Booing Chauncey Billups is a mistake, but as paying customers, do whatever you wish

The coach is doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing

Some fans were booing Chauncey Billups when he was introduced prior to what turned out to be the Trail Blazers’ Friday night win over Sacramento.

I seldom tell fans what to do as long as they keep it clean and don’t fight or throw things. And I’m not going to start telling them what to do in this post.

But I’m going to ask those boo-ers a few questions:

• You do understand that Billups’ job during his tenure here has been mostly to preside over a team whose mission has been to lose enough games to get the best possible lottery position, right? And you do know the team has not been all that talented and has been the betting underdog in almost every game it has played during his tenure?

• You also understand that whenever the team shows signs of winning too frequently, someone is usually traded or spends extended time on the injured list, often substantially longer than necessary? If you didn’t know that, just wait a little while to see what happens this season, as the Blazers are already winning a few more games than a team that needs to end the season in the bottom three of the league.

• In spite of what ownership and front office desire, you realize he’s doing everything he can to ignore that and try to win games — just as his players are trying to do?

• So do you have any idea how hard it is to coach in such an environment, while keeping his players playing hard and positive about the future?

• Are you going to come at me with complaints about how he’s developing players? Don’t do that, because the ones with the capacity to improve are doing that. Maybe others aren’t. And remember that some veterans are still getting the lion’s share of playing time because the franchise is still trying to get big trade value for them, in spite of them not having the worth they were predicted to have.

• Do you also understand the team has not guaranteed his contract for next season, even though his salary isn’t even NBA average? I’m not saying to guarantee it because they will be bringing him back next season. The word has always been they will not. But most franchises, in recognition of him destroying his won-lost record for the sake of a multi-year tank, would give him the parting gift of that last year’s salary. It’s what should be done in appreciation of him going along with the plan. He’s been a good soldier.

• He’s done exactly what he was supposed to do, under the circumstances — not what he was hired to do when he took the job. He was hired to coach a playoff team — which is what they were, before the brain trust decided to go into tank mode.

So, again, you are paying good money to watch a tanking team in the midst of yet another tank season, so do what you want. All I’m saying is, I think it’s a mistake to take out your frustration on the coach.