Luka’s Corner

While I was watching the first game of the Eastern Conference Finals, it became clear to me that only one Piston is so consistent and so versatile that he is truly the key to Detroit. That Piston is Richard Hamilton. He is so quietly dominant for Motown that he is usually overlooked by analysts and commentators, but not by me.

The one skill Rip revolutionized in the NBA is mid-range shooting. This is a part of the game that EVERYBODY has forgotten, fans and players alike. Every player either wants to shoot the impressive three or drive to the rim for the spectacular finish. Pulling up from about 15 feet is outdated in the high school, college, and pro level. Hamilton, on the other hand, made his name known in UConn and in the NBA by curling off of screens and using a simple one-two step to pull up from 15. He never stops running to get open (something that has frustrated everyone who has had the misfortune to guard him) and is motivated simply to tire his opponent until he can barely stand, let alone run. In my opinion, he is the best all-around shooter in the league, with a lethal short-range, mid-range, and long-range shot (Ray Allen and Michael Redd are only good from the three-point line).

The reason why Hamilton is such a major factor in Detroit’s success is that he is their most consistent scorer. Chauncey Billups always sees Rip in the corner of his eye coming hard off a screen, so he is always an offensive option. Throughout the season and Playoffs, Hamilton has averaged a solid 20 PPG. Some may think that that is not that spectacular, but I would always take a guaranteed 20 points over 40 points one day and five points the next (Ron Artest and Mike Bibby…I’m talking about you). Another huge advantage of Rip’s game is that he always tires his opponent, usually opposing teams’ stars. Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant have both felt his wrath and their offensive games immediately suffered on the other side of the court. This takes pressure off of the other Pistons on the defensive end because they need to only focus on their men. They do not need to help Rip defensively on Wade and Bryant, because they have already lost so much energy chasing Hamilton around hard screens set by Rasheed Wallace and Tayshaun Prince.

Rip might not be the strongest or most athletic guy in the league, but his conditioning is top-notch and unbelievably demoralizing to opponents. With this running ability, not only Hamilton prospers (with 20 PPG), but the whole Piston squad thrives on it. He is the most unique shooter in the NBA, with his mid-range shot, and unanimously the most annoying. He is the main reason why Detroit has been so successful in recent years.

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