If you ever wondered how important a point guard is to a team’s success in the playoffs, look at this year’s New York Knicks.

Even with Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, the Knicks were dominated back to back games at home, getting swept by the Boston Celtics. Without a true point guard, the Knicks were not able to run a fluid offense.

It was sad that the most effective Knicks lineup had Anthony Carter and Roger Mason at the helm. Two guys played a combined 45 games for the Knicks during the regular season

Game one was the closest game of the series.

In the only game Billups played, the Knicks were alive until the last possession. It just so happened, that in that final possession, with no Chauncey, they ran their worst set. Carmelo took a terrible shot 28 feet away from the basket, missed, and the Knicks lost a game they should have won.

Billups’ replacement for the rest of the series was Toney Douglas. Taking nothing away from Toney Douglas as he is a great role player, but he should not be starting for a playoff team at this point in his career.

Douglas was a late first round pick out of Florida State University in 2009, 29^th overall. He averaged 10.6 points this season, starting only nine games. He has never been known as a good defender, and the Celtics were able to expose his weaknesses.

When Douglass was on the floor in games two, three and four, the Celtics outscored the Knicks by a combined 41 points.  In a smaller sample size, Chauncey was a +1 in game one.

Rondo flat out dominated Douglas. He shot 26-48, 54% from the floor, averaging 22 points, 13 assists and 6.7 rebounds. He would get to the basket with ease, either score a layup or set up Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, or just about any other Celtic for an open shot. When Chauncey played, the Celtics shot 43% from the field. In games two, three and four, they shot 47%, 51%, and 49%.

Besides his help on the defensive side of the court, Billups is still a capable offensive player. After being traded to the Knicks he averaged 17.5 points a game.

This means that if the Celtics continued to double Carmelo, as they did for much of games 2-4, Billups would have been a very capable shooter. Quite the difference when compared to the likes of Jared Jeffries, Bill Walker or Anthony Carter.

By discouraging the double team, Melo and Amar’e would have had more room on the floor. In addition to that, Billups and Amar’e could have had a nice pick and roll game, adding another dimension to the lowly Knicks offense.

One other thing, which does not show up on the stat sheet is Billups’ leadership ability. Besides winning the title, Chauncey won the NBA Finals MVP with the Pistons in 2004.

Winning and leadership. Two characteristics that the Knicks sorely missed this postseason.

Obviously there are other factors in the Knicks demise this postseason. Amare’s bad back and Landry Fields’ disappearance leading the way. However, it is hard to avoid the fact that Billups not playing was a huge factor. Rondo would have been neutralized. In-game management would have been better.

In the Anthony trade, nobody talked about how important Billups would be for the Knicks. He was washed up, just the third wheel to the team dominated by Anthony and Stoudemire. Wonder what the doubters think now.

It has been over a decade since the Knicks last won a playoff game. They will have to wait at least another year to try and end that streak.