Here is the 2008-2009 preseason definition of the Denver Nuggets, straight from Webster's Mythical Dictionary of NBA Franchises: an individually talented, athletically superior, run-and-gun team that is missing a bona fide floor general capable of making big shots, controlling the tempo and taking over a game in the fourth quarter

Now, here is the definition of Chauncey Billups from the same fictional book: a bona fide floor general capable of making big shots, controlling the tempo and taking over a game in the fourth quarter

Round peg, meet round hole.

One of the game's most poised playmakers, Billups has excelled in his role as Denver's on-court traffic cop since arriving last month in a trade for Allen Iverson. With the veteran point guard enjoying free rein under coach George Karl -- "This is the most freedom I've had in my career," the 32-year-old Billups said -- the Nuggets are 12-3 with their new lineup.

"I watched this team a lot the last couple of years," said Billups, a Denver native who played collegiately at Colorado. "This is my hometown team, so of course I took an interest in them. What I saw was a team that struggled in the fourth quarter. They looked messed up out there.

"Those kind of [struggles] are not going to happen with me out there. I won't let that happen."

Billups has shown his new teammates how easily he can shift from facilitator to scorer. In a 106-105 victory against the Clippers last week, he scored only seven points but chipped in 11 assists. Then, with Carmelo Anthony sidelined by an elbow injury for the second half of Sunday's win against the Rockets, Billups scored 24 of his 28 points in the final two quarters. Overall, he is averaging 18.9 points and 7.2 assists with Denver.

Billups said that in the days after his arrival, several Nuggets players told him he was "exactly what they need."

"It felt good to hear that," he said. "There is a lot of talent on this team. We just have to find a way to put it all together."

Billups also represents a philosophical shift by the Nuggets' front office. Denver was in full cost-cutting mode in the offseason, dealing starting center Marcus Camby to the Clippers for two second-round draft picks. But the acquisition of Billups has quieted any talk of a roster overhaul. In fact, some NBA front-office sources believe that Denver may look to be buyers before February's trade deadline.