Rip Hamilton didn’t speak to reporters for three days following the Chauncey Billups/Allen Iverson trade. After a chat with Joe Dumars on Wednesday, he finally spoke following Thursday’s practice. From Chris McCosky of the Detroit News:
“I told him, ‘Look, I played with a great guard for a long time. And the first time I stepped out on that court and he wasn’t there, man, that was a weird feeling,’ ” Dumars said. “He was the only guy I had ever played with, so, yeah, I totally understand what Rip’s going through.”
Dumars was referring to playing for the Pistons after Isiah Thomas retired. Dumars said he called Thomas after his first practice without him. Thomas was the general manager for the Raptors at the time.
“I told him, ‘Man, I had the weirdest feeling today,’ ” Dumars said. “Isiah was like, ‘What happened?’ I told him, ‘I stepped out on that court today and you weren’t there.’ ”
[…] “It’s like I lost a brother, you know?” [Hamilton] said. “Me and Chaunce, we came in as nothing when we first got to Detroit, and then we pretty much played ourselves into stars here and won a championship together. We did a lot of special things together.
“It’s so tough. You always think you are going to play together forever. But in life, nothing is ever forever. I miss him like I would miss a brother.”
Hamilton’s extension was announced just hours after the Iverson deal became official. In fact, my guess is that the deals were contingent upon each other. Had Hamilton not signed the extension, he could have opted out this summer; considering AI will definitely be a free agent, there’s no way Dumars would have rolled the dice were there even a chance he’d lose both halves of his All-Star backcourt.
(If you recall, this was the crux of my argument against the deal back when it was still a mere rumor. Man, that feels like weeks ago …)
But Hamilton’s extension must have taken days, if not weeks, to hammer out. Did he agree to it thinking he was securing his future playing next to Billups? Or did Dumars clue him in that change was on the horizon? (Does it even matter? Probably not, but I couldn’t help but wonder. Hamilton’s extension has completely flown under the radar given the big trade so I haven’t heard anyone else ask the question.)
yea sucks for hamilton and billups the most… it was obvious those guys were close like brothers
This is a nice little story but that is about it.
Both Rip and Chauncey have their family
They are both still alive and healthy
They both can text message and call
————————————–
This is nothing compared to the Lopez Twins
Together from the moment of birth
Always went to the same school together all the way through college
This is the first year that they have ever been apart their whole lives.
They are dealing with it just fine.
Yes Rip was a little down about it, but I think that was due as much as to how it happened, without any rumors in the MSM, as to what actually happened.
I still feel horrible about Dyess getting shipped away against his will. I know he’s less valuable to us than Billups but he was the nicest, most dedicated guy on the team.
So the Portland game last night was awesome: http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=281106022
I really like the Rose Garden - that place is always electric
That Portland game was crazy. I fell asleep in the 3rd quarter. I was very surprised to see the highlights of the end. Ridiculous.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m incredibly pumped for the Pistons this weekend. Iverson debut tonight, then home debut on Sunday against the Celtics.
Sunday’s game is particularly interesting to me. When was the last time we played an Eastern Conference team that was legitimately a “measuring stick” game — for us? I qualify that immediately by saying no game can mean too much in November. But honestly, doesn’t this game mean more to us than to the Celtics? We’ve been the class of the East for a while, and IMO for the first time in a while are not.
Clearly I would prefer to be the fat cat defending champs every year. But I’m nevertheless quite looking forward to a season of being the hunter (the metaphor, not the real estate mogul).
Forty, agree with completely. Nov games aren’t usually a measuring stick, but I can see where Boston comes in with billups still there and figures if they when, OK. If we lose, well, we kicked Det ass last June and we’re still the champs. But with Iverson here, Boston I think comes in with a “that trade didn’t mean jack” and plays with a purpose. Same for Det. This is a game in Nov which shouldn’t mean much, but will definitely be viewed as sending a message. Of course, if sh!t blows up at the palace on Sun, it could get ugly.
I agree with JesseC. The core knew that part of the consequences for blowing in the playoffs every year was having that core blown up. For Dyess, it was a different story.
I’m with Forty and MarkButter in looking forward to these games the most in a long time for November games, but I don’t think it qualifies as a measuring stick. We’re not going to be up to full speed with AI not even having been here a week - let’s see where we’re at this time next month. Only with the parents coming into town from Indy for the first time since my wife and I moved out to Albuquerque, I’m still figuring out how to pull the “Hey, awesome that you’re here, now let’s go watch the Pistons” move.
About that Portland game, that James Jones for Rudy Fernandez trade may have been Steve Kerr’s very best idea ever. They really won that deal…
This game should get some big ratings on FSN.
Who wouldn’t be excited to see Walter Herrmann vs. Jarvis Hayes?
Jarvis who?
Shinons: Is there a sports bar? Gotta give the in-laws a taste of the local flavor.
Walter Herrmann will drop at least 2 finger rolls from the dotted line in the paint tonight on Hayes, it’s a lock.
unless of course Hayes shoots lights out like he did, umm, once last season against the Wizards…
OT: I went to the gym today and shot around for the first time in about a year. It felt good, and my jumper was on. I think I’m a better shooter than Amir.
I went to the gym and played solid D. I’m a better defender than Iverson.
I lifted today. My guns are bigger than Maxiell’s.
I also went to the gym today and practiced my trampball.
My tramp from either baseline is sweet, almost Bruce Bowen-esque.
I went to the salon today and got some highlights. My locks are silkier than Rico’s
I went to Rock Financial to refinance my mortgage to interest only for the first 5 years. My bank account is bigger than Lindsey Hunter’s.
WOW!
I’m heading up to East Rutherford to check out the game. I’ll try to add my observations in tomorrow morning.
Nice OM - be sure to rag on Devin Harris for liking romantic comedies
OM: be sure to rag on Devin Harris for getting owned by some English guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ysv3v7uXblw
Haha that’s phenomenal, although it doesn’t look like Harris is trying that hard, particularly on the first play. That said, gotta give the British dude props there is somewhere between a 0 and 0% chance that I would score on any NBA player, let alone twice in a row.