The Detroit Free Press reported this yesterday, prior to the Orlando game
ORLANDO — Allen Iverson will miss tonight ‘s game with a back injury, but when he returns to the Pistons, he will be coming off the bench.
Pistons coach Michael Curry announced this morning that Rip Hamilton will be back in the starting lineup, playing alongside Rodney Stuckey, in an effort to jumpstart a team in the midst of an eight-game losing streak.
“It’s nothing on Allen,” Curry said. “He’s just a guy that needs the basketball and because of it that, it reduced the time Stuckey had the ball in his hands.”
Low and behold, the Pistons win their first game in ten tries with Rip and Stuckey as their starting backcourt. Interesting how that works ain’t it?
The change comes shortly after Rip Hamilton bemoaned the team’s lack of success with him in the sixth man role
Hamilton has been critical of late about Curry’s decision to make him the team’s sixth man. The Pistons have gone 4-12 since he was benched.
“Something’s got to give,” Hamilton said after Wednesday night’s loss to New Orleans. “I’m all for doing whatever it takes for the team, but coming off the bench with us not winning, something’s got to change.”
This is a very good change for the Pistons and for my money it’s easily their best starting backcourt. This should help right Detroit’s ship and keep them in the playoffs.
Posted on February 28, 2009 by Dave