The NBA Finals start June 4, about the time Detroit Pistons guard Chauncey Billups expects to return to his hometown for the offseason. And once the Finals begin, the Denver native probably won't be able to look down at his left ankle without wondering what could have been.

championship dreams were in reach after leading the Pistons to an Eastern Conference finals berth against the New Jersey Nets. But with its hot scorer hobbled by an ankle injury, Detroit put up little fight and was swept Saturday night by New Jersey.

"You play your whole life to have an opportunity like that," said Billups, 26. "To play against (Nets all-star guard) Jason Kidd in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. And I was playing at a high level also before I got hurt. It's tough. It's frustrating.

"Now we'll never know how good this series could have been."