Posts tagged Riphamilton at FanHouse

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

As you can see, Stephen A. Smith talked with Lindsey Hunter yesterday. The whole interview is pretty interesting, but what lit up the local sports talk radio phone boards today was his story (last 30 seconds of the video) about how he and Rip Hamilton complained to Rasheed Wallace about Wallace being too nice to Kevin Garnett.

Several Detroit talk radio hosts (whom, I should add, are rarely actually in the locker room) tried to insinuate from Hunter's story there was some serious discord in the locker room. From the sounds of some of the callers, it set off a mini-panic among fans, or at least those fans who didn't see the clip for themselves and understand the lighthearted context in which Hunter's comments were made.

Notes from a trip to the NBA Playoffs.

After suffering a sprained elbow in the final minutes of Game 5, Rip Hamilton's status for tonight's game was uncertain. But after getting a bit of advice from his dad and testing it during this morning's shootaround, he told reporters that he was ready to go. From Dana Gauruder of the Oakland Press:

"I talked to my dad and he said, 'Man, just spit on it. You're all right.' We're at war right now. You ain't go no choice to sit down or anything like that. I feel all right. I feel good enough to go out and play."

During his pre-game press conference, Flip Saunders indicated he didn't think the injury would slow Hamilton at all. "Most guys, I'd worry a little bit," said Saunders. "Him, when it comes to shooting, he'll find a way to get it off, so that doesn't concern me nearly as much."

Doc Rivers was asked if the Celtics will prepare for Hamilton differently knowing he's coming off an injury. "Our motto is, if he steps on the floor, he's 100 percent, and that's how we're going to play," said Rivers. "If he shows us something different, then maybe we will do something different. But as far as I'm concerned, if Rip gets an open shot, you'll be amazed how healthy he looks. That's the way we look at it; you're on the floor, you're fine."

The Pistons are against the cliff, now. They're at home, but they no longer have the luxury of any more "off games." The switch has to be "on' from here on out. And with the Celtics smelling the Finals, pushing this back to Boston will be difficult. But if anybody has the experience to kick this brutal series back to seven, it's the Pistons. In another of our continuing series, here's our look at 5 things to keep an eye out for tonight in Pistons-Celtics, Game 6.

1. Pierced Lung: Paul Pierce provides the oxygen for this Celtics squad. When his stroke is in rhythm, it's all over but the shouting. In order for Boston to end this thing, Pierce has to get more into a scoring role and concentrate less on other areas. The Celtics can live with Tayshaun Prince going a little nova if they can counter with Pierce, a la Game 7 from the Cavaliers series. What can't happen for the Celts, and what the Pistons need is ...

2. You Don't Know Rip: Rip Hamilton and his offensive versatility is on display late in May. Again. And the Pistons' season hinges on his ability to carry them. Again. And he still won't get enough of the credit. Unfortunately, Rip's got an elbow issue and won't be close to 100%. With the elbow injury, Hamilton's post game is going to be limited with how much he uses his elbows to create space. The Pistons' season hangs on Hamilton and his elbow tonight.

Near the end of the Lakers' series-clinching Game 5 victory over the Spurs, chants of "We want Boston!" were said to have been heard at Staples Center. With the Spurs scoring under 100 points and a Laker victory in hand, it's possible that the chant was actually "We want tacos!" instead.

Let's go with the assertion though that the fans were calling for a match-up against the Celtics in the NBA Finals. Are they sure they'd rather face Boson than Detroit? Neither the Celtics nor the Pistons would be a dream matchup for the Lakers, considering both teams stress a defensive and physical style of play. But at this point you'd have to think that the Lakers would have a better time defeating the Pistons.

This Celtics team may not have the years of experience playing together this deep into the playoffs, but they're quickly showing that they have no problems winning close games against the league's best. Plus, Boston's strength is their league-leading defense and physical presence on the boards, something the Lakers aren't necessarily built to deal with. And even though Pau Gasol didn't play in either of the two meetings between the teams this season, the Celtics absolutely manhandled the Lakers in those games, winning both easily.

Rip Hamilton took an absolute beating in the final minutes of Detroit's loss to the Celtics. First he got poked in the eye by Ray Allen with about three minutes left, and because the refs swallowed their whistles, the Pistons were forced to burn a time out they really could have used in the final seconds.

But more of a lasting concern is the sprained elbow he suffered in the final minute (which, to be fair, he may have sustained while illegally clutching Allen on the other end). He was forced out of the game in obvious pain and Flip Saunders still isn't sure about his availability tomorrow night. From A. Sherrod Blakely of Booth Newspapers:

"It would be different if it was his left arm, but it's his right arm, his shooting arm, the golden arm" Saunders said. "I think he'll need to get it polished up a bit before he can play."

If he has any motor ability whatsoever in the arm, I'd be shocked if he sat out, but if it did come to that, the Pistons have some options. Arron Afflalo has started in place of Rip in the regular season, but Rodney Stuckey, who can play both backcourt positions, seems like the more likely option to start for him now. Stay tuned.

Following the Pistons' close Game 5 loss to the Celtics, The World of Isaac today is asking one simple grammatically-challenged question: "Is there such thing as a moving pick?" On the play where Ray Allen hit the jumper to put his team up four with a minute to play, watch Kevin Garnett as he makes sure to get in the way of Rip Hamilton, possibly by setting an illegal, moving screen.

