Great Wall, great bonding for the Clippers

Most people might consider a trip to China a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but to Chris Paul, it's old hat.

He has been there, done that – six times, in fact.

Even so, the Clippers point guard said there was a valuable component to the seven days his team spent there on a goodwill tour, which included two preseason games against the Miami Heat.

"It was the most perfect thing that our team needed," Paul said Tuesday after practice at the Clippers' facility in Playa Vista, Calif. "It was perfect for us. All of us got to know each other a lot, lot better. You've got 14 hours on a flight together. We got to spend a lot of time together."

Some of his teammates were awed by the spectacle of the Great Wall and the inspiring sights of Beijing and Shanghai, but for Paul it came down to spending quality time with his teammates. That was his lasting memory.

"Just the camaraderie," he said. "I've been there before, so I've seen the Great Wall and stuff like that. The things that are priceless are the conversations that you have with your teammates. Me and L.O. (Lamar Odom) have been enemies for I don't know how many years, and we had so many great conversations. We got pretty close."

The Clippers took Monday off and return to the court Wednesday night for a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center. Paul is hoping for extended playing time after getting 22 minutes Sunday against the Heat in his return from surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb in February.

"I'm looking to playing as many minutes as I can in these preseason games so that I can get my confidence back and get my timing right," he said.

Although Paul is familiar with China, guard Jamal Crawford said the trip was his first venture outside the United States other than a visit he made to the Bahamas once.

"It was an experience, that's for sure, seeing the Great Wall, interacting with all the people, seeing how big basketball is over there," Crawford said. "It's definitely a global sport. There was a lot of love, and the people are so nice. It was a good experience for us."

Coach Vinny Del Negro said the team didn't have the same practice schedule it normally would have because of required appearances, but it worked in some infrequent practices between games.

"With the fan appreciation practice and the number of people and events we had, we could practice for a little bit, then do another appearance, then practice a little bit," he said. "But I thought the guys handled it well."

At the very least, it was an experience to remember.

"It looked like we were in a movie," Crawford said. "It was so surreal to think, man, we're on the other side of the world right now. People were so enthusiastic about us. They knew who we were, and that was amazing to me."

Chauncey Billups, who is rehabbing a torn left Achilles tendon, remained at home to continue working out. He's not expected to play in any preseason games but is hopeful he can return by November or December.

"I just used the time to continue to move forward as opposed to travel there and not play in the games, (then make) appearance after appearance," he said. "I thought it would have set me back. I used it to try and spring forward a little bit. I think it helped."

Even though Billups took part in a scrimmage Tuesday, he conceded it will take time before he's ready to play full time. There's no sense in rushing things.

"It'll take me a little while to get my rhythm back and playing," he said. "I haven't played since February. My body's good, all of that's fine. I just got to take my time and try to get my rhythm back a little bit."