Matt
11-07-2006, 08:12 AM
PISTONS CORNER: Rip's to-do list: Get quicker, shoot more free throws (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061107/SPORTS03/611070361/1051)
November 7, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
SALT LAKE CITY -- It's no surprise to see Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton outrun, outcircle and outshoot most of his opponents.
But even Hamilton, a reigning All-Star, is extra pleased with the way he has started this season. Hamilton was averaging 25.3 points -- good for ninth in the league -- entering Monday night's game against Utah. And none of the eight players ahead of him was scoring as efficiently as his 54% shooting.
It's all part of his plan to be aggressive from the opening tip of the season.
"I always take pride in my summers -- staying in shape, working on different shots, and getting stronger," Hamilton said, "just so I'll come out and be ready to go from the beginning. Don't use the season to get in shape. But be in shape and be mentally and physically ready to play when that ball's thrown up."
Hamilton's game hasn't changed much since last year; he still is a master of moving without the ball, of curling off defenders and of hitting mid-range jump shots.
Last season, he also added three-point shooting, in which he led the league in shooting percentage, and defensive toughness to his repertoire.
But he's not entirely the same this year. For one thing, he feels even quicker.
"I think it's because of the weights I've been doing in the summertime, trying to get my legs stronger," he said. "My first step is even quicker than what it used to be."
And the other thing he's concentrated on is getting back to free-throw line. In 2004-05, he attempted 429 free throws. Last year, that number dropped to 303.
So instead of settling for his jump shot -- which is not exactly settlingwhen you shoot like Hamilton -- he's trying to get into the lane and attack inside.
"I had a conversation with Joe (Dumars) before the season started," Hamilton said, "and that's the one thing he told me, 'You shot 50% from the field, you shot 50% from the three-point line, but you didn't get to the free-throw line as many times.' So I knew that. And this year, I want to try to make a conscious effort to drive and get to the free-throw line because once we get in the penalty, it makes the game better for everyone."
Before Monday, Hamilton had averaged 7.7 attempts a game. At that pace, he'd shoot 663 free throws. As an 87% shooter, that would mean 567 points.
BAD VIBES: The Pistons aren't fans of playing in the Delta Center. For good reason -- typically they don't play well in Utah. Since 1990, they're 2-13 there.
Hamilton threw one popular conspiracy theory on the table as to why that was.
"They used to use a real hard ball where everything bounces off the rim," he said. "But they can't use those hard balls anymore. Now every ball feels the same."
That's not exactly true, though. Forward Rasheed Wallace spent the morning shootaround searching through the ball rack for one rock he liked.
HE'S A FAN: Point guard Chauncey Billups trained in September in Las Vegas with a slew of other NBAers, including Utah's Andrei Kirilenko.
"He's one of my favorite players in the league," Billups said. "I love him, I love his game. ... It's not really his scoring that's the best part of his game. It's his energy, blocked shots, rebounds, defense. He's just an unbelievable player, period."
Contact KRISTA JAHNKE at 313-223-4493 (#3 on Glenn's speed dial) or kjahnke@freepress.com.
November 7, 2006
BY KRISTA JAHNKE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
SALT LAKE CITY -- It's no surprise to see Pistons shooting guard Richard Hamilton outrun, outcircle and outshoot most of his opponents.
But even Hamilton, a reigning All-Star, is extra pleased with the way he has started this season. Hamilton was averaging 25.3 points -- good for ninth in the league -- entering Monday night's game against Utah. And none of the eight players ahead of him was scoring as efficiently as his 54% shooting.
It's all part of his plan to be aggressive from the opening tip of the season.
"I always take pride in my summers -- staying in shape, working on different shots, and getting stronger," Hamilton said, "just so I'll come out and be ready to go from the beginning. Don't use the season to get in shape. But be in shape and be mentally and physically ready to play when that ball's thrown up."
Hamilton's game hasn't changed much since last year; he still is a master of moving without the ball, of curling off defenders and of hitting mid-range jump shots.
Last season, he also added three-point shooting, in which he led the league in shooting percentage, and defensive toughness to his repertoire.
But he's not entirely the same this year. For one thing, he feels even quicker.
"I think it's because of the weights I've been doing in the summertime, trying to get my legs stronger," he said. "My first step is even quicker than what it used to be."
And the other thing he's concentrated on is getting back to free-throw line. In 2004-05, he attempted 429 free throws. Last year, that number dropped to 303.
So instead of settling for his jump shot -- which is not exactly settlingwhen you shoot like Hamilton -- he's trying to get into the lane and attack inside.
"I had a conversation with Joe (Dumars) before the season started," Hamilton said, "and that's the one thing he told me, 'You shot 50% from the field, you shot 50% from the three-point line, but you didn't get to the free-throw line as many times.' So I knew that. And this year, I want to try to make a conscious effort to drive and get to the free-throw line because once we get in the penalty, it makes the game better for everyone."
Before Monday, Hamilton had averaged 7.7 attempts a game. At that pace, he'd shoot 663 free throws. As an 87% shooter, that would mean 567 points.
BAD VIBES: The Pistons aren't fans of playing in the Delta Center. For good reason -- typically they don't play well in Utah. Since 1990, they're 2-13 there.
Hamilton threw one popular conspiracy theory on the table as to why that was.
"They used to use a real hard ball where everything bounces off the rim," he said. "But they can't use those hard balls anymore. Now every ball feels the same."
That's not exactly true, though. Forward Rasheed Wallace spent the morning shootaround searching through the ball rack for one rock he liked.
HE'S A FAN: Point guard Chauncey Billups trained in September in Las Vegas with a slew of other NBAers, including Utah's Andrei Kirilenko.
"He's one of my favorite players in the league," Billups said. "I love him, I love his game. ... It's not really his scoring that's the best part of his game. It's his energy, blocked shots, rebounds, defense. He's just an unbelievable player, period."
Contact KRISTA JAHNKE at 313-223-4493 (#3 on Glenn's speed dial) or kjahnke@freepress.com.