Rip Hamilton No Longer Cool With Reserve Role

After the Pistons traded for Allen Iverson, there was a bit of a logjam at the two guard spot. With Iverson better suited to play in the shooting guard slot, the Pistons had to figure out what to do with their incumbent starting two guard, Rip Hamilton.

At first they tried to play small ball and moved Hamilton down to the starting small forward spot. After a few games they ditched the small-ball experiment and moved Hamilton to a sixth-man role. Initially, Hamilton was not too happy with the move, but resigned himself to it for the good of the team.

Fast forward to Thursday and the Pistons are just 4-12 (with seven straight loses) since sending Hamilton to the pine. Hamilton voiced his displeasure after the team's seventh-straight loss on Wednesday:

"I said I would come off the bench as long as we win," Hamilton said. "But we've been losing. We are 4-12 with me coming off the bench. Something's got to give. Something's got to change. I am on board with doing whatever for the team but coming off the bench and we're not winning, that's something totally different."

I have to agree with Hamilton's frustrations. It was big of him to give up his starting spot for the good of the team. But if the team is not producing, I don't see anything wrong with him wanting to see some shake-ups.

The problem with the Pistons is that they had a system of playing that worked and have mucked it all up by hiring a new coach and getting rid of their All-Star point guard and team leader, Chauncey Billups. Allen Iverson just doesn't fit their style of play. They probably would be better just starting Hamilton and cutting A.I. It's not that Iverson is a bad player or has nothing left in the tank. He is just not a good fit for the Pistons. Whatever the problem is, the Pistons need to get it together soon, as they are on the verge of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2001.

(Via: DBB)