance Jr. said recently. “I think the message is always that you have to continue to be worthy of that. Being worthy of that is showing up and being great every day. They don’t have to be vocal. We have people who can do that. They have to go out there and show it, and we’re going to follow.”

As New Orleans are 5-3 over their last eight contests, it seems they truly are strong competitors when both of their stars are healthy and sharing the court. Zion believes the team is finally on the same page after their last team meeting.

“As a team, we weren’t on the same page before. Now, we’re on the same page,” claimed the 23-year-old. “We had a team meeting. We talked about what we want to do as a unit. That’s what we’re going to live and die with. Since we’re all on the same page, I think we’ve been gelling together a lot better.”

The Pelicans made the playoffs back in 2022 and missed out last season, so Williamson knows what needs to be done if they are to make their comeback this year.

“There’s definitely a lot of progress that’s been made,” he assured. “We both want the same thing, but we haven’t been on the court a lot together. The more we’re on the court together, the more our chemistry will build.”

Reporter claims that Zion is an offensive machine but also provokes important defensive damage to the Pelicans

As incredibly dominant as Williamson is on the offensive end of the floor, he often exposes his side on defense. NBA reporter Tony Jones gave his honest take on the matter after Utah beat New Orleans in back-to-back games.

“For as good as Zion is offensively, he’s way too often destructive to them defensively…The Jazz run a zipper screen, get him involved into the action and end up with a wide open Fontecchio three. Great coaching by Hardy to recognize and get Zion on the move,” he wrote on his X account.

Jazz coach Will Hardy credits his teams balance on both sides of the court for Monday’s 114-112 victory against the Pelicans.

“Another really gritty team win against a good team,” he explained postgame. “I think our defensive focus is continuing to show up. … Our team is improving on that end of the floor on our focus and how connected we are. I think the best part for me watching the game is that we feel like a team. … Defensively, the communication is way better, and the connectivity is way better.”

Once upon a time, Chauncey Billups was the lead floor general for the beloved mid-2000s Detroit Pistons. In fact, it was Billups who took home Finals MVP in 2004 when the Pistons won it all. Now that his playing days are behind him, Billups is on to coaching. Billups is currently in the middle of his third season as a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers.

But how much does this player-turned-coach make? In this post, we discuss Billups’ contract, his net worth, his coaching record, and more. 

Chauncey Billups Contract And Salary

Billups is in the third year of a five-year deal with the Blazers (the final year is a team option). According to Salary Swish’s database, Billups’ contract is a 5-year, 10-million dollar deal. So, he is making about two million dollars annually.

That figure is on the lower side, even for first-time head coaches. For instance, Adrian Griffin (a first-time head coach) is making four million dollars annually on his deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Chauncey Billups Playing Career Earnings

As we mentioned, Billups had a long and prosperous playoff career spanning nearly two decades with seven different NBA teams. And as a multiple-time All-NBA guard and Finals MVP, Billups made himself quite a bit of money during that time.

According to HoopsHype, Billups made about 106.2 million dollars during his playing days. When adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of 159.2 million dollars today.

Chauncey Billups Net Worth

According to the website Celebrity Net Worth, Billups’ net worth is roughly 45 million dollars. He’s only been a coach for four years (three with Portland and one with the Los Angeles Clippers). So, it is safe to assume that most of this wealth came from his time as an NBA player.

Chauncey Billups Head Coaching Record

In 181 regular season games, Billups has a record of 65-116 (win percentage of 35.9%). Those marks don’t put him too high up the all-time head coaching leaderboards. As it stands, Billups is 189th all-time in regular season wins and 235th all-time in win percentage.

Billups has never been the head coach of a playoff game.

Chauncey Billups Wife

Billups is married to Piper Billups. The couple has been married since 2001. They met each other in high school. Billups and his wife have three daughters: Cydney, Ciara, and Cenaiya.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been downgraded to out for tonight’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks. This will be the second straight game Butler has missed.

The six-time All-Star also sat out Miami’s 112-97 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. Butler, 34, is averaging 20.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.4 steals in 14 starts this season.

Referring to a few NBA betting sites, the Miami Heat hold 10th-shortest odds to win this season’s championship. Sportsbooks are showing better odds for the Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Philadelphia 76ers.

UPDATE: Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been ruled out of tonight’s game. https://t.co/ElyeFn2JTz

— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) November 28, 2023

In Miami’s 122-115 win over the Nets on Nov. 16, the 13-year veteran recorded a season-high 36 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and three blocks in 35 minutes of action.

For the rest of the Heat’s injury report, forward Haywood Highsmith (lower back) is questionable and both center Bam Adebayo (left hip) and forward Duncan Robinson (right thumb) are probable versus Milwaukee.

Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (ankle) has been downgraded to out against Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks won 122-114 over Miami in the first meeting on Oct. 30. Adebayo didn’t play, whereas Butler and Tyler Herro were in the lineup. However, while Adebayo is available, both Butler and Herro are out tonight. It figures.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee forward Jae Crowder (groin) remains out indefinitely, and guard Khris Middleton (Achilles) is listed as questionable as well. The Bucks are 7-1 in their last eight games.

Bam Adebayo in games without Jimmy Butler:

19.8 PPG
9.5 RPG
5.1 APG
56.1% FG

24-32 record.

Predict his stat-line tonight! pic.twitter.com/eM7ecfKvER

— HeatMuse (@Heat_Muse) November 28, 2023

For noteworthy betting trends, Milwaukee is 0-6 straight up in its past six road games against Miami. The Bucks are 15-5 against the spread in their previous 20 contests as well.

As for the Heat, they’re 9-3 SU in their last 12 games. Not to mention, Miami is 1-6 ATS in its past seven home games, and the Eastern Conference contender is 7-3 ATS in its previous 10 contests.

According to ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, the Bucks hold a 60.3% chance of defeating Miami at home. NBA sportsbooks show the Heat as 3.5-point underdogs.