Cross
10-11-2006, 06:14 AM
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- There are two new captains in town.
Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince and shooting guard Richard Hamilton will join Chauncey Billups as captains of the Pistons this season. Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he and team president Joe Dumars sat down recently to decide who would replace Ben Wallace as Billups' co-captain.
It didn't take long to decide on Prince and Hamilton, both young players who have been part of the core of the team's success through the past five seasons.
"It's very exciting," Hamilton said. "It's something you work hard for. I think it's time."
In basketball, team captains have only a few "official" duties. They meet with the referees before tip-off at center court to check out the game ball and go over any final officiating tweaks.
During the game, they are the only players on the court officially allowed to speak to the referees about rule interpretations. But being a captain goes beyond that, Saunders said.
"There's more to it," Saunders said. "Those guys have the pulse of the team, as far as the feel of the team, the pulse of the team. They have a responsibility in the locker room when coaches aren't around. That's what the captains do. It's the things that people don't know about that a captain does, not the things that are obvious."
Prince and Hamilton said they are not going to change their approach to practices, to dealing with the coaches or their teammates. That's because they've always considered themselves hardworking and professional.
"I'm still going to be the same person, the same player," Hamilton said. "I think maybe I'll get a little more respect from the refs."
At that, he laughed.
"But I think it's good," he said. "I'm the type of player who goes out there and tries to lead by example, more than vocal. Try to help the guys out, vocally sometimes but more by just going out there and playing hard every night."
Prince took the news in stride.
"It's just another level of what I've accomplished and what I've done throughout the years, not just as a Piston, but in my life playing basketball," Prince said.
WAIT AND SEE: Each season, the NBA puts out notice that it's going to crack down and officiate some areas of the game more strictly.
This year, it promises a no-tolerance policy when it comes to arguing with the officials as well as more whistles for taking an extra step on drives into the lane, ball carrying and space-clearing elbow swings in the post.
The Pistons are employing a believe-it-when-they-see-it policy with that news.
"They say that all the time," Billups said. "Every year, it's like a certain memo will come out, and in the first couple of weeks, they'll stick to it and then they just go to what it's always been. But I don't know. I think it's going to be harder calling that carry, especially with that sticky ball."
GOT HIS BACK: Billups is sporting a new tattoo this season. It covers his upper back with the words "My family is my backbone" and the birth dates of his wife and three daughters.
Billups said he was waiting for his family to be complete to get the inking done. "We're done now," he said with a smile.
I thought Sheed thought he was going to get it...wonder what hes thinking right now
Pistons small forward Tayshaun Prince and shooting guard Richard Hamilton will join Chauncey Billups as captains of the Pistons this season. Pistons coach Flip Saunders said he and team president Joe Dumars sat down recently to decide who would replace Ben Wallace as Billups' co-captain.
It didn't take long to decide on Prince and Hamilton, both young players who have been part of the core of the team's success through the past five seasons.
"It's very exciting," Hamilton said. "It's something you work hard for. I think it's time."
In basketball, team captains have only a few "official" duties. They meet with the referees before tip-off at center court to check out the game ball and go over any final officiating tweaks.
During the game, they are the only players on the court officially allowed to speak to the referees about rule interpretations. But being a captain goes beyond that, Saunders said.
"There's more to it," Saunders said. "Those guys have the pulse of the team, as far as the feel of the team, the pulse of the team. They have a responsibility in the locker room when coaches aren't around. That's what the captains do. It's the things that people don't know about that a captain does, not the things that are obvious."
Prince and Hamilton said they are not going to change their approach to practices, to dealing with the coaches or their teammates. That's because they've always considered themselves hardworking and professional.
"I'm still going to be the same person, the same player," Hamilton said. "I think maybe I'll get a little more respect from the refs."
At that, he laughed.
"But I think it's good," he said. "I'm the type of player who goes out there and tries to lead by example, more than vocal. Try to help the guys out, vocally sometimes but more by just going out there and playing hard every night."
Prince took the news in stride.
"It's just another level of what I've accomplished and what I've done throughout the years, not just as a Piston, but in my life playing basketball," Prince said.
WAIT AND SEE: Each season, the NBA puts out notice that it's going to crack down and officiate some areas of the game more strictly.
This year, it promises a no-tolerance policy when it comes to arguing with the officials as well as more whistles for taking an extra step on drives into the lane, ball carrying and space-clearing elbow swings in the post.
The Pistons are employing a believe-it-when-they-see-it policy with that news.
"They say that all the time," Billups said. "Every year, it's like a certain memo will come out, and in the first couple of weeks, they'll stick to it and then they just go to what it's always been. But I don't know. I think it's going to be harder calling that carry, especially with that sticky ball."
GOT HIS BACK: Billups is sporting a new tattoo this season. It covers his upper back with the words "My family is my backbone" and the birth dates of his wife and three daughters.
Billups said he was waiting for his family to be complete to get the inking done. "We're done now," he said with a smile.
I thought Sheed thought he was going to get it...wonder what hes thinking right now