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."
