Since The Arrest Of Chauncey Billups I Keep Thinking About The End Of The Blazers/Celtics Game From March

So yeah, the arrest of Terry Rozier, Damon Jones, and Chauncey Billups was the biggest story in sports this week. There's a chance it becomes the biggest sports story of the year. 

Front and center is Billups, who, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Joseph Nocella Jr., was charged in an indictment alleging a plot to rig underground poker games that were backed by Mafia families, using technology to steal millions from victims in the New York area. Billups was allegedly someone who tried to get players to play in the rigged games. 

Billups was initially linked to JUST the poker games, but there’s allegedly evidence that he also alerted gamblers to games his team (that he coached) would be tanking. Those gamblers were able to get bets in before those players were listed as inactive. His name is not listed in the full indictment, but there is a “Co-Conspirator #8” who fits the bio of Billups. 

"Co-Conspirator 8, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury, was a resident of Oregon. Co-Conspirator 8 was an NBA player from approximately 1997 through 2014, and an NBA coach since at least 2021." 

"On or about March 24, 2023, the Portland Trail Blazers played the Chicago Bulls (the "March 24 Game"). Prior to the game, the Trail Blazers' record was 32-40 and the team was out of playoff contention with only 10 games remaining in the season. Prior to the March 24 Game, Co-Conspirator 8 told the defendant ERIC EARNEST that the Trail Blazers were going to be tanking (i.e., intentionally losing) to increase their odds of getting a better draft pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Co-Conspirator 8 told EARNEST, before the news was publicly announced, that several of the Trail Blazers' best players, including Player 1, an individual whose identity is known to the Grand Jury, would not be playing in the March 24 Game. The information that the Trail Blazers would be tanking and not playing Player 1 was not available to the public, including the Betting Companies. "

Again, we don't know Co-Conspirator 8 is Billups, but the bio matches. It's a lengthy indictment, a lot of details, and games that allegedly might not have been on the level. 

But there's one game from last March that Billups coached that I can't stop thinking about. 

March 5, 2025, Celtics and Blazers. Celtics leading by 8 with 12.4 seconds to go. The point spread for this game closed with the Celtics as 9.5-point favorites. So right now, the Blazers are covering. 

Even before the ball gets in, you have the Blazers playing pretty aggressive defense against C's guard Payton Prichard…in a game that is basically over. 

Under 10 seconds to go, and you can see Billups motioning for a double-team of Prichard. Again, down by eight, the game is essentially over besides the final score. 

With just over six seconds left, the defense and hand-checking are so aggressive that they have to call a foul on Scoot Henderson. 

Prichard would hit the two free throws, the Celtics would win by 10, and cover a game they looked unlikely to cover before the late foul. Again, the line closed at Blazers -9.5. 

The night of the game, before we knew about Billups' alleged involvement in any potential gambling scandals, 98.5 The Sports Hub's Joe Murray RANTED about the end of the game, calling it #smelly. Again, this was seven months ago, the night of the game. 

This game is not listed in the indictment from Thursday… but boy, does it look weird, given what we found out from authorities on Thursday. Why are the Blazers playing such aggressive defense in a game that was all but over? Why is he so animated on the sideline in a game his team is about to lose, foul or no foul? I have no clue why the game played out the way it did, but Joe had his own thoughts way back in March. 

Billups and everyone else are innocent until proven guilty in this case. 

This sequence was interesting back in March, and after Billups was arrested on Thursday, I keep thinking about it. 

Once you see it, it's hard not to.