Rip Hamilton Thrives in Sixth Man Role

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- The Pistons have won just five of their last 15 games, so I'm sure Rip Hamilton would dispute the idea that anyone on the team is "thriving" right now.

But ever since he swallowed his pride and moved to the bench nine games ago, Hamilton has helped balance Detroit's guard-heavy rotation that also features Rodney Stuckey and Allen Iverson. Not only that, he's done so by playing his best ball of the season -- even if he's not yet comfortable in his role.

A lot of people view a move to the bench as a "demotion," but in this case the label doesn't fit. Truth be told, Hamilton has become even more important to the Pistons as a reserve -- no longer lost in the shuffle as one of many options early in the game, he's now the primary scoring threat most of the time he's on the court.

Believe it or not, he's actually averaging two more points in seven fewer minutes since the move -- he's up to 18.8 points in 27.7 minutes as a reserve compared to 16.7 points in 34.7 minutes as a starter. Not surprisingly, much of the difference can be attributed to increased efficiency -- he's shooting 49.2 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from beyond the arc as a reserve, up from 44.8 percent and 35.1 percent, respectively, as a starter.

He's actually led the Pistons in scoring five times in nine games, including two monster games this weekend: He set the franchise record for points off the bench with 38 in an overtime win in Milwaukee on Saturday followed by a team-high 27-point effort the next night at home against the Suns.

As Michael Curry told reporters before Sunday's game, he's not surprised by Hamilton's success, predicting Hamilton will "have a few more 30-point games coming off the bench" this year, especially as Hamilton's nagging groin injury continues to heal. And despite his recent scoring outbursts, Hamilton admitted after Sunday's game that his groin is still a serious issue. "It's still sore, it still hurts," Hamilton said. "I'm still trying to figure out a way to get through the game."

Hamilton has done a good job figuring it out, but Curry doesn't mistake his success with being content. "I don't think he's accepted it," Curry said. "I'm not going to ever think that, he's never going to want to just come off the bench. ... I just think that it's a matter of he felt good [Saturday] body-wise. And as he [gets] healthy, he's going to play well. With Rip, regardless if he comes off the bench and he likes it or doesn't like it, when he steps out there he wants to play well. He has that kind of pride in him."

That pride is no more apparent than just before tip-off. When the starting lineup is introduced, the reserves traditionally form two lines facing each other in front of the bench to high-five each of the starters as his name is called. As with many teams, there's an unspoken tradition for the face of the franchise to be introduced last -- for years Ben Wallace held that distinction, and when he left, it fell to Chauncey Billups.

Once Billups was traded, Hamilton inherited the honor, and even though he's no longer a starter, he's yet to alter his pre-game routine to reflect it. Instead of joining his fellow reserves to slap hands with the starters as they're introduced, he sits on the bench until the house lights turn on, as if he's still expects to hear his name called and draw the loudest cheers.

It's a routine few people have probably noticed, but for those paying attention it seems like a subtle reminder that he hasn't completely embraced his new role.

And that's fine -- the biggest knock on this team the last few years has been a sense of complacency, so if moving one of the longest-tenured starters to the bench results in him playing with a chip on his shoulder, the team is better for it in the long run.

All that's left is for the rest of the team to discover the rhythm and consistency that Hamilton has found the last several games.