The Los Angeles Clippers are pretty stacked though they are without veteran point guard Chauncey Billups.  He suffered an achilles tear and has been very careful about his return trying to make sure he’s fully healed.  Now it appears he might finally have a return date.  Read more after the jump.

Shay Marie

Chauncey Billups is shooting to return from Achilles surgery the first week of December, a move that will exponentially increase the Clippers’ championship experience and make one of the deepest backcourts in the league even more crowded.

Billups started 20 games for the Clippers last season before getting hurt, and they were 14-6 in those games. At 36, he’s ready to join the graybeard point-guard trend going on at the moment, with Kidd (39) getting the job done in New York and Steve Nash (38) hoping to recapture the old Phoenix magic with Mike D’Antoni in L.A. once he returns from a leg injury.

A person with knowledge of Billups’ recovery said he’s progressed to the point where he could be back in the lineup “any time,” but the Clippers have not put a timetable on his return. After the game, Billups said next week might be unrealistic simply because he’s yet to have a chance to log any substantial scrimmage time to test his leg and work himself back into game shape. He’s eyeing the first week of December, and for good reason. The Clippers have two potential practice days after their Nov. 28 home game against Minnesota and two more after a Dec. 5 home game against Dallas.

“I’m getting there,” Billups said.

Ken Berger for CBS Sports