So, was that an illegal play by Garnett there? Maybe. If anything it could have been an offensive foul on Garnett for using his right arm to block/hold Hamilton. I've seen far worse though, especially on pick and rolls in the lane between a center and a guard where the center sets the pick, and basically holds the defender in place while making a spin move or pivot to the basket. Several teams are guilty of that one, and it's almost never called. Bottom line is that even though it was a questionable play, there wasn't enough there for the referees to blow the whistle.

In the latest in our continuing series, we look at five things to keep an eye on tonight in the Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 between the Detroit Pistons and the Boston Celtics.

1. Roll Of The McDyess: Antonio McDyess of all freaking people has proved pivotal in this series. The Celtics are supposed to dominate inside with Kevin Garnett and the Perkins/Powe/Davis trifecta, but it's been the Pistons who have been controlling the down low. McDyess is averaging close to 15 points and 11 rebounds, and has come up with huge shots when the Pistons have needed it. The Celtics have to have bigger contributions defensively from their young players to get McDyess back to average.

2. Dual-Sided Mismatch: Sam Cassell is too old to effectively contribute against the Pistons. Chauncey Billups is too injured to effectively contribute against the Celtics. Rajon Rondo is too young to take the reins for too long. Rodney Stuckey is too young to take the reins for too long. This matchup has been fascinating due to the subtle differences between the two point guard combos (as opposed to combo guards). Rondo has terrific defensive acumen but his youth causes him to overplay sometimes, picking up useless fouls and leaving the baseline vulnerable. Stuckey tends to force things offensively and doesn't always allow the system to flow through him like it does through Billups. Whoever takes control of this game tonight, and it's usually Rondo at home, will probably provide the cornerstone for a victory for his team.

All of the home team dominance this postseason ended up providing a lot of background spice for this series, because we assumed that the Celtics would probably win the first two in the New Garden. Then Detroit flat out grabbed the second game and seemed to take control of the series heading back to Detroit.

But you just knew Boston would come out strong after being embarrassed at home. Which they did, taking a 2-1 lead over the Pistons as only Rip Hamilton and Rodney Stuckey really shown for Detroit. Kevin Garnett was dominant again and someone decided to exhume Ray Allen, so we certainly have a series. But the biggest storyline is the "leash" that Chauncey Billups will deal with tonight, as Flip Saunders has made it known he is not scared to pull "Mr. Big" if he can't perform up to standards.

Momentum swings with every quarter and almost every full game in the playoffs, but two things could doom the Pistons tonight: a slow start and, from the obvious department, a loss. Heading back to Boston down 3-1 is not what you could call enviable.

In the latest of our continuing series, we look at Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, as the Pistons try to even the score against Boston.

1. Comparing leashes. Flip Saunders told reporters Chauncey Billups will be on a shorter leash, which means Rodney Stuckey should see extra playing time. But Stuckey's a rookie, and while he's looked great so far, could a few youthful mistakes ping pong Saunders back to his hobbled vet? Meanwhile, Sam Cassell finally got some minutes (8) but spent them looking pissed off and trigger-happy (5 FGAs, 1 turnover). Paul Pierce seemingly took issue, and you wonder if Doc Rivers will tonight, either by benching the vet or keeping his minutes superlow. What a league, when two 30somethings will be on tight leashes in favor of a rookie and sophomore (Rajon Rondo).

2. Die by the three. Detroit made 1-of-13 threes on Saturday, pitiful by any standard, but especially for a team which shot a swell 37% on 16 attempts for the season. Rasheed Wallace and Rip Hamilton need to make their threes count, in particular, else Boston's Pierce-Allen-House barrage provide a decent cushion.

3. Shattered glass. Both teams have been traditionally able on the defensive glass, but neither team showed it on Saturday. Boston came away with 14 offensive rebounds in 32 opportunities, and Detroit had 10 in 40 chances. Antonio McDyess' got to seal off and handle his business, and there's no reason for Jason Maxiell to only record one rebound in 20 minutes when so many misfires were available.

Two more, after the jump.

And then there were four. In the latest of our continuing series, we look at the Eastern Conference Finals, Game 2 tonight between the Pistons and Celtics. Be sure to stop by later for our Live Blog of the game.

1. We're going streaking! If you haven't heard that Boston is 9-0 at home in the playoffs ... well, you haven't been watching the playoffs. Can they make it 10 in a row? That hasn't done since Michael Jordan's hey-day with the Bulls. After sitting for a week and showing plenty of rust in Game 1, the Pistons hope to play the role of spoiler. They've done it before: they gave Boston their first regular season home loss back in December.

2. Be aggressive ... While the Pistons went a whole week between games, Chauncey Billups went nearly two after sitting out nearly three whole games against the Magic with a strained hamstring. He wasn't quite 100% in the first game, but he needs to get past that mental block and quit being tentative. He attempted only six shots and finished with just two assists.

3. ... but not too aggressive. Rip Hamilton was fined by the NBA today for throwing an elbow at Kevin Garnett's temple in Game 1. The Pistons caught a huge break -- David Stern has suspended players for lesser offenses in the past. This is already a physical series, but you don't want to see things get too chippy. We've waited all year for these teams to meet -- you'd hate to see the series decided because someone went out and got themselves suspended.