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Options abound for Pistons behind Hamilton

Well Stocked

by Keith Langlois
Editor’s note: Pistons.com continues a five-part positional analysis of the 2007-08 Pistons heading into training camp with today’s Part II: shooting guards.

If Joe Dumars was the happiest member of the Pistons’ organization at the news that Chauncey Billups had signed on for a second tour of duty, then surely Rip Hamilton was second.

Billups and Hamilton arrived in Detroit in the summer of 2002, the former via free agency and the latter through trade, not knowing much about the other except what mutual friend Tyronn Lue conveyed. But they almost immediately established a rapport that had many NBA observers stamping them the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference by the end of that first season together.

One year later, after leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA title, they were widely accepted as the NBA’s best backcourt. For the past two seasons, they’ve been All-Star teammates. They’re already the second-best guard tandem in Pistons history, behind two guys you’ve probably heard of – Joe Dumars and Isiah Thomas.

Here’s a look at Hamilton and the players who’ll back him up at shooting guard for the 2007-08 Pistons:

  • Rip Hamilton – There’s no one in the NBA quite like Hamilton, an indefatigable gym rat who has rightfully been recognized as having the league’s most lethal mid-range jump shot.

    Hamilton’s conditioning level is the first element of that jump shot. Coaches never stop preaching the need for offensive movement without the basketball, but few players have the stamina to make it a reality. Hamilton simply never stops running, wearing out defenders. And many of those defenders – other shooting guards, primarily – are often called upon to expend great bursts of energy at the other end providing points for their teams.

    Hamilton also has a deadly quick release, and the timing he’s developed with Billups means he gets the ball in his sweet spots, ready to launch, before defenses can recover. The Pistons run an endless series of screens for Hamilton, who requires the slightest opening. At 6-foot-7 with a long reach, Hamilton has prototypical size for his position, as well.

    The most underrated aspect of Hamilton’s game is his defense. With his quickness and wing span, he’s often called upon to harass opposition point guards. His size also allows him to swing down and guard many small forwards.

    Two summers ago, Hamilton vowed to extend his shooting range to beyond the 3-point arc and wound up leading the NBA in 3-point percentage in 2006. Last year, he focused on getting to the foul line more and attempted 106 more free throws than the previous season. If he can add a few off-the-dribble moves to his repertoire, Hamilton would become an even more dangerous scorer.

  • Arron Afflalo – Afflalo, the second of Detroit’s two No. 1 draft picks, will be one of several players in the mix for minutes behind Hamilton. Another will be fellow rookie Rodney Stuckey, who might be too good to limit to the minutes he’ll get as primary backup to Chauncey Billups at point guard.

    Afflalo is NBA ready as a defender – and Dumars and his support staff are convinced that the UCLA All-American can defend all three perimeter positions. Afflalo’s defensive acumen starts with a competitive toughness that first came to the Pistons’ attention on the recommendation of Billups and Tayshaun Prince, who’ve competed against him during summer runs at the UCLA men’s gym since 2005.

    Though Afflalo was UCLA’s leading scorer as a sophomore and junior and displayed NBA 3-point range, his consistency isn’t where it figures to be.

    The coaches who’ve been around him rave about his work ethic and selflessness. He fits the Pistons’ mold to a T.

  • Jarvis Hayes – The signing of Hayes to a low-risk, one-year contract as a free agent in August plugged the only apparent hole on the Pistons’ roster – a quality veteran backup option to Tayshaun Prince at small forward. That’s where it’s expected he’ll do the bulk of his work, but Hayes also has considerable experience at shooting guard.

    A four-year veteran, Hayes was the 10th pick in the rich 2003 draft. His career got off to a promising start – he was second-team All-Rookie – but a fractured right kneecap that recurred caused him to miss what amounted to a full NBA season spread across his second and third years. Hayes proclaims himself fully over his knee problems now, but admits it still affected him last season.

    Hayes is both athletic and a good perimeter shooter whose weakness has been his ability to put the ball on the floor and create plays. He’s regarded as an average defensive player.

  • Flip Murray – The Pistons are looking at Murray for protection at both backcourt spots this year. After getting buried on the bench last January, Murray impressed the Pistons when he played his best basketball later in the season after being called upon when injuries and suspensions wracked the backcourt.

  • Rodney Stuckey – Though Stuckey’s most important role this season figures to be as Billups’ primary backup at point guard, the Pistons believe he’ll be equally comfortable and equally effective playing off the ball. And if it becomes clear that he’s the best option behind both Billups and Hamilton, as it well could, then Stuckey might lead the Pistons in minutes played off the bench and hog almost all the reserve backcourt minutes available.

  • Sammy Mejia – The Pistons’ second-round pick from DePaul is expected to spend a good chunk of the season playing for their new Development League affiliate, the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Mad Ants. Mejia, like Afflalo, impressed the Pistons with his basketball IQ and his ability to defend all three perimeter positions.